France: France would open the online gaming market in 2009

“I hope that we'll be ready to open by the second semester of next year” added the minister, who reminded that gambling in France would bring 5.2 billion euros to the State budget. This basket should not slip through the fingers of the French operators. “The opening must preserve this resource and, at the same time, preserve the channels behind” he concluded.

However, before setting up this agenda, Charlie McCreevy, the European commissioner in charge of the domestic market and services, will have to be convinced. McCreevy could find that Paris is taking a bit too long to liberalize the online gaming sector. To plead his case, the French minister should insist on the need to set up an independent regulation authority through legislative channels - this takes time - which will head the whole sector (horse racing, lottery, casinos and online games).

This authority will then have to deliver permits to the various operators in order to allow them to operate on the French territory, with specifications including an identical tax system for all, controlling the supply volume and the nature of the games, measures against money laundering and against fraud or addiction.

The opening would limit itself to websites offering bets on horse racing and sports, as requested by the Commission of Brussels, France broadening the application for poker websites as well. All other casino games (including slots) and lottery would then be excluded from the system.

If Woerth obtains the green light from Brussels, he could be announcing the future system and planned agenda as from Friday, during a press conference to be held at Roland Garros. The Cabinet meeting which will take place on 11 June could consider a bill on the matter. Due to holidays, this won't, however, be examined by the Parliament before October - unless it is placed as a matter of emergency on the Assembly's agenda. After voting during the autumn session, the application decrees will still remain to be issued. It will take at least several more months before the law comes into force.

The number of illegal websites is on the increase in the French market, in complete defiance of the law, if not impunity, as justice has toned down its actions against illicit websites. And the RG department (security branch of the French police force) seems more concerned about banning poker tournaments without any financial risk than looking into these websites. We are still waiting for the application decrees of the law of March 2007 for the prevention of delinquency, some of those being, it just so happens, blocked by Brussels.