France is set to begin a “controlled opening up” of online gambling markets over the next 18 months, according to the French budget minister.
French budget minister Eric Woerth has claimed that online gambling firms will soon be given authorisation to operate in France.Reporting the comments, Reuters indicates that Mr Woerth met with the European Union's (EU's) internal markets commissioner Charlie McCreevy last week in order to prevent the EU taking action against France for restricting internet gambling.
It is hoped casino games such as poker, roulette and blackjack will be opened up by any deal - with Mr Woerth citing the second half of 2009 as the date operations can begin from the country.
"Proceedings against France for our monopoly as regards online betting have been open since June 2007. In these circumstances, either we dig in our heels or we change our position," he told the news agency.
The minister was referring to the fact that the EU had given France a final warning about changing its gambling rules, threatening the country's government with court action if nothing was done.
In other European gambling news recently, IGamingBusiness.com reported that German casinos are losing revenue due to an enforced smoking ban.
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