For the three-month period, the casino operator’s GGR increased by 7.2%, mainly driven by growth in its slot machines segment.
While revenue from Groupe Partouche’s traditional games only grew by 1.7%, slot machines experienced an 8.6% rise in GGR year-on-year, climbing to €108.6m — 81% of the group’s total revenue for the quarter.
Groupe Partouche attributed the poor showing from its traditional games to Covid-related closures that negatively impacted its brick-and-mortar casino operations, which remained shut for six months; double the previous fiscal year.
Likewise, its casinos in Switzerland and Belgium also experienced closures, though all have since reopened, albeit with limitations.
These closures, especially its Ostend casino in Switzerland, led to a 51% drop in GGR for its operations outside France. But discounting Ostend’s closure, this would have instead risen by 19.2%, a phenomenon Groupe Partouche credits to the increase in Swiss online games.
However, the operator’s net gaming revenue (NGR) exceeded the French national average. Across the industry, this has fallen by 41%, as reported by the union Casinos de France, but Groupe Partouche’s NGR after taxes amounted to €215.9m, a 23.7% decline.
And despite the introduction of France’s health pass, a certificate issued to citizens who are fully vaccinated or have tested negative, attendance has slightly recovered.
All-in-all, Groupe Partouche’s turnover for the fiscal year came to €255.7m, below last year’s by €87.8m or 25.6%.
Groupe Partouche was founded in 1973 and operates casinos, a gaming club, hotels restaurants, spas and golf courses throughout France and Europe. It operates 41 casinos and employs nearly 3,900 people.
