French Online Gambling Legislation Delayed
19th November, 2009
French gambling legislation plans, which include the use of online gambling in the country, looks like it will be delayed meaning that the reform may not be passed in time for next summer’s world cup in South Africa.
The French government plan to license online gambling operators which offer sporting bets, horse racing and poker and it has already been approved by MPs in the National Assembly. However, it is unlikely to pass the senate until the latter part of March and it will take at least three months to come into full effect.
It was hoped that legislation would come into effect in time for June’s sporting tournament, which would become a huge money making event boosting tax revenue for the country, but it now looks unlikely.
The proposed law allows web companies to obtain a license to operate in France, even if they already hold licenses in other EU countries. Currently, Française des Jeux, PMU and casinos can legally offer gambling services.
The French government hopes that legalizing online gambling will make the fight against money laundering easier and will keep minors out of the market and will protect consumers from addiction.
However, Senator François Trucy has said that parts of the law could be rewritten because there was a feeling that it did not go far enough to give health bodies the means to treat and prevent addiction.
By Faye
