ARJEL Issues More French Licenses

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ARJEL, the online gambling regulator of France, had issued the first set of licenses earlier this month just ahead of the commencement of the Football World Cup. Commenting on the fact that some big names had not been issued licenses, ARJEL had clarified that the remaining applications were under processing. No application had till then been rejected. It was expected that further licenses would be issued shortly. True to the expectation five more online gambling operators have now been issued licenses through a second list.

This list includes FriendBet for a sports betting license through LIL Managers Limited, ChiliPoker for an online poker license through Gaming Iliad SAS and Partouche for an online poker license through Partouche Gaming France SAS. One of the big names in the second list is that of PokerStars. PokerStars is not only the biggest online poker operator but is the lead sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Operating a French domain online poker room will fit well into its scheme of things.

The most awaited name in the second ARJEL list is that of PartyGaming. PartyGaming has received five licenses for various brands. Its flagship brand PartyPoker has been given a poker license. Two other existing brands PartyBets and GameBookers have received sports betting licenses from ARJEL. The remaining two brands have been especially created for the French online gambling market through exclusive B2B deals with French companies. LuckyJeux, meaning Lucky Game, is an online poker room that has the AB Groupe as its partner. The AB Groupe is one of the largest television broadcasters in France. ACFPoker is also an online poker room in collaboration with Aviation Club de France, the popular and prestigious Paris casino.

The new sports betting licensees can start operations immediately but the poker licensees, both old and new, are still on hold. The permission to start operations was not granted because of a complaint filed by Malta before the European Commission. Tonio Fenech, Malta’s Minister of Finance, explained his government’s stance. He said that Malta is opposed to a common definition of "online gambling" because that definition has been so constructed as to allow countries to retain state monopolies for online gambling. Malta has seen through what it calls "ulterior motives" behind the common definition and has therefore opposed it. Malta is neither against legalized online gambling nor against precautions required to prevent money laundering and other illegal activities but feels this can be done without having state owned monopolies. This issue was expected to be sorted out by the end of June but there is no news yet of any progress made.

A big name that has been left out in the second ARJEL list as well is Microgaming. Microgaming and its partner 888.com will have to wait for some more time before legally entering the French online gambling market.

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