In its September first edition, the French daily Le Figaro, published news that the bill concerning the opening of the French market for online gambling has the European Union seal of approval.

The European Commissioner in charge of Companies and Industry, Günther Verheugen, noticed last June there was some incompatibility with the European laws, mostly with regard to the providing of services within the Union and that France risked Commission legal action for violations of some E.U. rules and regulations.

The French government has brought much needed modification to its proposed initial legislation and amended the rules accordingly. The European Union seems to have accepted those amendments that have created a more compatible situation for online gambling operations in the country. The French authorities will now have to accept licensees from other member countries in the European Union.

The requirement for new operators to have a unique fiscal correspondent in France was also let go. There are still some stumbling blocks to overcome before the legislation becomes law. The upper limits of fund transfer rates and the approval from various sports organizations as to whether or not they will even allow sports betting on their competitions is still to be debated. Licences may be issued to operators by as early as May of 2010 in France.

Even as the E.U. waits for the French government to finalize the proposals it seems willing to accept that France wants to comply and has given a nod of approval to the measures taken so far. After significant delays the Parliament in France will look at the studies in October of this year and will probably vote on the issues by early next year.

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