French authorites question ex-888 boss

It was not clear whether Anderson, who remains an independent director at 888, was facing criminal charges in France and whether he would be interviewed under caution. 888 said it was too early to be specific about the questioning of Anderson and it could give little in the way of additional detail.

It made clear that he would be co-operating with any inquiry undertaken by French authorities.

"888 is in consultation with its legal advisers with regards to this inquiry and further announcements will be made in due course if appropriate," the company said. It added that revenues and profits from French customers represented "an immaterial percentage" of the group’s business.

Speculation immediately surfaced that Anderson would be questioned in relation to the online gamer’s former sponsorship deal with Toulouse football club.

Although the company cancelled the sponsorship in December, amid suggestions by the French Government that certain forms of advertising were illegal, the relationship was continuing while Mr Anderson was chief executive. It is thought that the French authorities threatened to sue several online gaming sites in similar cases last year.

Questioning of Anderson also follows the arrest in France last year of the founders of the Austrian gamer Bwin.com. Advertising-related charges were subsequently bought.

The move reignites the debate about the legality of internet gaming, which was effectively outlawed in America last year, prompting a rout in many UK-listed gambling stocks.

In the past, France has been critical of current legal opinion that online gaming is permissible under EU law.

The French state controls two related monopolies: Pari-Mutuel-Urbain for betting and Francaise de Jeux for gaming.