Eric 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.