France set to relax gambling laws in 2009
France’s draconian gambling laws and betting monopoly have attracted much criticism over the years. The French authorities’ crackdown on foreign gambling firms even led to several high profile arrests last year.
However, all this may be about to change, according to the French finance minister Eric Woerth. Woerth will be recommending to President Sarkozy that the country begin to relax their laws and open up the gambling market.
Hit by the European Commission over their breach of free trade laws within Europe, France looks set to mend its ways, and end the state-run monopoly. The European Commissioner had warned that any member states flouting the rules would face the European Court of Justice to settle the dispute.
The Sarkozy government plans on a “controlled opening” of the gambling market to begin in 2009 with a trial phase. This will allow private betting companies to operate within France under license under the same conditions as the current national monopoly, Pari Mutuel Urbain.
This is good news for online gambling, since in recent months, more and more markets had been closed off to operators. Other countries criticized were Germany, Greece and the Netherlands. The European Commission has been a champion for free trade in this respect, imposing the principles of the EU and forcing member states to reconsider their protectionist policies.
It remains to be seen how things will work out in the French market, but it is clear that many online casino and gambling networks will be breathing a sigh of relief.
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admin :: Apr.19.2008 :: Gambling Info :: No Comments »