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Day: 27 January 2026

Monte-Carlo casinos named Best Overall Casino at European Casino Awards

by: Cassandra Tanti
27/01/2026

Monte-Carlo’s two flagship casinos have taken home one of the top honours at this year’s European Casino Awards, with both the Casino de Monte-Carlo and the Casino Café de Paris named Best Overall Casino during a ceremony in Barcelona on 19th January.

The awards were held as part of the annual ICE gaming industry convention and organised by the European Casino Association. The Best Overall Casino prize recognises all-round excellence across several categories, including game variety, customer service, user experience and player safety.

This is the first time both Monaco casinos have received the title in the same year.

Speaking after the ceremony, Stéphane Valeri, President-Delegate of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM), said the award highlights the consistent work of the gaming teams: “The efforts deployed day and night by all our staff help keep Monte-Carlo at the forefront of the global gaming industry.”

A strong year for gaming in Monaco

The win follows a busy year for the Principality’s casino sector. In 2025, the Casino de Monte-Carlo recorded an 8% increase in visitors, while the Casino Café de Paris was up 7% over the same period. SBM’s loyalty programme, My Monte-Carlo, saw an 89% rise in new sign-ups.

The Casino Café de Paris hosted a number of large-scale events last year, including a 500-drone light show on Casino Square and the European launch of new machines from Aristocrat Gaming. A full renovation of the casino is expected to be completed by spring 2027.

At the Casino de Monte-Carlo, the opening of the Monte-Carlo Cigar Club in May added a new high-end offer for clientele. The club is located inside the historic office of SBM founder François Blanc.

Consistent international recognition

SBM’s casino operations have been recognised several times in recent years. In 2025, the Casino de Monte-Carlo won Best Customer Service, while the Casino Café de Paris picked up Best Live Entertainment. Both were also named Best Slot Team at the European Dealer Championship.

The Casino de Monte-Carlo previously won Best Overall Casino in 2022 and received Green Globe certification in 2025 for its efforts around sustainable and responsible gaming.

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Photo source: MCSBM

France to ban social media for under-15s by September, Macron announces

by: Cassandra Tanti
27/01/2026

France will ban social media use for children under 15 and prohibit mobile phones in high schools, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Saturday, with the government aiming to have the measures in place before the start of the next school year in September.

“The brains of our children and adolescents are not for sale,” Macron said in a video released by French broadcaster BFMTV. “Their emotions are not for sale or to be manipulated, whether by American platforms or Chinese algorithms.”

Enforcement through age verification

The ban is being led by Laure Miller, a lawmaker from Macron’s Renaissance party, who told French parliamentary television that platforms currently allow users to “enter any date of birth and access the platform” without verification.

“What we want to impose on platforms, by strictly enforcing the European Digital Services Act, is real age verification when you access a social network,” Miller said. “That changes everything, because users will actually have to prove whether they are over or under-15.”

Miller acknowledged there will “always be ways” to circumvent restrictions but argued France should “at least put our foot in the door when it comes to protecting minors online.”

Following Australia’s lead

France joins a growing number of Western countries enacting legislation to safeguard young people from potential harms of social media. Australia implemented a landmark ban in December prohibiting under-16s from having accounts on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and other platforms.

More than 4.7 million social media accounts deemed to be held by under-16s have been deactivated or removed in Australia since the ban, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last month.

“We know that social harm is being caused, and therefore we have a responsibility as a government to respond to the pleas of parents and respond as well to the campaign of young people saying, just let us be kids,” Albanese told CNN when the ban was implemented.

UK considering similar measures

The British government announced days before Macron’s statement that it is considering a range of measures to keep children safe online, including banning social media use for under-16s.

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Photo credit: Solen Feyissa, Unsplash

 

Monaco Oceanographic Museum recruiting 17 positions for summer season

by: Cassandra Tanti
27/01/2026

The Oceanographic Institute is recruiting 17 seasonal and part-time staff members for the upcoming summer season, with a recruitment day scheduled for 11th February at the Monaco Oceanographic Museum.

Positions are available starting in March across reception, ticketing, shop, and education services. The museum will conduct individual interviews with pre-registered candidates between 10am and 4pm.

Registration required by 8 February

Candidates must register in advance at www.oceano.org/rejoigneznous by 8th February, submitting a CV and cover letter through an online form. Registration includes selecting an interview time slot.

Only candidates who have registered online will be admitted to the conference room where interviews will take place. Applicants must be at least 18-years-old by the contract start date.

17 positions available

The museum is hiring four part-time scientific educators on casual contracts starting in March, working approximately 40 hours per month, primarily on weekends, public holidays, and school holidays.

Thirteen full-time seasonal contracts are available for 39 hours per week, including weekends and public holidays on a rotating schedule. These include three sales assistants at the museum shop, four ticket office agents with varying contract periods between April and August, and six multi-skilled reception agents with contracts running from April through August.

Meeting the teams

The recruitment day allows candidates to meet department managers, learn about available roles, and understand the responsibilities involved. Holding the interviews inside the museum gives applicants the opportunity to experience their potential workplace environment.

Job descriptions with essential criteria and contract dates are available on the museum’s website and social media channels.

Employment forum participation

For the second consecutive year, the Oceanographic Institute will also participate in the Employment Forum organised by the Princely Government at Grimaldi Forum on 6th February, where it will operate a stand presenting its professions and opportunities.

The recruitment campaign reflects the museum’s approach to placing people at the center of its hiring process, according to the institute.

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Photo source: Oceanographic Museum of Monaco

Monaco Employment Forum returns in February

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
27/01/2026

The Monaco pour l’Emploi recruitment forum will once again take place at the Grimaldi Forum on February 6th, uniting employers with jobseekers. 

The event, which will be held in the Diaghilev and Nijinski spaces of the venue, is expected to draw more than 5,000 candidates, offering opportunities to meet with businesses based in Monaco from various industries.

While the 2026 edition of the forum will feature employment opportunities from all economic sectors, the centre of attention will mainly be on technology roles and artificial intelligence positions. This represents an interesting swift from the previous years’ luxury industry focus.

Monaco pour l’Emploi takes advantage of Monaco’s appeal as a workplace, including its international character, attractive location, and business environment that supports both innovation and creative industries.

“One day, a thousand opportunities. Direct exchanges, spontaneous meetings, unexpected discoveries…The forum is where professional projects come to life.” Christophe Robino, Government Councillor, Minister of Social Affairs and Health said.

Monaco pour L’Emploi 2025 edition, Photo credit: Manuel Vitali / Monaco Communications Department

What to expect and how to attend

Attendees will be able to network with potential employers and learn about career paths available in Monaco’s business community. The forum is designed to promote meaningful connections between companies seeking staff and qualified candidates looking for opportunities.

Interested jobseekers and visitors need to resister in advance in order to attend through the official website at www.monacopourlemploi.com, or contact the organisers at info@monacopourlemploi.com for further details

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Main photo credit: Monaco pour l’EmploiÂ