Online Casino, casinos

On the 5th of May last a conference was organised by the MP Jacques Myard. Many of the major  parties were present at this event such as the ex boss of TF1 Patrick Lelay now in online sports betting, Maarten Haijer, director of reglementary affairs at the EGBA (European Gaming and Betting Association), Pontus Lindwall, director general of the Swedish online gaming site Betsson, Eric Bouhanna, director of Adictel, or the directors general of the Francaise des Jeux and the PMU, who came to defend their interests in the light of the opening up of online gaming in 2010. In the audience there were big names who came to listen to the different parties and know more about the process of the opening up of the gaming market in a few months. Alexandre Dreyfus, director general of Chiligaming was also present at the conference (Casinoweb had the pleasure of interviewing Alexandre Dreyfus and will soon put the interview online, editor's note).

Chiligaming has aligned itself with Free and Xavier Niel's group is forging ahead in the world of gaming notably in poker by launching its poker site. In fact Free has taken a major legal step by opening a gateway dedicated to the favourite game of the french, which has been popular for some years  thanks mainly to the internet. This gateway dedicated to poker and in partnership with MadeinPoker.com  (belonging to Chiligaming) offers a variety of poker news, forums and a space dedicated to beginner players.

The opening up of the online market isn't legal in the eyes of french law and the conference on the 5th of May brought up many problems between the vision of the government and the major online gaming parties. In fact the government wants taxes of 7.5% on earnings ( all wagers) while the professionals in the sector want them on the gross profit from the games ( the difference between the wagers and winnings, editor's note). Pontus Lindwall, director general of Betsson, a gaming site very well known in  “online gambling”, didn't mince his words while arguing that “the text of law didn't fulfill the needs of consumers”. Another person of importance who came to Paris to express his view, Maarten Haijer, director of reglememtary affairs at the EGBA, notably on the limitation of winnings to 80-85% of the players wagers. For,  according to him, there is no link between addiction and the amount won by a player and doesn't understand why Eric Woerth, minister for the Budget, insists on thinking that there is a correlation.

The application of the law certainly won't take place within the given time limit but most likely later than that. One participant at the conference questioned Jean-Francois Lamour, opponent of the law and ex-minister for youth and sports, about delays in the “delivery” of the first French gaming licences. The latter didn't hide the fact that the timetable  probably won't be adhered to because the project still hasn't been voted on although it should be before July, that is in two months time.

All the parties involved in gaming are in the starting blocks to be the first on the market and to grab a part of the market estimated at several billion. Certain casino owners such as Tranchant, Partouche or Barriere are interested in the stakes even if some have decided not to wait for the French licence to offer their services as is the case with Partouche. Stephane Courbit with his alliance with SBM  is well placed to benefit  notably from the French gaming licence and is counting on his partnership with the radio station Europe 1 to promote this, as is the Amaury group and also Patrick Lelay with his sports betting company.

The world of  online gaming is starting to move and this is just the beginning. To be continued....

© Casinoweb