Berck Casino: the courts confirm their jurisdiction
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9 Mar 2026 •
Reading time: 3 minutes
After months of legal battles over the Berck-sur-Mer casino, a new ruling has clarified the role of France’s highest administrative court. The Council of State has confirmed that it has sole jurisdiction to rule on certain aspects of the dispute between the municipality and the Partouche group.
A legal dispute that has been going on for several months
In Berck-sur-Mer, a seaside resort in Pas-de-Calais, the town and the Partouche group, via its operating subsidiary, are in dispute over the ownership of the casino building.
The origin of the dispute dates back to the imminent expiry of the public service delegation that allowed the group to manage the establishment. According to the municipality, upon expiry of this concession, the building must automatically revert to public ownership. However, the group disputes this interpretation and is seeking to have its ownership rights to the building recognised.
Several proceedings have been brought before various courts. The Council of State, France’s highest administrative court, has already ruled on this case on several occasions. In a decision handed down in early March 2026, the court confirmed that it had sole jurisdiction to hear certain appeals relating to the order issued by the judge presiding over summary proceedings at the Lille Administrative Court. This order concerned the return of the casino building to the municipality.
A transition already organised for the operation of the casino
On 19 December 2025, the judge in summary proceedings at the Lille Administrative Court had already ordered the operating group to hand over the casino building to the municipality before 1 January 2026. This injunction was accompanied by a financial penalty in the event of delay. According to the court, there was no serious doubt that the building legally belonged to the municipality. The judge also emphasised the urgency of the situation. Without the rapid return of the building, the town risked being unable to ensure the continued operation of the casino.
While the legal battle continued, the municipality did not remain inactive. The Berck-sur-Mer municipal council awarded a new public service delegation for the operation of the casino. On 24 November 2025, elected officials chose the company operating the Grand Casino de Dinant, owned by the Infiniti group, to manage the establishment for twelve years from 1 January 2026.
On 18 February, the town of Berck finally took possession of the casino building, with the support of the police. On the orders of the Prefect of Pas-de-Calais, the police intervened to enforce the court decisions requiring the establishment to be returned to the municipality. The municipality immediately had the locks replaced.
By regaining control of this building and entrusting its operation to a new operator, the town hopes to open a new chapter in its tourism development.
The Infiniti Group
The Infiniti Group was founded in 1992 by Jurgen De Munck. It manages the Grand Casino in Dinant and the Casino in Ostend in Belgium. Both casinos hold an A licence and are associated with the legal online casinos Ladbrokes and Bwin through a partnership with Entain.
The group also owns casinos in Mexico and France.