Saint-Amand-Les-Eaux, Enghien-les-Bains , and Ax-les-Thermes: these are just a few of the French towns that boast a prestigious casino. As their names suggest, these are spa resorts, a common occurrence in France.
Some of our readers are probably wondering why so many gambling establishments are located in this type of spa town. This is precisely the interesting question we will answer in the rest of this article.
An idea from Napoleon I
In the United States, there’s Las Vegas, Reno, and Atlantic City. In China, Macau is the place to go to gamble at a casino. However, in France, you have the choice between, for example, Divonne-les-Bains, Forges-les-Eaux, or Cransac-les-Thermes. Why on earth are spa resorts often the ones hosting a gaming complex in France? To answer this interesting question, we need to go back a little in time.
Before the 19th century, gambling was not legal in France. Those who still wanted to practice it had to go to clandestine gambling dens that were not taxed by the state. This is precisely why Napoleon I had the idea of legalizing casinos in order to generate significant tax revenue.
When they finally became legal from 1806, they were reserved for spas only.
The idea was to limit their number first and foremost, but also to target primarily wealthy individuals. Indeed, these spa towns were primarily frequented by the upper middle class and the aristocracy. It is from this period that the current over-representation of spa resorts among towns that host casinos dates.
A law that was extended to seaside and climatic resorts and then to tourist towns
Currently, casinos can be found in other cities in France, such as Deauville, Cassis, and La Grande Motte. Gradually, seaside resorts and health resorts have also been allowed to host such complexes, for much the same reasons.
But what about the Casino Barrière in Bordeaux, the Pasino in Aix-en-Provence, or the Casino Le Pharaon in Lyon? Well, the law has simply been expanded. Such establishments can now be opened in tourist cities with more than 500,000 inhabitants that have a national drama scene. Indeed, the casino’s revenues are intended to finance the operatic arts.
The Parisian exception limited to gaming clubs only
Of course, there is one notable exception to this: Paris. Casinos are still banned in the French capital today, thanks to a law dating back to 1920. However, after the end of World War II, people were still allowed to go to gambling clubs.
Following their ban, gaming clubs appeared in 2018. These include, for example, the Paris Elysées Club, the Imperial Club Paris, the Punto Club, and the Club Circus.
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