It looks like gambling is facing an uncertain future in more places than the United States. France has somehow managed to create what seems to be an unnecessary complication around legalizing gambling in France. They passed a bill that is supposed to legalize and regulate gambling in France, but the French Constitutional Council has decided that it isn’t competent to rule on the bill. And while the bill is stalled, there have been some problems that have come to light. Apparently, the bill would require established European gambling operators operating in France to duplicate the controls and guarantees that they already have in place.
The result of this confusion is already being felt. The British site, Betfair has already announced that it will stop accepting bets from France. The pull out of the French market might be temporary while Betfair considers whether or not it wants to pursue the right to offer gambling services to the country. But the statements from Betfair don’t look encouraging for the gambling market in France overall. Executives at Betfair have stated that they believe that the proposed restrictions in France will make it difficult for new online casinos to establish themselves in the French market and that the ultimate loser will be the French consumer.
There is a chance for hope on the horizon. There is a review scheduled 18 months from now where the law could be amended to address what the casino operators see as a flaw in the system. I’m wondering where this will go sense I don’t get the feel of the same level of debate over whether or not gambling should be allowed that I see in the United States. More that the debate is over the level of control France itself should have over the process. That issue would seem to me to be easier to address. At least, for France, we hope so.