The opening of online poker delayed one month
Malta takes a very dim view of the opening of the French market paris online and does everything to slow the process. This is the poker from the first to pay the price. Indeed, the opening to competition of the French market of online poker is postponed for one month, until late June because of an obstruction of Malta under EU rules, said the Agency France Presse (AFP) the entourage of the Department of Budget and confirming information site Challenges.fr
"We can not publish the implementation decree (for poker online) before June 28 It postponed a month because we are forced Malta, "says one with services Françoise Baroin.
A French law "relating to the introduction of competition and industry regulation of gambling and online gambling" was promulgated on May 13, followed by a dozen decrees.This legislation relates to sports paris, the paris horse and poker.
The Regulatory Authority online games (Arjel) should issue next Tuesday fifteen licenses to operators of online games, especially in order to start the paris during the FIFA World Cup (June 11-July 11 ).
Problem European procedure
The government had sent there over a year to the European Commission's draft legislation on online gaming, then notified Brussels implementing decrees, said the Budget Ministry. "Member States (EU) had three months to make their comments and Malta has chosen to do May 27", ie the last moment. France is obliged to meet in Brussels and Malta before issuing his decree. Paris now has one month to respond.
Malta, already established on the market for online games, contests a provision of the French law requiring players to register with an approved operator. This is contrary to the EU principle of free movement of persons and property.
"There is no problem on the merits. It is simply a procedural problem in Europe, as it has been commented at Bercy, stating that the grant Arjel as planned on Tuesday for its amenities paris sports, horse and poker. For the latter, many traders will await publication of the decree in late June. Still, the situation is embarrassing for the operators. Bwin, Unibet and Unibet already offer online poker. And waiting for regulatory approval to regularize their situation.