Tributes pour in for French casino legend Isidore Partouche
The Groupe Partouche founder has died aged 94.
France.- Tributes are pouring in for Isidore Partouche, the founder of the French casino operator Groupe Partouche, following his death last week. The casino entrepreneur, who was born in Trézel (now Sougueur) in French Algeria in 1931, died in Paris on Wednesday aged 94.
Born to Jewish merchant parents, Isidore began his professional life as an electromechanic, opening a Philips dealership in Algeria, but it was the leisure sector that attracted him. With no previous experience in gaming, he began to build what would become a giant in land-based casino operations after acquiring the Casino des Thermes in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux in the north of France in 1973 with assistance from his siblings.
He acquired several more casinos in 1980s, leading to the establishment of Groupe Partouche, which continued to expand. The group is credited with having revived France’s municipal casinos, giving them new prestige and generating benefits for their communities. It was floated on the Paris EuroNext Exchange in 1995.
Today, the group has forty-four casinos and restaurants, including in Belgium, Tunisia and Switzerland, along with twelve hotels and two golf courses. It remains tied to the Partouche family, with Isidore having begun to pass some responsibilities to his son, Patrick Partouche, in the 2000s. Patrick is now president of the group, with Isidore serving as vice president until his death.
Groupe Partouche described Isidore as “a visionary entrepreneur” and “builder of an entertainment empire”.
It said in a statement “The Partouche Group, its Supervisory Board, its Executive Board, and all of its employees salute the memory of an exceptional founder, whose legacy will continue to enlighten future generations and the entire profession. Isidore Partouche has transformed a family adventure into a group that has become a key player in the leisure sector.
Groupe Partouche reported full-year revenue of €712.3m for November 2023 to October 2024. That’s an increase of 1.5 per cent against 2023. Growth was held back by the partial closure of three land-based casinos that are under renovation.
Land-based casinos remain the biggest contributor to the group’s revenue, generating €391.5m. That’s a rise of 2 per cent year-on-year. Hotel revenue was up 11 per cent at €31.2m while other revenue fell 2.5 per cent to €11.6m.
