Laurent Lassiaz, CEO of Groupe Joa, stated that land-based casinos continue to dominate France's gambling market despite the expansion of offshore iGaming. The operator manages 33 venues across the country while the national regulatory framework for online casinos remains under review.
France operates approximately 200 land-based casinos, ranging from small halls with 20 slot machines to integrated resorts featuring 500 slots and table games. Groupe Joa holds the position of the second-largest domestic operator. Industry estimates place the annual value of the unregulated online gambling segment at €1.5 billion, suggesting it may represent the largest offshore market in Europe.
Legalization of iCasino services has not yet been finalized by French authorities.
Management Background and Venue Strategy
Lassiaz transitioned to casino management after a decade in food and beverage operations. He previously directed KFC and Pizza Hut locations in France before leading Club Med's customer experience division for ten years. According to Lassiaz, casino management shares core principles with hospitality, focusing on service consistency, event organization, and venue design.
"The gaming side is only mathematic," Lassiaz stated, "you basically buy it and design what is around it in terms of experience and service."
The French gambling sector has maintained a stable land-based presence while regulatory discussions regarding online platforms continue. Groupe Joa's current strategy emphasizes physical venue development and service optimization as the primary drivers of customer attendance. The details were provided during a recent interview with the company executive.