Top-level executives from across Europe’s industry will gather for the event, held by the European Casino Association and Monte Carlo Société des Bains de Mer.
Partners of the association representing industry suppliers and some top-level industry experts will also be there for the event, that also includes the association’s general assembly. Key issues for the licensed land-based casino industry will include gender diversity and future trends in anti-money laundering.
Also high on the agenda will be illegal unlicensed gambling, online and offline, according to InterGame.
Prince Albert gives Celebrity Golf Cup event a nautical send-off
The Monaco US Celebrity Golf Cup returned for its second edition from June 15 to 17, which included the Sovereign Prince hitting balls with Ryder Cup CEO Pascal Grizot off a superyacht and a Gala at the Monaco Yacht Club hosted by Grammy Award winner Kenny G.
The biannual golf event, under the High Patronage of Prince Albert, pits Team USA against Team Europe and serves as a kick-off to Ryder Cup, which this year takes place September 25-28 at Le Golf National in Paris.
The link between the Ryder Cup and the Monaco US Celebrity Cup is Susan Feaster, CEO of Ryder Cup France 2018 US Partners Club and Monaco US Celebrity Cup Chairman, who said, “It has been a great experience to partner Monaco with the highest brand in golf, the Ryder Cup and to benefit the Ryder Cup Trust as well as the Prince Albert II Foundation.”
The event started on Friday morning at the Monte Carlo Golf Club with a Monaco US Celebrity Pro Am Friday tournament that paired a celebrity with three amateurs.
Friday evening, and to the delight of the crowd, USA Captain Prince Albert and European Captain Pascal Grizot competed for the Longest Drive off the deck of a Fraser superyacht – the 70-metre Saint-Nicolas. Guests later enjoyed cocktails and dinner while a harp ensemble played on the top deck.
Saturday’s one-on-one Match Play was a tough competition between 16 Team USA players and their European counterparts, and included a Longest Drive Competition between Longest Drive World Champion Joe Miller (Europe) and Ryan Reisbeck (US).
“The Monaco US Celebrity Golf Cup is an experience like no other,” said Kenny G, who played against Ian Randell, Chief Executive, PGAs of Europe. “For us amateurs who watch the Ryder Cup and dream about what it would be like to represent your country in an event like that, the Monaco U.S. Celebrity Golf Cup is the event that let’s us experience this!
“And the atmosphere of camaraderie sets the stage for making invaluable relationships with our European counterparts in the entertainment, business and Sports World.”
After a hectic day of golf, Saturday evening featured a cocktail party at the legendary Cafe de Paris hosted by Monaco Life.
The Gala on Sunday evening on the fifth floor of the Yacht Club welcomed 200 players and guests, and Kenny G preformed an extraordinary rendition of the Monaco National Anthem as Prince Albert arrived.
A special video message from President Bill Clinton to Prince Albert and the Chairman of Ryder Cup France was shared.
After dinner, a cheque for €50,000 was presented by Prince Albert and CMB Banque CEO Werner Peyer to Ian Randell on behalf of the Ryder Cup European Development Trust, which promotes golf development at the grassroots for beginning players and for youth, ranging from free lessons at European Tour events to disabled golf initiatives, as well as junior and educational programmes.
Additionally, and a first for the event, a silent auction was held, which raised close to €20,000 for the Prince Albert II Foundation.
Prince Albert presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Pascal Grizot, Chairman, Ryder Cup France 2018, before he lifted the veil off the Monaco US Celebrity Golf Cup, which announced a victory for Team USA.
Over the weekend, Pascal Grizot commented, “A golf game is the best school of life. One day you’re on top of the summit and the next, at the bottom.”
The 55-year-old was also named Personality of the Year on March 16 for his leading role in France’s candidacy for the 2018 Ryder Cup, which he said is an “honour to host the Ryder Cup in our country (which) will help us develop golf. An adventure would never have been possible without the support of clubs and licensees.”
In 2014, the FGF voted in favour of a €3 increase to the annual €46 licence fees, with the intent of using the additional funds to build 100 short courses in France leading up to the Ryder Cup France 2018.
As the third most watched sporting event in the world spotlights France, Grizot says the FFG is reaching out to the French middle class to debunk the elitist attitude many still hold towards the game. “We have built 88 urban short courses, which means less time on the course and less money to play.”
Moreover, the FGF has been working with the National Education to school children ages 8 to 10, by giving them “Mon Carnet Golf”.
