Online Casino, casinos

Online poker, sport betting and horse racing sites must be patient before obtaining a French gaming licence from the Regulatory Authority for Online Gaming (ARJEL). In fact, although the first licences were expected at the beginning of January 2010, it seems that the likelihood of seeing these licences granted to the numerous operators is lessening from day to day. The list of those applying for this gaming licence is long: Stephane Courbit (Betclic), Patrick Le Lay ( Serendipity), the actual casino groups (Partouche, Barriere, Tranchant, Joagroupe), Patrick Bruel (Winamax), Alexandre Dreyfus (Chiligaming) associated with Free without forgetting the latest arrival Arthur and the Endemol company, to cite just a few, are in the starting blocks to apply for a French gaming licence. This list is much longer when it includes the many online groups domiciled in Malta or Gibraltar and who know perfectly the world of online gaming. Many people are waiting at the door of the ARJEL to present their file which will receive or be refused the approval for the licence but everything will depend on the regulations being respected.

France was forced to open up its online gaming market under pressure from the European Union. The latter asked Paris to end its  state monopoly with the Francaise des Jeux and the PMU. These two state hens which lay golden eggs now quite legally offer online games as well as sport betting and betting on horse racing. All other operators are considered illegal in the eyes of  the French state.

Probable opening of the French market in April 2010

France is most likely going to be late granting licences because it must give more information to the European Union. In fact we wrote an article on this subject with the title “ France not in step with the European Union”.  Paris must still give Brussels some information notably on proof that high levels of prizes encourage addiction to gaming or the refusal to recognise the European licences of online gaming sites. This demand for clarification is going to delay the “distribution” of the licences. The online gaming professionals are disappointed with this delay particularly since countries like Italy, Spain or the United Kingdom have reglemented their markets for months or for years in the case of the United Kingdom. On the other hand the Francaise des Jeux and the PMU are delighted with this delay and will be able to organise major advertising campaigns to attract and keep players. In fact it's not rare to see a PMU ad offering 30 euros free to discover the online betting platform. Also the FDJ will have time to finetune its online poker site which is under construction and which will have the time to compete with the exisiting sites.

The sport betting, horse racing and online poker sites are waiting, like for the Messiah, for this famous D-Day of the granting of licences so that they can conquer a market estimated at more than 3 billion euros in 2012. It must be said that the competition will be stiff in this world where everything goes. As in all wars only the strong will survive. As for knowing who among all the candidates will come out of this battle untouched, only time will tell. To be continued.

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