Members of the European Parliament resoundingly rejected the idea of creating a unified EU market for online gaming. The vote — 544 in favor, 36 against, with 66 abstentions — adopted a nonbinding report drafted for the parliament by Danish Socialist MEP Christel Schaldemose. Her report takes a dim view of online gaming, stating that it “provides increased opportunities for corrupt practices.” It urged EU countries to enforce unified safety measures such as age limits and constraints on advertising — while leaving jurisdiction to the individual member countries concerning how much, or how little, to open up their markets to online gaming.

A rejected minority report argued that online gambling should be regulated in the same way as any other economic activity, which would mean internal market rules protecting the freedom to provide services should apply. It also asserted that the much-ballyhooed dangers of online gambling are still unproven. According to Clive Hawkswood, Chief Executive of the Remote Gambling Association, the European Parliament’s decision was more about protecting the status quo “…rather than the integrity of online gaming, which was meant to be its real purpose.”

In a somewhat related story, after persistent pressure from the European Commission, France is moving forward with its plan to open up its state-controlled market to online gaming. Last week, French Budget Minister Eric Woerth unveiled a new program to allow online operators to bid for French gaming licenses for sports betting and poker. Wednesday, it was confirmed that the plan will levy a tax of two percent for online poker and 7.5 percent for online betting on sports and horse racing. The bill, which is scheduled to be presented to the French legislature before the summer recess, will provide for the creation of a regulatory authority to award the licenses and to set guidelines which should defend against potential fraud and underage gambling. If approved, the changes would likely be enacted some time in 2010.

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Tags: Gambling, Online Gaming, Poker

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