France expects beginning opening up of online betting
France will begin issuing authorisation for online betting operators from the second half of 2009 after agreeing with the European Union to open up the market, Budget Minister Eric Woerth said. The comments follow a meeting between Woerth and Internal Markets Commissioner Charlie McCreevy this week to discuss proposals that would avert court action against France by the EU over restrictions on online gambling.
Brussels has given France a final warning to change its gaming rules or be taken to the European Court of Justice. France has agreed a *controlled opening* of its gambling sector, which is composed of two monopolies - PMU for horse racing and Francaise des Jeux for lotteries.
But EU authorities are still waiting for detailed provisions before making a final decision on suspending legal proceedings. EU olso also want to open up casino games like poker - roulette and black jack.
The European Union’s top court, the European Court of Justice, has ruled that gaming firms registered in one EU state must be allowed to operate across the 27-nation bloc unless there is an overriding national public interest not to do so. Free movement of services is enshrined in the EU treaty, but Paris has refused to grant licences to private operators -Â saying there was a need to protect consumers and stop online fraud.
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