Gaming clubs in Paris: the 10 questions everyone has before stepping through the door

Published by Communiqué Sponsorisé · Photos by Communiqué Sponsorisé · Updated on August 6, 2026 at 05:06 p.m.
Have you ever passed by a Parisian gaming club and hesitated to step inside? ID checks, dress code, budget, blackjack rules, how a poker table works… The world can feel intimidating when you don’t know it. Yet these venues are also designed to welcome the curious and newcomers. From Club Pierre Charron to Partouche Pasino Club, including Club Barrière, Paris Élysées Club, and Impérial Club Paris, here are the ten questions people ask before their first visit.

1. What's the difference between a gaming club and a casino?

A Parisian gaming club borrows part of casino codes: dealers, tables, chips, jackpots, bar and dining. The main difference lies in theoffer proposed. Here, there are no long rows of slot machines: theexperience rests solely on table games and poker.

Blackjack, Ultimate Hold’em, Punto Banco, Three-Card Poker and cash-game poker are among the enduring classics. Each venue also has its own character. Club Pierre Charron stands out with a notably comprehensive offering that blends traditional poker with bank-style games. The Partouche Pasino Club relies on its spectacular volumes and poker festivals. L'Impérial Club is the only one in Paris to offer Sic Bo, while the Partouche Pasino Club also features Craps.

L atmosphere also differs from the casino’s sometimes intimidating image. Parisian clubs feel more like nightlife venues, with several lounges, a restaurant, a bar and, in some cases, a smoking room.

2. Can anyone join a gaming club?

Yes… under two conditions: you must be of legal age and not be prohibited from gambling. Une pièce d’identité originale et en cours de validité est obligatoire, même si l’on vient uniquement dîner ou boire un verre. Pour éviter une mauvaise surprise, le plus sûr reste de prendre sa carte nationale d’identité ou son passeport. Les documents acceptés peuvent varier selon les établissements. Les ressortissants étrangers peuvent également devoir présenter un document attestant de la régularité de leur séjour en France.

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3. Do you have to pay an admission fee, become a member, or book a reservation?

Admission is free of charge at the Pierre Charron Club, the Partouche Pasino Club, and the Paris Élysées Club. The setup at the Imperial Club Paris is different: the entry is listed at €15, of which €10 is returned as non‑negotiable tokens to Privilege card holders.

Membership and/or loyalty cards vary by venue. At Club Pierre Charron, you can get one for free on request, and it lets you bypass the line without showing ID. The cards for Club Barrière and the Partouche Pasino Club are tied to their respective loyalty programs.

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In most clubs, no reservation is required to access the gaming areas or the restaurant, and sitting at a gaming table facing the bank is freely possible.  However, you must purchase a ticket to participate in a poker tournament. Some events are highly sought after, so buying online is recommended to ensure you’ll get a seat.

Registering for a cash-game poker table is also required. French regulations mandate that you be on-site to do this. At Club Pierre Charron, where the Texas Hold’em floors fill up quickly, we recommend arriving early. If the tables are already full, most venues will put you on a waiting list and notify you by SMS as soon as a seat opens.

4. Is there a dress code?

No need to break out your suit, tie, or evening gown… unless it amuses you! Smart casual is fine in most venues.

The Pierre Charron Club takes a modern stance: all fashion styles are welcome, and its rule is summed up in a simple phrase—dress code free and fair play required.The Paris Élysées Club calls for neat, well-groomed attire, while the Partouche Pasino Club asks for an “appropriate” look.

Beyond clothing, behavior remains key. Players should show respect for fellow gamers, for the dealer’s decisions, and for the pace of the table. It is also wise to ask for permission before taking a photo: tables and other patrons cannot be photographed freely. This, too, is a hallmark of French gaming regulations.

5. Can you join in without knowing the rules?

Yes, and its even one of the main concerns to keep in mind. Teams are accustomed to welcoming people who are new to gaming. Before you bet, you can watch a few rounds and ask the dealer to walk you through how it works and spell out the rules.

Blackjack, Punto Banco, and 3-Card Poker are fairly quick to grasp. LUltimate Poker requires a bit more explanation, especially since several bets can come into play during a single hand. Cash games in Texas Holdem or Omaha, on the other hand, are geared more toward players who already know the hand rankings and the main rules of poker.

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At Club Pierre Charron, the welcome is precisely one of the strengths of the experience. Beginners can ask the staff for information before joining any of the Blackjack, Ultimate Poker, Punto Banco, 3-Card Poker, or Stud Poker tables. At the Imperial Club Paris, the dealers and table managers also highlight their support for new visitors.

The smart move is to ask questions before the round begins, then clearly declare your bets and wait for the dealer’s signals before touching the cards or the chips.

6. What budget should you plan for?

There is no ideal budget. The only reasonable rule is to decide before the night an amount you’re willing to lose, and then not to exceed it.

Minimum bets vary by game and club. At Club Pierre Charron, Ultimate Hold’em starts at €5, Three Card Poker and Stud Poker are available from €10, while Blackjack and Punto Banco begin at €20. At Club Barrière, Ultimate Hold’em is offered from €5 and Blackjack from €10. At L’Impérial, the minimum stakes start at €5 for Ultimate Poker and €10 for Blackjack or Sic Bo.

