A major step towards legalizing of online gambling has been recently taken in France. The bill of legalization, which was passed by the Senate of France, didn’t meet much opposition in the National Assembly either, so now it would only take a confirmation of the already drafted decrees by the European Commission before the Minister may sign it.
The EC is expected to determine whether the terms of the decrees approved by the Senate and National Assembly of France correspond with the European Union laws by the end of April and in case they do, the market of French online gambling will be gradually taken under control by the government. The requirements expected from an online casino to legally operate in France are already available for consideration, while some of the analysts point out to the fact that it might be too difficult for independent gambling operators to fulfill all of them.
On the one hand, Internet gambling market in modern France is unprotected by any laws and as François Baroin, the Budget Minister of the country, announced, a legal alternative to the black market of online casinos will be created, providing the consumers with increased stability and safety of their bets, while generating additional tax income to the state’s budget. In spite of the fact that not all of the legislators support the current legalization, it will most likely be taken on the as is conditions. The French Socialists confessed of intense pressure, which caused the bill to be passed, as many lobbies are interested in the law to raise their funds. The spokesman of Left Wing opposition Gaetan Gorce even promised to take the matter to court.
On the other hand even the agencies that should be wholly interested in legalization of gambling seem to disdain the recent French decrees. The RGA (Remote Gambling Association) considers that the decrees do not comply with the rules of European Union as they will offer too much protection to domestic online casinos, making it almost impossible for the operators of other countries to compete with the French ones. In the end it may come to the point when it will be unprofitable for international online gambling companies to offer their services to the customers of the state. In any case, the European Commission is likely to sign the decrees proposed by French legislatives as it is quite pressed for time by the football World Cup Championship in June. After the Minister signs the bill in May, online gambling will come under the government’s control and numerous court claims and issues are sure to follow.