Online casinos warned by France not to jump legal gun

Budget Minister Eric Woerth warned the Internet casino industry that those who violated the old rules while they are still in effect would pay the price when France reviews applications for licensing of online gambling sites.

The situation was stirred by sponsorship advertising with the Olympique Lyonnais soccer club by online casino operator BetClick. Woerth backed the soccer association, the Lique de Football Professional, in its insistence all connection with the illegal advertising be broken.

Woerth announced that, until the new rules officially take effect, promoting and advertising what is currently illegal will be seen harshly by the government, and would result in black marks when government regulators are issuing licenses. "The opening of the market for online gambling will take place during 2010," Woerth told Le Journal du Dimanche. "Until then, both sides must respect French law. Many other operators are behaving quite correctly."

France is under fire from the EC for not crafting online gambling rules compliant with single market rules. The new laws, designed by Woerth, would give competitive advantages to domestic operators over online casinos operating elsewhere in the EU but properly licensed and regulated.