European gaming and hospitality company Société des Bains de Mer et du Cercle des Étrangers à Monaco (SBM) has opened the first Asian branch of its Café de Paris Monte-Carlo restaurant at the Galaxy Macau casino resort, a property owned by Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, July 31, Galaxy Entertainment announced that the Café de Paris Monte-Carlo branch opened on July 15, in a partnership with SBM. The restaurant is modelled on the Café de Paris Monte-Carlo, which dates back to 1868.

SBM specialises in the management of casinos and hotels, including the Casino de Monte-Carlo, the Casino Café de Paris, the Sun Casino, the Monte-Carlo Bay Casino and several hotels in the Principality.

Entertainment is listed as a minority shareholder in SBM, behind the Government of Monaco, the firm’s main shareholder. Galaxy Entertainment bought five percent of SBM for 40 million euros in 2015, describing at the time the purchase as “the first step in an exciting partnership” which it called strategic. The purchase was the first of any significance by Galaxy Entertainment outside Macau.

In May this year, Galaxy Entertainment and SBM indicated they might make a joint bid for a Japanese casino licence. Japan has recently passed legislation that will pave the way for a casino gaming sector.