Gambling organisation warns against French betting change
Posted by Gavin Smith on 27 Jul 2009 at 10:07
A continental gambling association has warned French government plans to force operators to pay fees to sporting federations for the right to offer betting on their events could cause industry unrest.
E Gaming Review reports the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) said the idea could be "highly problematic".
The site reports EGRmagazine was told by the EGBA that the French government should consider using tax revenue from gaming to go towards sports instead.
French officials have proposed the plans, which would come into force next year, in an effort to “preserve the integrity of sports”.
Quoted by eGaming Review, EGBA director for regulatory affairs Maarten Haijer said: "EGBA members have always been willing to pay taxes and contribute to sports federations, but the EGBA is opposed to what would be a precedent in Europe: there is no link between a sports betting right and the integrity of sport."
Critics have said that the French government is using the idea of integrity in an effort to justify new cash creating methods.
According to the eGaming Review report, the French government is also seen as using the issue as a political tool, and wants to demonstrate that sports bodies can make money from betting companies.
The EGBA also warned that French betting firms hit by the proposed levy could simply turn to promoting markets on sports which they don't have to pay a fee for and as a result could turn away from the likes of top-level French football.
