Casino Victoria has closed. Definitely. All slot machines have been deactivated, their memory placed under seal. A dozen employees find themselves suddenly out of work. A rare measure. A fatal outcome which creates a shock in Grasse. But a radical decision by the state that had been brewing for a long time and would have been preceded by warnings.
It is due to regulatory breaches that the establishment on boulevard du Jeu-de-Ballon was forced to draw its curtain on Thursday.
“Casual Attitude”
An outcome that hardly surprises its employees. On June 13, they went on strike in front of the entrance to the establishment. To denounce poor working conditions. But also shortcomings of the management: absence of packed lunches, night hours, training or security. “We ask the room managers to do the bar, the security” they had claimed.
2 months later ? “There has been no improvement,” regrets Raphaël Falcini, member of the management.
The malfunctions? “They stemmed from the lack of personnel. For example, managers put their hands in slot machines when only gaming employees are allowed to do so, ”says the executive.
“Since 2017, there have been regulatory issues, mismanagement, a flippant attitude from management, in denial. For example, records that are not kept up to date, points out another employee. It’s almost a relief that it stops as the working conditions were deleterious. »
Lack of attendance
Operated by SAS Casino Victoria chaired by Gérard Scribans, – who has not yet responded to our requests – Casino Victoria has also suffered from a chronic problem of attendance since its opening in 2017.
“Limited Revenue”
In 2020, the mayor, Jérôme Viaud, had pleaded his cause with the consultative commission for circles and games in Paris in order to obtain his renewal of the operating authorization for a period of three years. But two years later, in 2022, the Regional Chamber of Accounts (CRC) singled out the establishment, estimating “revenues of all kinds from delegated operation, particularly limited. » And recommended to the City « a serious evaluation of the repercussions of the establishment in terms of tourist and cultural development. The Casino then generated revenue of €131,000 (€75,000 in royalties and €56,274 in proceeds from games in 2019). And the covid crisis hasn’t helped.
In cessation of payments since last February, the Casino de Grasse therefore ends up in bankruptcy, if not in rout…
