The Casino King: How Patrick Partouche Built an Empire from Blackjack to Boardrooms

Patrick Partouche wasn’t born into a dynasty of casino moguls. He wasn’t handed a multi-million-dollar empire on a silver platter. The guy started from scratch—just a scrappy kid from Annaba, Algeria, born in 1964 to a hardworking family that didn’t have a clue about gambling. His father, Isidore Partouche, was an electrician, not some high-rolling Vegas tycoon.

But Patrick had the one thing every self-made success story needs: an appetite for risk.

At just a year old, his family moved to France, looking for a better life. They weren’t rich. They weren’t privileged. But they were relentless. And relentless people make things happen.

The First Big Bet: A Casino in the Middle of Nowhere

Most people wouldn’t gamble their life savings on an old, run-down casino in a random town in northern France. But Isidore Partouche wasn’t most people. In 1973, he made a move that would change the trajectory of his family’s future—he bought a casino in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux.

And here’s the kicker: it wasn’t even a “real” casino.

No poker. No blackjack. No fancy VIP lounges. Just a game called la boule, which was basically a discount version of roulette. The place wasn’t some luxurious Monte Carlo getaway—it was a small-time gambling hall with a hotel and a bottling plant.

But Isidore saw what others didn’t. He saw an opportunity.

And Patrick? He was thrown into the deep end early. By 14, while his friends were playing video games, he was running a nightclub inside the casino. At 17, he became a blackjack dealer. He wasn’t just learning the game—he was learning people. How they think, how they react, how they bet. And most importantly? How the house always wins.

Building an Empire, One Casino at a Time

By the late ’80s, the Partouche family wasn’t just running a single casino anymore. They were buying them up like crazy.

1989: They went big—acquiring four casinos in one swoop.

1995: They made a move no other French casino operator had dared to—going public.

Why? Because Patrick wanted legitimacy. Casinos had a shady reputation. People whispered about money laundering and crime syndicates. He wanted to prove that casinos could be run like real businesses—with transparency, strategy, and smart investments.

And it worked.

Over the next two decades, the Partouche Group exploded. They weren’t just in gambling anymore. They were in entertainment. Hotels. Spas. Golf courses. High-end resorts.

This wasn’t just about casinos anymore. This was about controlling the entire experience.

High Stakes: The Challenges of Running a Casino Empire