888, Bwin, Sportingbet Being Sued in France
eGaming Review Magazine reports that a number of online gambling companies are being sued in France for offering casino games without permission to do so. Sportingbet, Unibet, 888 Holdings and Bwin are all named in the complaint.
From eGaming Review:
The casino groups Barrière, which is launching an online poker product with monopoly Francaise Des Jeux; Joagroupe, Tranchant and the Casinos de France trade union allege that offering the games is in contravention of current gaming legislation and of the egaming regulation set to come into effect in June, which prohibits licensed operators from offering online casino games to French players.
They also accuse the online operators of 'deliberately violating French legislation on games of chance' by not adhering to the strict parameters for operating casinos in the country, and of "depriving the State of substantial tax revenues, and not upholding the principles of player protection and fighting against problem gambling, fraud and money laundering".
The French casinos in question operate a total of 104 gaming establishments within the nation.
The Times of London quoted Sportingbet's legal representative, Maitre Martine Karsenty-Ricard, who claims the Paris court had no jurisdiction over Sportingbet or other online gambling companies operating outside France and urged judges to throw out the lawsuit.
"The case, which is likely to end Wednesday, comes two weeks before the French Senate is expected to back a bill authorising private online gamblers to apply for licences. The legislation has already been approved by the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, and is likely to come into force in time for the French to bet on the World Cup."
Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
