French National Assembly’s recent endorsement of a bill targeting casinos in "equestrian towns" signifies a potential expansion of the mainland casino landscape by at least two establishments. Currently, the country has 196 mainland casinos alongside an additional 7 gambling-friendly properties in its overseas territories.

This legislative approval, granted earlier this week, aims to bolster the economies of the cities that already have strong roots in the horse racing industry by allowing them to leverage gambling activities. It will allow the cities to stimulate their economies by generating direct revenue from gaming.

As per the legislation, two more casinos – one in the Ardennes and another in Meurthe-et-Moselle – could receive approval. Part of the new gaming-friendly legislation outlines the criteria for cities to qualify for a casino license.

Arnac-Pompadour, which is situated in Corrèze and home to the Haras National de Pompadour stud farm, is going to the be one of the beneficiaries of the new legislation. Mayor Alain Tisseuil welcomes the new legislation, and expressed hope that it would provide a big boost to the local economy by generating new employment opportunities. Preliminary estimates suggest that between 30 to 40 new job positions will be available upon the casino's establishment. Furthermore, the is expected to get substantial indirect financial gains from the planned gambling-friendly property’s presence.

Tisseuil envisions a substantial direct share of the casino's earnings, which is estimated at 10 to 15 per cent of the gross revenue. It would contribute significantly to the city's overall revenue. Mayor Tisseuil plans to initiate a tender soon, aiming for the casino project's completion within a period of two years.

Saumur, which is situated in the Maine-et-Loire region, also meets the prerequisites underlined in the legislation. This city is known for hosting the national riding school, the Cadre Noir, and the French Horse & Equestrian Institute. Thus, there is a great potential for the expansion of this city’s economy.

Mayor Jackie Goulet expressed strong support for the legislation, echoing Mayor Tisseuil’s words that it would help a lot in bolstering the city’s economy by generation new jobs and a new stream of tax revenue for the local government. Both mayors anticipate varied but significant annual tax income from the casinos. Tisseuil forecasts €400,000 (approx. US$431,500) per year, while Goulet predicts €1.2 million (approx. US$1.29 million).

Amidst regulatory adjustments and soaring competition from the side of online gambling, France's land-based casinos keep on thriving. According to the National Gaming Authority, these establishments generated a turnover of €2.48 billion (approx. US$2.67 billion) last year, marking a substantial 138 per cent growth rate compared to pre-pandemic levels.