Developments in the French market are set to continue as working groups convene as a conclusion is desired when it comes to the potential regulation of the market.
According to a report by SBCNews, discussions will continue on 2 December, with an integral focus on tackling addiction and mitigating problem gambling rates.
It looks to find a clearer picture of what regulation could look like in the future of the French market amidst a backdrop of political disruption.
It’s one of the initial steps spearheaded by Budget Minister Laurent Saint-Martin as a six-month consultation led by three working groups.
A further key factor will be how any decision impacts the political landscape in France will also be a key consideration for the government parties at the center of discussions.
Furthermore, there is a possibility for the land based sector and the budget ministry to have varying priorities over the development of the framework.
One of the pivotal figures when it comes to progress is Marine Le Pen, leader of the far right party Rassemblement National, who effectively has the deciding vote on whether to vote the budget through.
The potential launch of France’s regulated casino market was central to discussions at the AFJEL annual conference.
Speaking at the event, Nicolas Béraud, CEO of French market leader Betclic and President of AFJEL, emphasised his belief that amidst the growth of the illegal market, the “status quo is no longer tenable”, with licensed operators simply handicapped and unable to offer a key product to consumers.
When questioned on whether regulation would bring the illegal market into a regulated environment, Béraud said he was unsure “if it was denial; the topic is not whether it should open, the market is already open”.
He added that French players can find an online casino site on Google in minutes and “play without even realising it’s an illegal site”. He also made the point that with an estimated four million players already active and revenues of €2bn, the illegal market in France is already “the size of a mature market”.
“We honestly don’t know if problem gambling rates have gotten worse in recent years, but the four million playing on illegal sites should be brought into a legal setting. There is no one better than online operators at monitoring activity and detecting problem gamblers,” added Béraud.
