2024-10-27 15:55:00
The government, which planned to authorize online casinos in France by ordinance, has finally backed down, for fear of penalizing “a certain number of players”, starting with physical casinos.
Budget Minister Laurent Saint-Martin told Radio J on Sunday that the government had withdrawn the amendment to the 2025 draft budget that provided for paving the way for the authorization of online casinos in France, which had recently sparked much reactions from the industry days. “There was talk of the government coming forward with an amendment. This is no longer the case. I think we need to work among ourselves first.”indicated the minister.
The amendment presented last Saturday by the government plans to authorize by decree online casinos in France, the only European Union country with Cyprus in which this form of gambling is prohibited, fixing the level of taxation. “I am very vigilant on this topic. You must not make mistakes. This should not penalize a certain number of players, especially brick-and-mortar casinos.estimated the minister. “I think we need a consultation. We need to sit around the table with the ministers concerned to look.”he continued. “I don’t want a government amendment to be tabled so far until there has been broad consultation with the ministers concerned.”he repeated.
“15 thousand jobs at risk” in the first year
The possibility of legalizing online casinos, requested by long-standing online gaming operators, had provoked a strong reaction from physical casinos, which had warned against “catastrophic consequences” on employment and their activity. More than a hundred mayors had also signed a forum to ask the government to reverse course, deeming the opening of online casinos necessary “it will lead to the disappearance of a third of French casinos” “Threatening 15,000 jobs in the first year and a 25% drop in business at the remaining casinos”.
The Addiction Federation has also raised the alarm, as online casinos are considered one of the most addictive games. When asked about postponing this measure until next year, the minister replied: “It’s comparable”. “If you legalize it, regulate it, you do it to tax it, to control it and to try (…) to defend yourself from addiction phenomena. But be careful, behind it there is an industry, there are jobs, there are cities that live from this”he detailed.
” data-script=” >
#executive #immediately #renounces #legislating #online #casinos