French Gambling Bill Passes France's National Assembly
9th October, 2009
According to eGaming Review, an amendment that forces operators to shut down French playing accounts when the bill regulating French online gaming is voted in early next year, has been passed by the French National Assembly.
The news has come as a severe blow to operators that operated largely in France, including: Betclick, bwin and unibet. They will online be allowed to open new French account once they’re licensed which could come five or six months later if the bill is passed by the Senate.
However, French monopolies, Française des Jeux (FDJ) and Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU), won’t be affected and will be able to accept new French players during the period. The amendment was proposed early this week and was passed last night. The wider draft is currently being debated. The senate will vote by January 2010.
The European gaming and betting association (EGBA) a trade group that represents operators including: Bwin, Expekt, PartyGaming and Unibet has hit out earlier in the week against the measures saying that the laws were designed to protect the French monopolies.
EGBA Secretary General, Sigrid Ligné, said, “The measure is clearly anti-competitive and can be added to other similar elements of the regulation. The Senate still has to debate the text but if the amendment is confirmed, it will only serve to highlight the real intention behind the draft regulation, which is to prevent EU-licensed operators from being profitable in France and to reinforce the position of the historic operators there.”
Industry insiders predict the French monopolies to launch sportsbook and poker solutions in a bid to build up their player database whilst competitors cannot operate in the French market during the first half of next year.
Licenses are expected to be handed out by the French Government in June in time to coincide with the World cup hosted by South Africa.
By Faye
