Report: French market to be worth €1.7 billion by 2015

[The Buzz]

The French online gambling market is set to open sometime next year and many operators are excited about boosting their business. A report from consulting firm MECN and law specialist Ulys says there's reason for this optimism.

The report says that gross revenues from a liberalized French online gambling market could grow to €1.7 billion by 2015.

From iGaming Business:

According to MECN's new research, around 80 percent of gambling operators and experts that it surveyed consider the French market ‘relevant or even very relevant’ for their future business.

[Anthony]

Excusez-moi €1.7 billion... aimer la France!

[JonOfFinsbury]

The French market might be big, but it won't be much use to foreign operators if they can't get worthwhile access to it.

France's National Assembly (its Parliament or Congress) is debating the draft laws this week - and surprise surprise, they're likely to benefit the existing local players. More on the new laws from EGR and from EGBA, which has hit out at the laws

[JonOfFinsbury]

From today's Snapshot: France’s main opposition party has waded into the debate on the draft legislation to liberalise online gambling taking place in France’s National Assembly this week, including launching an attempt to have the laws rejected by the assembly outright. As well as being criticised by the Socialist Party and the European Betting and Gaming Association this week, two of Europe’s leading gaming and betting lawyers warned yesterday that the draft laws will enrich major sports bodies while depriving smaller ones of funds.



And on Sportinget if you're interested:



Despite fears that the laws could force operators to make their French customers re-register, British operator Sportingbet will apply for a licence in France when legislation allows it, EGRmagazine.com revealed exclusively yesterday. Sportingbet is focusing on several markets simultaneously as “a broad geographic base helps to reduce the impact of potential regulatory shocks,” the company said as it unveiled full year results yesterday.