EGBA urges France to regulate online casino

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has urged the French authorities to regulate online casino games in response to an alarming new study which suggest the country has one of the EU’s largest online gambling black markets with an estimated annual worth of $1.5 billion in gross gaming revenue.

Although France is one of Europe’s significant gambling markets, it is one of the two EU countries which has a ban on online casino games, creating a black market with all its inherent risks. To safeguard the 3 million French players using black market websites at least once a month and foster a safe gambling environment, EGBA urges the French authorities to reassess the country’s existing ban on online casino games, and, consistent with the already established French regulation of online sports betting, take the necessary steps to ensure there is a safe and regulated environment also for the online casino players. Such a regulatory framework should be based on a multi-licensing model, where several operators can obtain business-to-customer licenses, has this has long been proven to be the most effective method to reduce black market in online gambling. “The scale of France’s online black market is alarming, and we believe it is one of the EU’s largest online gambling black markets, alongside Germany and Italy. The country’s prohibition of online casino is clearly a big part of the problem. Given the popularity of online casino in France, and the need to protect consumers from the risks of the black market, it is imperative that the French authorities urgently reassess their current ban on online casino games. The ban is counterproductive and fails consumers. By regulating online casino games through a multi-licensing model, France would better protect its consumers, regain more control over its online gambling market, and secure vital tax revenues. The best way to tackle a black market is to establish a competitive regulated market alternative. The time to act is now”, said Marteen Haijer, Secretary General EGBA.