In the heart of Paris, behind the hushed doors of Club Pierre Charron, Club Barrière or Club Circus, lies a fascinating mosaic of gamblers. Whether you're an occasional Saturday night player, a regular in search of a grind, a discreet pro or a flamboyant enthusiast... Parisian gaming clubs have become veritable social laboratories, where profiles as varied as the combinations on a board at the flop come together. So, which gambler are you? Cross portraits of a community with a thousand faces.
Seated at a blackjack table at Club Pierre Charron, Jean-Baptiste, in his elegant fifties, rests his glass of whisky. He only plays at weekends, "for the setting and the gesture", he says with a smile. A former trader now working in real estate, he loves "the tension of a well-played hand, the elegance of the ritual, like at Baccarat in Monte-Carlo." He doesn't play to win - or at least, not just to win - but to thrill. At Club Pierre Charron, everything is designed with him in mind: from the comfort of the armchairs to the quality of the food served at midnight after a gaming session.
"Here, I play like I drink a good whisky: slowly, with style."
They're the ants of Parisian poker. You'll meet them almost every day at Club Circus or Club Pierre Charron, laptop under arm, headphones screwed on. These regulars play poker like others go to the office. Kevin, 29, makes his living playing €5/€5 cash games at Club Pierre Charron: "I have my hours, my routine. I don't drink, I don't talk, I work."
Many players in this category have come up through the online ranks. They come to the club for what the Internet doesn't offer: the tells, the read, the adrenalin of a bluff against a pro. Their objective? Maximize their EV, of course, but also forge links with a community of enthusiasts.
"Game clubs are my open spaces. I'm there to optimize my spots."
He's the player you hear before you see. Woody perfume, open shirt and XXL anecdotes. He comes for the atmosphere and the fun. He bets big, he spews sometimes, but he keeps the table alive. Often spotted at Club Circus during the big weekend tournaments, he loves the big show. Malik, 42, a restaurant entrepreneur, confides: "I don't play poker, I do the show."
"When I'm at the table, I feel like Tony G. And I love it."
Silent, focused, she only speaks when she has to. And often for raise. Sophie, 38, a lawyer, plays cash games at Club Barrière. She knows the field, the dynamics, and manages her image with surgical precision. She refuses to be "the woman at the table", but knows that men still too often underestimate her.
"The best bluff is their ego. I play. They expose themselves."
There are fewer and fewer of them, but they embody the history of Parisian gambling. These former members of the Aviation Club de France, still dressed to the nines, still come to "feel the cards", as Club Barrière regular Daniel, 67, puts it: "Clubs today are more modern, more businesslike. Me, I still come for the atmosphere, the respect for codes, the silence of a real coup."
"I learned poker with wooden chips. I come here to remember."
This month, he's in Paris. Next month, Rozvadov. And in June? Vegas. François, 35, lives for live poker. He knows every European airport by heart. He chooses Club Circus for its field, Club Pierre Charron for its atmosphere and Club Barrière for its facilities. He plays to live... and lives to play. Tired but lucid, he represents this new generation of nomadic players.
"Poker is my compass. Wherever there are cards, I'm home."
Poker, Blackjack, Ultimate Poker, Punto Banco... Paris today offers a gambling scene of rare diversity. The Club Pierre Charron seduces with its standing and hushed atmosphere. The Club Barrière impresses with its setting. Club Circus radiates energy, regularity and a solid foundation in tournament poker.
They all have one thing in common: the pleasure of the game. With each card dealt, the hopes of a bluff, the tension of an all-in, and above all, the pleasure of the moment all come together. Which player are you?
Our favourite Paris addresses:
Club Pierre Charron
62 rue Pierre Charron - 75008 Paris
7J/7 de 12h30 à 6h30 du matin
01 88 40 20 00 / WhatsApp 06 56 78 37 13
www.clubpierrecharron.com
Club Circus Paris
37-39 Boulevard Murat,
75116 Paris
Daily 1:00 pm to 5:30 am
www.circus-poker.com
Club Barriere
104 av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris
Every day, 1:00 pm - 6:00 am
01 76 21 20 00
Club Barrière website
Recommended age
From 18 to 99 years old
Average duration
2 h