Grizot explained, “More than 70,00 students have had access to My Golf Book, which promotes the values of golf and the Ryder Cup. They can even learn English through the initiative.”
This is only the second time the Ryder Cup has been played on Continental Europe (Spain hosted in 1997) and the sold-event expects 55,000 spectators a day.
Sponsors of the 2018 Monaco US Celebrity Golf Cup included: Icon Golf, Monaco Life, CMB Banque, Monaco Asset Management, Powers Property, Fragonard, Blonde Saint-Tropez, Ryder Cup European Development Trust, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Café de Paris, Hotel Metropole, Yacht Club of Monaco, Prime Golf Academy, One Eagle, Fraser Yachts, Stars’n’Bars, Bo Concept, John Wine, Risso and Titomirov Vodka.
The golf event returns to the Principality in 2020.
Monaco US Celebrity Pro Am – Team USA vs Europe
US team: Grant Fuhr, Jerry King, Larry Fitzgerald, Josh Scobee, Kenny G, Ìlija Djurdjevic, Piers Ward, Brett Hull, Jay Feely, John Elway, Patrick Peterson, Brian Baumgartner.
Europe team: Pascal Grizot, Marco Simone, Andriy Schevchenko, Nicolas Colsaert, Ian Randell, Joe Miller, Nemanja Vidić, Jean-François Calmes, Alexandre Peclier, Thierry David, Mark Foster, Iain Balshaw.
Monaco US Celebrity Pro Am Friday June 15, 2018
PAIRINGS TEAM USA
CELEBRITY: Grant Fuhr
David Matheson, Andre Champagne, Steve Kerns
CELEBRITY: John Elway
Mike Burke, David McDonald, Jim Bridges
CELEBRITY: Brett Hull
Jeff Goodsell, Karl Overman, Doug Hesse
CELEBRITY: Brian Baumgartner
Nicole Feaster, Gary Gueye, Thibault Cayzac
CELEBRITY: Kenny G
Eric Brundage, Anthony “Toni” Torriani, Shane Heminway
CELEBRITY: Jay Feely
Piers Ward, Mike Powers, Thomas Werup
CELEBRITY: Jerry King
Doug Goldman, Jason Goldman, Matthew Goldman
CELEBRITY: Ìlija Djurdjevic
Gustav Vic, Mrs. Chang, Tom Connor 10.9
CELEBRITY: Josh Scobee, Tim Latiolais
Robert Silva, Howard Baker
PAIRINGS TEAM EUROPE
CELEBRITY: Pascal Grizot
Gaetan de Chezelles, Vincent Bribosia, Reto Bodmer
CELEBRITY: Ian Randell
Thierry David, George Gros, Pierrik Devic
CELEBRITY: Marco Simone
Andriy Schevchenko, Juri Tikhomiron, Emin Agaev
CELEBRITY: Joe Miller
Mo Iqbal, Steve Urquhart, Laurent Genal
SBM has revealed higher revenues for the financial year 2017-2018. The figures were disclosed on Wednesday, June 20, at a press conference held in the Hotel Hermitage in Monaco by Mr Jean-Luc Biamonti, Chairman and CEO of Monte Carlo SBM.
For the period from April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018, revenues recorded a significant improvement in consolidated net income with a reduction of consolidated net loss, coming from an increase of hotel revenues, a stabilisation of gaming revenues and an increase in rental revenues.
Revenues climbed to €474.6 million from €458.8 million last year, progress marked by the stability of gaming revenue, an increase of over seven percent in hotel revenues and an increase of four percent in rental revenue.
The operating loss of -€27.1 million compared to an operating loss of -€32.8 million during the previous year, an improvement of €5.7 million.
There was a significant improvement in consolidated net income, with a net consolidated loss of -€14.6 million compared to a net consolidated loss of -€36.4 million for the fiscal year 2016/2017, a reduction of €21.8 million, thanks to a strong improvement in the performance of Betclic Everest Group, with a share in net profit of €12.5 million for the fiscal year, compared to a net loss of -€4.2 million last year.
The greater accommodation capacity of Hotel de Paris this year and the good results coming from Hotel Monte Carlo Bay and Méridien Hotel have also sustained the trend.
Mr Biamonti, who is also Chairman of the board directors at Betclic Everest Group, confirmed the younger generation of players’ interest in online bets in a disrupted gambling world where habits are changing.
