Partouche Online Poker Under Scrutiny From French Gaming Regulator

The Partouche group was created in 1973 by Isidore Partouche and is now one of France’s most successful leisure businesses with 49 casinos spread out across the whole of Europe. It also owns online poker site Partouche.fr, but now the poker room has come under scrutiny from
French online gaming regulator ARJEL after alleged irregularities at its poker site have come to light.
At the heart of the latest allegations are 40 suspect online accounts which may be contrary to a law which prohibits employees or family members from playing at the site and receiving rewards. Now it appears that Groupe Partouche family members had received cash and free tournament entries to Partouche.fr, and of  particular interest is the account of Yohan Zenou, who is related to Partouche Board Member Katy Zenou.
Apparently, Zenou had originally deposited a mere €175 into his online account called “yozenou” and since April, 2011, received more than €36,000 in tournament credits. The 22 year old then managed to withdraw €27,500 of his bonuses into his bank account.
Another account allegedly under investigation is said to belong to Patrick Partouche, the CEO of Groupe Partouche, who was embroiled in controversy only last year. That’s when he apparently tried to renege on a €5 million guaranteed prize pool at the €8,500 buy-in Partouche Poker Tour (PPT) Main Event after the tournament ended up €735,420 short of that sum. Following the fuss kicked up by the poker participants, the whole €5 million was eventually guaranteed but, in a fit of pique, Patrick Partouche announced that 2012 would be the PPT’s last tournament. As he stated at the time:
“I have heard, I have seen and I have been told that what Groupe Partouche was doing was not sufficient, almost dishonest. The Partouche Poker Tour bears my name and my family’s name. After 40 years in this business, reading ‘Partouche is a liar, Partouche is a cheater,’ this I cannot accept, neither can my teams. That is why I am announcing to you that you are playing the last edition of Partouche Poker Tour. The Partouche will stop Sunday night. We are sailing toward new horizons.”