**Jake Pollard**
Amidst the current political turmoil in France, gaming clubs in Paris are facing potential closures on December 31 due to their lack of legal status.
The term “Kafkaesque” aptly describes the bizarre and unforeseen predicament these gaming clubs are in as the year draws to a close. These clubs are caught in an awkward and perplexing situation stemming from unforeseen political shifts.
Today, President Macron is scheduled to meet with centrist MP François Bayrou, and a new prime ministerial appointment is expected. However, the absence of a formal Budget 2025 remains unresolved.
Paris is home to seven gaming clubs, known locally as “cercles de jeux,” which offer table games but no roulette or slot machines. These clubs were initiated in 2018 to explore the effects of establishing gaming venues in the capital rather than in the usual tourist-centric locations such as spa towns.
The trial period for these clubs expires on December 31, and despite achieving success and receiving approval from both the operators and the Ministry of the Interior, they are compelled to shut down unless new legislation is put in place.
**Despair Over Dissolution**
The closures are attributed to President Emmanuel Macron’s dissolution of the National Assembly and the censure that the French government faced last week. During the summer, efforts were made to legislate permanent status for these clubs. However, without a draft budget, which is now postponed to 2024, these efforts cannot proceed.
The potential fallout includes the loss of 1,500 jobs. While some clubs are determined to continue operating in hopes of swift legislative action, the situation remains uncertain.
In response to these developments, PokerStars has canceled the European Poker Tour Paris event that was due to be hosted at Club Barrière in February. The announcement cited the existing ambiguity over licensing requirements as the reason for the cancellation.
The statement from PokerStars emphasized a continued partnership with Club Barrière and their intent to work with local authorities to establish a stable regulatory environment. They remain hopeful this will eventually allow the EPT stop to resume.
Grégory Rabuel, CEO of Groupe Barrière and Chairman of Casinos de France, expressed support for the club operators during this crisis. He urged immediate intervention from public authorities to avert disaster, highlighting the urgent need for concrete measures.