A French man has been banned from the principality of Monaco for assaulting his partner when she refused to cover his losing night of gambling at the Monte Carlo Casino.
The Restaurant manager from Nice was also given a six-month suspended sentence over the March 2024 incident.
The man had gambled €2500 ($2.7K) at the tables in the swanky casino before asking his partner to take out an extra €2000 in cash so he could continue gambling. She refused, and he assaulted her on the casino floor, leading to the pair being separated by security.
Prosecutors alleged the man was a gambling addict, and it was the losses that led to him blowing his fuse and assaulting his partner. They were looking for a two-month prison sentence to be served in the principality, according to The Monaco Tribune.
However the judge decided to ban him from the principality, and instead gave him a suspended sentence.
The Incident
The couple visited the Casino de Monte Carlo on a weekend evening in March 2024. The swanky casino is one of the biggest in the notorious elite playground of Monte Carlo. Earlier this year, the city hosted a European Poker Tour high roller tournament with a $100K buy-in and a $2.1 million top prize.
The criminal gambler was on much lower stakes, but still managed to lose €2500 over the evening. When his partner questioned the further input of €2000 to the gambling session, he flew off the handle and assaulted her. As well as striking the victim, he pushed her against a wall by the throat and had to be pulled away by security.
The woman later told police this was not the first time her partner had treated her in such a way. French police confirmed they had spoken to the couple over a similar incident back in Nice, over which no charges were made.
The man had a long string of criminal convictions in neighboring France. That included accusations of smuggling, narcotics, drunk driving, and violence.
He is now banned from Monaco for five years, and could see his pending sentence transferred to the French judiciary system if he breaks his restrictions.
Angry Gamblers
Gamblers losing their temper during losing sessions and causing harm to others, themselves, or casino property is not exactly uncommon around the world.
Last week, one Chinese gambler was arrested in South Korea for causing a serious fire in his casino hotel room after losing $7K at the blackjack tables.
Meanwhile, back in the U.S., a man was arrested earlier this year for starting a fight over a losing poker hand. Tavon White was arrested at the Delaware Park Casino in Wilmington back in May for causing serious injuries to another poker player after his gambling loss.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