“Betclic is performing up to 12.5 million euros for this fiscal year with 80 percent of sales revenue coming directly from players’ mobiles,” Mr Biamonti said. “The gaming sector is in complete transformation with a player population growing old and a new generation of players interested in totally different playing activities,” he added.
That’s why SBM Is working on new proposals to attract the next generation of players to Monaco. Creating spectacular events such as “ dinners surréalistes” which have been a great success or the poker tournaments that have interested the new players’ generation who appreciate being pampered and entertained during their stay in the Principality.
On June 23 a “Belle Époque” evening is being held in the Café de Paris for SBM Casino customers on invitation with a special programme and customers being collected at their hotels by cars belonging to the private collection of The Prince of Monaco.
Hôtel de Paris is announcing an opening for the end of 2018. One Monte-Carlo will open on February 22, 2019, with boutiques and apartment rentals. All previous boutique contracts have been renewed and a number of new ones are being welcomed, including Berlutti, Hublot, Gianvitto Rossi, Fendi.
The gardens around Casino Square will be restored and improved.
The Hotel de Paris Grill, Jimmy’s and the new venue Coya are doing very well and La Vigie will open from 12:00 to 24:00 for the summer season.
Twenty-three percent of SBM hotel and restaurant clients are French, 13 percent Russians and East Europeans, with Americans in third place, Italians fourth and British fifth.
The Princess Grace Theatre has just presented the 2018-2019 season, which will begin on October 10 with Fabrice Lucchini in “Writers talk about money”.
Until May 7, 2019, 25 pieces will be performed, including Carole Bouquet in “Happy Les Heureux”, on November 8.
The Princess Grace Theatre will also take a cue from current events by joining the Women’s Abuse Day with “The Belly of the Whale” on November 22; by winking at the Grimaldi Forum exhibition “The Gold of the Pharaohs” with Sébastien Thiéry’s “Ramsès II” on October 25, and dealing with the topic of waste management with “Sale discours” (Dirty talk)” by David Wahl on January 15.
The Comédie Française will be hosted for two shows: Bajazet de Racine on March 5 – staging and scenography by Eric Ruf and “What I call forgotten” with Denis Podalydès on April 2.
Finally, please note the creation of the Friends of the Princess Grace Theatre (amisTPG@gmail.com).
Complete programming, information and prices on: www.tpgmonaco.mc
Meeting of Franco-Monegasque Mixed Commission continues bilateral cooperation
The Franco-Monegasque Mixed Commission for Social Security was held on Tuesday, June 19, at the French Ministry of Health and Social Security. The French delegation was led by Mr Francois Brillanceau, Head of the International Department of the Department of Social Security.
The Monegasque Delegation was led by Mr. Didier Gamerdinger, Monaco’s Minister of Social Affairs and Health. His Excellency Mr Claude Cottalorda, Ambassador of the Principality in France, and a number of other high-level officials from the Principality were also present.
The topics on the agenda concerned, as usual, health and social security issues, the discussions being constructive on all the topics, in a climate favourable to the continuation of cooperation between the two countries.
Prince Pierre Foundation Reading Marathon starts in Monaco
The Prince Pierre Foundation of Monaco has just launched its Reading Marathon held as part of its Literary Awards. The initiative allows lovers of contemporary literature to better know the authors selected by the Literary Council for the 2018 selections of the Literary Prize and the Bourse de la Découverte.
At its May 15 meeting, the Literary Council selected the following writers for the Prix Littéraire, a prize awarded to a French author for all of his work: René de Ceccatty, Annie Ernaux, Linda Lê, Tobie Nathan and Maurizio Serra.
Also selected, for the Bourse de la Découverte, a prize awarded to a French author for a first fiction book: Adeline Baldacchino for ‘One who said no,’ Editions Fayard, Jan. 2018; Violaine Huisman for ‘Fugitive because Queen,’ Editions Gallimard, Jan. 2018 Sébastien Ministru for ‘Learning to read,’ Editions Grasset, Jan. 2018; Bruno Pellegrino for ‘Là-bas, August is a month of autumn,’ Editions Zoé, Jan. 2018; and Agnès Rivafor ‘Geography of an adulterer,’ Editions L’arbalète / Gallimard, Jan. 2018.
All these books are available in the libraries of Monaco and Côte d’Azur participating in the Reading Marathon between June 20 and August 31, 2018.
The Prince Pierre Foundation Awards will be announced on Thursday, October 4, 2018 at Salle Garnier. MORE INFO: www.fondationprincepierre.mc
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