French casino operator Société Française de Casinos (SFC) has said that Covid-19 cut short a “dynamic start” to 2020.
The results reflect the activity of the four casinos operated by the group in Gruissan, Châtel-Guyon, Port la Nouvelle and Collioure, which closed March 15 due to the outbreak and remained closed for four and a half months. The group recorded growth on a year-on-year basis of 14.3 per cent, “before this abrupt cessation of activity.”
SFC said it “limited its costs as much as possible during the period when the casinos were closed. Almost all of the employees were placed on short-time work and the group benefited in particular from rent relief throughout the period of closure.”
The group recorded turnover of €7.4 million ($8.8 million) between November 2019 and March 2020. The casinos reopened on June 2.
