Malta throws a spanner in the French poker works

06/05/2010

Connexionfrance.com reports that the new French law regulating online poker has hit a last-minute delay following a complaint from Malta.

Online sport and horse racing bets will be opened up to new, legal competition as planned from next week, but France's plans to regulate online poker have been postponed by at least a month, the publication claims.

Malta has complained that the new law, which requires operators to be licensed in France, appears to contravene EU rules on free movement of goods and services.

France now has a month to reply to Malta's concerns - and until then it cannot proceed with the poker element of the new dispensation. This means that, from next week, some betting websites will be legal and regulated for some of the gambling services they offer, but not others.

Connexion advises that the French gambling regulator ARJEL will next week announce a list of 15 betting sites that have won approval and can now operate legally in France.