French Online Casino Rules Fail EU Review

The French proposal to open up competition in its online casino market was rejected by the European Commission, which asked for clarifications and revisions in the policies.

The European Commission, the executive branch of the EU, has asked French authorities to make changes and modifications in the country's proposed regulations for online casinos. According to a statement issued by the French Budget Minister, concerns revolve around licensing requirements for online gambling operators.

France's new law is designed to usher in open competition in the online gambling industry, putting the country in compliance with EU trade regulations. But EC members want assurances that existing gaming operators will be able to demonstrate the conditions under which they are subject in other countries as verification of their ability to meet French standards.

The EC asserted that foreign gaming operators could only be rejected for protection of the public interest, such as rejecting sites that had been fradulent or in violation of consumer protections.

Budget Minister Eric Woerth said his agency will supply the EC with protocols for reviewing operating criteria applied to casino companies by other countries. He also said it would reveal analysis supporting the French desire to place a limit on the maximum proportion of bets returned to players.

The EC had rejected French argument that problem gambling results from increasing number of visits by winners.

France has a month to revise conditions and bring the rules into full compliance with EU law.