January 19 - The Remote Gambling Association (RGA), representing some
of the biggest licensed gambling operators in the industry, has called on the
French government not to vote on legislation today that will push through a new
gambling bill in the country.
While the bill is being showcased as one that will liberalize the French
gambling industry, the RGA claims that the bill is in fact a "flawed system that
would create an environment in which regulated, blue chip sports betting
operators could not possibly hope to be successful and which would not provide
any added value for French consumers."
As such, the RGA has threatened to mount a legal challenge if the French pass
the bill in its current form.
"The French government has made it clear that it has no real intention of
liberalizing the French online gambling market, but plans to retain a monopoly
system in everything but name," said the Chief Executive Officer of the RGA,
Clive Hawkswood. "This can only be detrimental to French consumers and raises
the question of whether the reform is only a pretext for protecting the existing
monopolists, FDJ and PMU."
The RGA showed as an example of its claims of discrimination, the demand by
the French government for foreign licensees to delete their French customers'
accounts, despite the fact that French monopolies are not required to do this.
Hawkswood said that the RGA remains committed to working constructively with
the French through the legislative process. "We continue to hope that the bill
be will be amended," he said, "but if it remains disproportionately restrictive
and anti-competitive, we may be left with no alternative other than to pursue
legal action."
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