French changes to online gambling market discussed - Online Bingo News

The French government’s slow move towards a more open online gambling market took some tentative steps forward after a meeting between France’s budget minister, Eric Woerth, and the European Commission (EC) chief Charlie McCreevy that saw a draft proposal for market regulation discussed.

At stake is the continued dominance of the French gambling market by a state-owned monopoly which has been singled out by the EC as contrary to European Union principles aimed at free trade between member states.  The EC has threatened court action over the continued operation of a monopoly in France.

UK publication The Financial Times has reported that a meeting between McCreevy and Woerth proved positive, though online gaming companies remain skeptical that France will make enough changes to allow a truly free market.

Currently, online bingo games operators and non-French online bingo halls are restricted to from accessing the French market.  Hopes are that changes in French policy may influence other monopoly-oriented member states to change their policies and allow bingo online to access a larger share of the European online gaming market.

Commenting on the ongoing efforts to have France relax its monopoly laws, major online bingo operator Ladbrokes said France’s market needed to reflect cross-border competition for real progress to be realized.

“However it is likely that the French government will adopt a very restrictive regime with high tax rates,” a Ladbrokes spokesman said, according to the Financial Times report.

For its part, the European Gaming and Betting Association claimed more details are needed to determine the scope of how far France is willing to relax its market.

”While the implementation in France of an online gambling regulatory framework would be a long-expected move for the EU regulated operators, it is crucial that such a framework is fully adapted to the cross-border nature of the online sector and does not lead in practice to any forced establishment,” the Association said.

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