Circus continues its expansion on the French market.
With the transition to 2020, Circus Casino France, a company of the GAMING1 group, the gaming branch of the Ardent Group, has given a boost to its expansion strategy in France. The group thus becomes one of the major players in the French land-based casino landscape by entering the top 8 active groups in France.
In the fourth quarter of 2019, Circus Casino France finalised the acquisition of the Allevard casino and its hotel. This brought the group's number of establishments to 5. As a reminder, Circus Casino France already included the casinos of Carnac, Briançon and Port-Leucate. Earlier in the year, it also opened its first gaming club in Paris, Club Circus.
The real boost came at the very end of 2019! Circus Casino France has in fact concluded a memorandum of understanding to buy 50.05% of the capital of Société Française de Casinos from two of its main shareholders, Frameliris and Foch Investissements. As soon as the parties have obtained the approval of the Minister of the Interior, Circus Casino France will launch a simplified public tender offer for the remaining shares. Circus will thus become the majority owner of the 4 SFC casinos, namely Châtel-Guyon, Gruissan, Port-la-Nouvelle and Collioure.
Circus Casino France has also signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire more than 60% of the Vals-les-Bains casino. This establishment includes a casino, a brasserie, a 4-star hotel as well as a Michelin-starred gastronomic restaurant under the leadership of chef Stéphane Polly.
The year 2020 is looking very promising for Circus Casino France. As soon as these protocols have been approved by the Ministry of the Interior, Circus will have no less than 10 establishments in France. With more than 500 employees in France and an expected turnover of 50 million euros, the brand will confirm its status as a major player in the French land-based casino market.
