The French Minister for Budget, Eric Woerth, is today scheduled to present the draft law for online gaming to the finance committee of the French Parliament.
The European Gaming and Betting Association has already expressed reservations over key provisions of the draft law and its compatibility with EC law, including limiting the pay-back ratio.
Sports betting operators only stand to lose customers and reputation from match fixing, which is why all online bets of EGBA members are monitored in real time by the European Sports Security Association and any suspicious betting patterns are immediately forwarded to a wide range of sports federations.
Director for Regulatory Affairs Maarten Haijer said: "Restricting the bets that can be taken within a regulatory framework will have a perverse effect. It will simply ensure that those set on corrupting sport will focus on those bets that are not permitted - with no regulatory oversight or early warning system as provided by the betting industry."
The EGBA hopes that the French Government will take into account all concerns expressed by the industry, the European Commission and other member states in amending its proposals.
