The French Budget Minister, Eric Woerth, has stated that the regulations and legislation on Internet sports betting is expected to be in place by late 2009 to early 2010. This is according to a report by Reuters. Woerth was speaking at the Palais Omnisports de Bercy in Paris, France.

The Minister also stated that the drafting stage was almost complete and the French Council of Ministers would be presented the bill by the end of this year. Woerth stated: “It will be reviewed by the National Assembly and the Senate during 2009 and we will be ready late 2009 or early 2010.”

The Brussels (EU) Commission had previously asked France to modify their existing legislation (monopolistic) on the grounds that the French restrictions on competition did not agree with EU law. The bill has yet to be submitted to the Commission.

Woerth stated that the changes were not done because of pressure from the Commission: “"I do not do this because Brussels has requested it. I do it because it is necessary because these bets exist anyway and it is better [that they] be supervised."


- 2008-11-05