France Set To Legalise Online Gambling

State monopoly of online gambling market set to end in France.

France is preparing to end its state monopoly of the online gambling sector, with a new gaming bill expected by the end of the month.

Eric Woerth, the country's budget minister, said that government policies must be altered to reflect the changing "reality" of internet gambling in France, with the state already losing a significant portion of revenue to illegal operators.

The European Commission has demanded that countries put an end to the state monopoly of gambling markets in order to satisfy EU competition laws.

According to the Financial Times, Mr Woerth claimed that there was "no use denying the reality of online gambling and the expectations of French people".

While slot machines will remain under state control, online operators will receive five-year licences to accept bets from French residents on sports events and poker from next year.

However, the government is planning to implement a tax of 7.5 per cent for companies offering sports betting, a move which could deter some operators from entering the gambling market in France.