Crack out the fine vin blanc. Bake some fresh baguettes. Crush some of the special garlic. The French could be heading for some drastic changes to their online gaming regulations and it will be music to the ears of those that operate in the country.
The 175-page review was submitted to the French Finance Committee by MPs regarding the process of reshaping the market to make it a better place. It’s the first in a series of reviews culminating in a final report into the market that is expected before the end of the year.
According to the GamblingCompliance, the review gives a number of recommendations as to where the country’s online gaming market should be headed. Thankfully one of the amendments involves increasing poker liquidity. Hallelujah! It would mean that online tournaments would be open to customers from operators licensed in other EU states where ARJEL has entered agreements. That comes after ARJEL and AAMS signed an agreement, although it didn’t contain any provision to pool poker players.
Another amendment involved the endorsement of a wider range of games than is currently available. This would mean that French players would be able to play skill games for the first time. Operators that offer horseracing could also offer “multiple bets” as part of the amendments.
One of those who authored the report, UMP MP Jean-Francois Lamour, also recommended that the turnover tax be replaced with a 20% gross profit tax.
Annabelle Richard, a gaming lawyer at Ichay & Mullenex, told GamblingCompliance, “By itself this report will have very little impact.”
She did add that, “Statistically, two of the areas that keep coming up in the report are ARJEL’s powers and the horse betting industry.
“Not all these proposals will go into future amendments of the law, but a lot probably will.”
Most of those present in the market will be happy to hear these new details but whether the French market actually changes remains to be seen.
