Casino News Article of the Month: French Government Puts Pressure on Internet Gambling

It shall be interesting to see what unfolds in France this month, considering the very recent online casino gambling "crackdown" imposed by French authorities. Beginning in September of last year, two executive founders of Bwin, Manfred Bodner and Norbert Teufelberger, were arrested at a press conference in France. Publicizing a sponsorship deal with the soccer club, AC Monaco, the two were arrested on the grounds that they were in violation of online gambling laws. The two men were bailed out days later, in what appeared to be a scaring tactic of sorts. Shortly after their release, French football officials placed a ban on the sponsoring of football clubs by online casinos and sportsbooks and anything else iGaming related, and AC Monaco and Bwin's partnership was put to an end. This was soon followed by a dissolution between the French football club, Toulouse and 888 Holdings, which brings us to the current state of affairs in France. Just recently, French officials requested the former CEO of 888, John Anderson, to meet with them in regards to advertising for their very popular online casino and poker room. Now, French officials have allegedly requested interviews with some twenty executives with ties to online casinos, poker rooms and sportsbooks. The last Friday of February, 888 abruptly ceased allowing French players to open accounts at any of their sites, which confirms the pressuring and threats of the French government are getting more and more serious. Although not taking as forceful and bullied an approach as the U.S. the French online gambling scene could very well resemble that of the U.S. in the near future.