Best UK Casinos Fight The French

10th February, 2010

Some of the best uk casinos are currently locked in battle with the French authorities, after claims they are offering casino games illegally to French consumers.

888 Casino, Unibet, Bwin and Sportingbet are all in the dock for what the French are calling 'illegal competition' - offering online slots, blackjack and roulette online. But the Casinos de France trade union, backed by the casino groups Barriere, Tranchant and Joagroupe are claiming that the uk casinos are contravening gaming legislation.

They also claim that their actions are against the soon-to-be released eGaming regulations, which are due to come into effect from June 1st, which allows operators to launch online sportsbook and online poker rooms, but not online casinos.

A spokesman for the French organisations said of the uk casinos' action...

'(They are) deliberately violating French legislation on games of chance by not adhering to the strict parameters for operating casinos in the country; depriving the State of substantial tax revenues, and not upholding the principles of player protection and fighting against problem gambling, fraud and money laundering.'

Bwin's lawyers claim that their clients are not targetting the French customer, rather they are offering their online casino product in French, along with 21 other different langauges between them, which does not justify them being under French law.