Note that a minimum bet does not always equal the total cost ofa hand. InUltimate Poker, several bets may be required. In Blackjack, optional side bets can sometimes grant access to a progressive jackpot. In cash games, you also have to distinguish between the amount of the blinds and the chip stack you sit on.

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At Club Pierre Charron, you can buy tokens with cash, by card, via bank transfer, and even with cryptocurrency. Crypto is also accepted at Partouche Pasino Club and Paris Elysées Club. It’s not unusual to spot an ATM inside the venue. Of course, that should not tempt players to go over their initial budget.

7. What games can you discover?

Blackjack remains the game that’s most instantly recognizable: the aim is to get as close to 21 as possible without busting and to beat the house. Ultimate Hold’em reuses the cards and combinations of poker, but here the player faces the house. Punto Banco, a Baccarat variant, involves betting on the player's hand, the bank's hand, or a tie.

Club Pierre Charron brings together about fifteen tables dedicated to bank-facing games, notably six Blackjack tables linked to the Blazing 7 jackpot. It also features the’ Ultimate Poker and its progressive jackpot, Punto Banco, 3-Card Poker and Stud Poker. This diversity makes it a particularly inviting spot for first-time visitors, but also for players who want to switch games during the evening.

The Paris Élysées Club places Punto Banco front and center, complemented by Blackjack, lUltimate Poker and Three-Card Poker. LImperial Club has six Punto Banco tables and stands out with Sic Bo, a dice game still rare in Paris. The Club Barrière offers Blackjack, Ultimate Poker and Punto Banco in the hushed setting of the former Aviation Club de France. Finally, the Partouche Pasino Club adds Craps to its table-game lineup.

8. Ultimate Poker and traditional poker, are they the same thing?

No, even if the cards and hands look the same. In Ultimate Holdem, each player faces the house in a predetermined sequence. In a cash game, players face off against each other and can bet, raise, or fold depending on their hand and how they read the table.

Pierre Charron Club is among the city’s top addresses for cash games. Its Poker Room features 14 RFID-equipped tables, with No Limit Texas Holdem and Pot Limit Omaha games. The lists of open tables and the number of players waiting can be viewed live on the club’s website, letting you plan your visit.

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Partouche Pasino Club has made tournament poker the centerpiece of its concept, with the majority of its tables dedicated to cash games and tournaments. Its schedule features several daily events as well as major festivals organized with Texapoker. The Club Barrière, for its part, offers cash game action at different limits and weekly tournaments. The Paris Élysées Club also rounds out its range of banker-facing games with Holdem cash games. For a first session, it’s wise to check the minimum buy-in, the blind levels, and any potential waiting list before you sit down.

9. Is it possible to drop by just for a drink or a meal?

Yes. A gaming club can be a night out in its own right, even if you don't bet a single chip. You must, however, be of legal age and present a piece ofidentification to enter. 

Pierre Charron Club pushes this dimension even further. Its bar, dining room, and smoking-library are open to non-players. The restaurant runs continuous service until 5 a.m., while the 30 m² smoking room offers a selection of Cuban cigars. So you can drop by to dine, watch a sports broadcast, or simply soak up the ambience of the lounges.

The Barrière Club also has a bar and a bistronomic dining table opening in the heart of the night. The Paris Élysées Club offers a cuisine that blends French tradition with Asian inspirations, with no reservation required. The Partouche Pasino Club offers several dining options, including an Italian-inspired table service and a finger-food offering. At l’Impérial, the restaurant, the bar and the smoking room contribute to the ambiance, augmented in the summer by intimate concerts.

10. What does a first visit actually involve?

Once your identity has been checked at the entrance, registration usually takes only a few minutes. A membership card can be issued on site, and visitors gain access to the various lounges. There's nothing forcing them to buy tokens right away—or even to play.

At the Club Pierre Charron, you can start by exploring the space, settling in at the bar or the restaurant, observing a hand of poker or watching how a Blackjack table operates. The teams are on hand to walk you through the games and answer questions. This freedom lets you get your bearings without pressure, especially when you’re accompanying a player and don’t intend to place a bet yourself.

If you decide to join in, simply head to the cashier to buy chips, then take a seat at an available table. The dealer tells you when to place your bets and walks you through the opening hands. At the end of the night, the chips are cashed in at the cashier to redeem their value.

The setup is largely the same at the Partouche Pasino Club, the Club Barrière, the Paris Élysées Club and at theImperial Club Paris. The first visit can therefore be summarized as a tour of the venue, a drink or a dinner. Walking through the doors ofa gaming club doesn’tobligate you to play. 

Our go-to spots

Club Pierre Charron
62 Rue Pierre Charron – 75008 Paris
Open daily from 12:00 to 6:30 a.m.
www.clubpierrecharron.com

Partouche Casino Club
10 avenue de la Grande Armée
75017 Paris
0140077707

The official Partouche Casino Club site

Imperial Club Paris
23 avenue d'Ivry, 75013 Paris
Every day from 2 PM to 6 AM
www.imperialclubparis.com

Paris Elysées Club
34 rue Marbeuf, 75008 Paris
Open daily from 5:00 PM to 6:00 AM
www.pariselyseesclub.com

Club Barrière
104 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris
Open daily, 1:00 PM – 6:00 AM
01 76 21 20 00
Club Barrière website

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Opening hours, the games on offer and the minimum bets, which may vary, it’s worth checking the venue’s website before you visit.

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Practical information

Recommended age
From 18 to 99 years old

Average duration
2 h

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