A new measure seeks to legalise online gambling in France

The National Assembly of France will debate a bill that might lead to the legalisation of internet casinos in the country.

Bill 1248, introduced this week by Philippe Latombe of the Democratic Movement party, proposes opening a regulated online gambling business in France.

The bill's central idea is for a "five-year moratorium," during which internet casino gaming would be authorised for five years but only for "national actors."

France's online casino

Article 2 of the bill stated that this legislation will be in effect until January 1, 2030. Following that, the market would be expanded beyond existing casino licensees and made available to new operators interested in supplying online gambling.

According to the bill, this would allow existing licensees to develop in "serene" economic conditions prior to the market's complete opening.

“If the opening were to be total and immediate, it would upset our regulatory frameworks, weaken the national casino industry and the economic balance of the municipalities where it is located,” the bill said. “This could then lead to potentially devastating consequences for employment in this sector.”

Meanwhile, Article 1 mentions allowing operators to offer online casino games similar to those found in land-based casinos.

Finally, Article 3 said that online casino games will be subject to the same levies as other types of gambling imposed by state and local governments.

Change justification

In France, online casinos are now illegal in any form. Internet sports betting and horse racing betting are permissible through authorised operators, and licenced land-based casinos are also permitted.

According to bill 1248, shifting player habits indicate that their preference is now to gamble online. However, because internet casinos are now illegal, users are compelled to play with offshore, unlicensed sites that do not provide protection measures.

According to the law, legalising online casinos and giving licences to qualified operators would help establish a safer environment for players. According to the bill, this market would also help the country collect greater tax revenue.

“The ban in force against online casinos is reaching its limits, even if the authorities try to identify and block illegal sites using court orders,” the bill said.

“Faced with these developments, it appears that the absolute prohibition regime is de facto not very protective for consumers. This justifies raising the question of the evolution of the French legal framework in order to adapt it to new practices.”

By fLEXI tEAM