France Changes Online Casino Rules to Address EU Concerns

After the European Union told France there were issues that needed to be addressed in its proposed online casino regulations, the country made moves to comply.

The French government has reworked problem areas in its regulatory framework for online casinos so as to remove policies that may prevent European Union approval of the rules. A primary sticking-point, the issue of Internet gambling operators being required to establish a physical base in France, was dropped.

French officials expect online casinos to be operating under the new regulations as soon as next spring. Other provisions may still need to be negotiated, but the acceptance of online casinos licensed and regulated elsewhere in the EU will likely lead to a smoothing of the process.

The EU review stressed that the objection to the proposed French law involved a situation in which the country was giving competitive advantages to domestic Internet casino operators. Precedent has been set saying that the only acceptable restraints of free trade in online gambling services involve consumer protection.

French leaders warned that the advancing of the rules does not mean they are immediately effective, and said all current laws would be sternly enforced until new laws went into effect.

Several other countries are struggling with creating online casino rules that meet EU trade standards. Many are trying to either monopolize the market or protect domestic interests, either of which is likely to draw censure from the EU.