The French Budget Minister, Eric Woerth announced late last week that the French government is making plans to remove the monopoly on its online gambling market and open it up to competition. The changes will come into effect next year, said Woerth.
French authorities will grant five year gambling licenses to operators starting in 2010, although these would only be available to certain sectors of the market such as poker. Casino gaming would still remain in the hands of the state monopoly for now.
France’s change of face comes from continued pressure by the European Union for the country to end its monopolistic policy and open its market to local and non-French operators.
Woerth said that sports betting and horse racing operators would be subject to 7.5% taxation, while poker rooms would need to pay 2.5% taxation.