France Won't Budge Re: Internet GamblingDespite pressures from the European Union to loosen its stance on Internet gambling, the nation of France says it is only willing to allow flexibility with horse racing. The United States has taken a similar stance in regard to a law passed last year that makes Internet gambling illegal all but for horse racing and state lotteries.
France budget minister, Eric Woerth will be meeting with the EC’s Internal Markets Commissioner Charlie McCreevy during the months of February and March next year.
"We are not opposed to a certain opening but we will remain firm on certain points," Woerth told a French newspaper.
"Just because an operator is recognised in a foreign country is no reason for us to have to open our gates to them in France. We intend to keep control of authorisations.”
Sigrid Ligne, secretary general of the European Gaming and Betting Association, is wary that France may just be stalling.
“Negotiations have been taking place since June. Promises have been made, but no concrete solutions nor concessions have been made. All of this in the context of criminal procedures such as the Unibet one (referring to the arrest of Unibet chief executive Peter Nylander)."
On Monday, October 22, Dutch authorities arrested Unibet CEO, Petter Nylander, for breach of a French monopoly law dating from 1836. 'It could very well be that somebody has been arrested who is innocent,' EU commission spokesman Oliver Drewes told reporters. Nylander was still awaiting release from a Dutch prison by midweek.
The arrest relates to proceedings filed in 2006 by the French state-owned lottery companies, Francaise des Jeux and horse betting monopoly PMU against Unibet, alleging breach of French laws from 1836 and 1891 protecting state-owned monopolies.
But Drewes said French gaming monopoly law is not in line with EU legislation.
'There was an earlier French arrest based on the French legislation in place and that was therefore invoked by the Dutch border police,' he said.
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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
Originally published November 7, 2007 9:10 am ET
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