Companies Eye Lucrative French Gambling Licenses - 10-09-09

October 9 - There is much optimism for the upcoming regulated French gambling market, with the majority of online operators hoping to receive a license, it was revealed in a new report this week.

The report, put out by law specialist Ulys and the consulting firm MECN, asked operators about their views about the French gambling market that is due to go through a overhaul thanks to new legislation passed at the end of the year.

The liberalization of the French market will probably go into effect by next summer, and already the majority of online operations are shifting strategies to target this very lucrative market ahead of legislation.

"We will enter the French market as soon as possible, no matter what it takes," one online gambling group was quoted as saying.

Two thirds of those surveyed believed that it was crucial to obtain an online poker license to enter the French market.

A statement by MECN said that "the operations will focus on online poker and sports betting because they expect the French market to outstrip even the success story of the Italian online poker and betting market."

"Despite the many unresolved issues of the upcoming liberalization, 77 percent of the operators surveyed in MECN's study are looking to obtain a French online poker license," continued the report. "On the other hand, horserace betting monopolist PMU may be able to breathe a sigh of relief because horserace betting licenses are not nearly as popular."

The report predicted that a liberalized French market could be worth €1.7 billion by 2015.

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