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France’s budget and public accounts minister officially opened the government consultation exploring the possibility of opening online casinos on Wednesday (November 6).
The minister, Laurent Saint-Martin, had announced his plans via press release but had not yet met with industry stakeholders to formulate a roadmap.
The Budget and Public Accounts Ministry's announcement revealed that the consultation will consist of three working groups. The first will address the prevention of addiction and public health, and “specific work will be carried out on the profile of players and the understanding of the risks of excessive gambling linked to online casinos.”
The second will focus on public and individual protection, which the ministry phrased as “the prevention of risks of attacks on public order in their various forms (trafficking, money laundering and identity theft).”
The final and third working group will examine economic repercussions for the physical casino industry and their localities, “taking into account, in particular, the issues linked to employment and tourist attractiveness.”
These issues were decided by a meeting held by the Ministry with the National Gaming Authority (ANJ) and the other involved parties, including the Ministries of Economy, Finance and Industry, the Economy of Tourism, Partnership with Territories and Decentralisation, Interior, Health and Access to Healthcare. According to the release, additional representatives from the online and land-based gaming industry, public health officials and local governments were present.
When the consultation was first announced last week, other points they promised would be addressed included improving the fairness of competition and ensuring consumer safety.
The consultation will involve technical meetings together with the ANJ and the relevant ministries, which will be held over a period of three months. Their initial conclusions will be presented to relevant stakeholders at the beginning of 2025.
"With the associated ministries, we share the observation and the need to have a real consultation with a clear work schedule. This method is that of collective intelligence and I am convinced that this time of exchanges will allow us to lay serene foundations that will suit everyone, " wrote Saint-Martin.
The consultation was called for after the government officially withdrew the amendment submitted to 2025’s budget, which would have regulated online casino games with a tax rate of 55.6 percent of gross gambling revenue.
The backlash from the land-based casino industry was immediate, which likened the move to a death blow for their economy. The third working group, which involves local governments, will likely please the 100-plus mayors who wrote a joint letter in Le Figaro to voice their displeasure regarding the amendment.
The ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
