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Commission Toughens Stance on Rogue Countries

Now that online casino gambling and internet betting are prominent industries in Europe, the European Commission is having a hard time bringing the few remaining countries to heel. Basically, once online casinos were legalized across the European Union, a few countries (namely France, Germany, and Sweden) refused to open the countries borders to foreign providers. Sweden pushed to maintain the one government monopoly as the sole internet gambling entity available to Swedes, while France is still adamant that the country will not allow internet gambling companies access to the French market.

Naturally, once some of the countries in the EU refused to allow online casinos from out-of-country companies, other countries cried foul. The EU treaty basically allows that all countries operating under the EU have free provision of services – and this now includes online casinos. The European Commission began to address these issues earlier this year and asked each of the offended countries to alter state gambling laws. And though none agreed immediately, France is now the only country straight out refusing to alter legislation that blocks out-of-country online casino companies.

The French draft law prohibits foreign operators from access to the French market, and this is the specific law that the Commission is demanding that the French government alter before August 24, 2007 if it hopes to avoid further legal and court proceedings from the Commission.

A spokesperson for the Commission commented that the Commission has now formally addressed the issue with the French government and given a firm deadline. Many are waiting to see if the threat of legal action from the Commission is enough to sway the French government into action and implementation of more inclusive online casino legislation.