Online Games, Opening up to Competition Rather Restrictive
December 17th, 2009For the moment, in France, only French games (FDJ) and PMU are authorized to offer online casino gaming. But the market will soon open. Thousands of players have not waited for the legalization and launched in Paris on the Internet through sites considered illegal. They were able to play poker or bet on tennis matches, services that do not offer the two champions of French gambling.
Legislate and enforce the law on Internet exercises are complex, and governments have never been able to hinder the success of game sites online. So rather than fight against windmills, the government decided to develop another strategy. Pushed by the European Commission, who refuses to see the duopoly of the FDJ and PMU will continue, Eric Woerth, budget minister, has introduced legislation on opening up the market for online games, allowing private actors to lawfully engage in the race.
A real boon for the illegal online casinos that should finally be able to operate openly. They will thus be free to advertise in peace, and potential customers will be more reassured about their ability to receive their winnings as the activity is finally framed. The experts therefore expect growth ever seen in the number of players on the Internet. However, this does not satisfy the casinotiers online. “Several amendments strengthen restrictions against new entrants and potential European consolidate further the position of incumbents, PMU and French games, indignant and the European Association of paris and online games (Egba).
Not necessarily a bargain
Indeed, in order to become legal, online casinos, currently illegal, must close any accounts of their players. These will open new ones, which could cause an exodus. Especially in the eyes of applicants for a license, this is a distortion of competition since the FDJ and PMU will not follow this rule. According to some interpretations of the law, gaming sites online must limit access to only French players to promote the tax.
Fini, therefore, the international poker rooms. To be legal, the rooms will be exclusively French. For poker players, it means they can no longer cope with foreign players. A restriction that may frighten away the big players, who did not intend to waive commit large sums against the many wealthy Americans seeking thrills who populate the game sites online.
Without these players, who play real fortunes, these casinos will lose their chickens laid the golden egg. It was during these parties that the rake (the removal of the casino) is the most profitable. Becoming a legal means to so many poker sites online say goodbye to their favorite client, one that attracts curious young players and gives the glamorous rooms (rooms online poker). They are willing to spend a fortune in sponsorship deals to attract those who have become stars in the microcosm of increasingly large poker. With these stars are a bunch of players who dream only to face them.