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Stanleybet set to challenge ‘mythical’ opening of French betting market

Mar 03, 2010 - Liverpool

 

Liverpool, March 3, 2010 - Stanleybet, Europe's leading cross-border retail sports betting company, is set to challenge the legality of changes to the law governing betting in France. The changes are described by the French Government as opening up the betting market. In practice the single market principles of the European Union which also enshrine consumer choice continue to be disregarded because 'bricks and mortar' operators are prevented from entering the market.

 

Stanleybet, which operates more than 1,700 outlets across Europe, is taking action because of the failure of the French authorities to respond to an application for a sports betting licence which Stanleybet lodged in June 2009. It requested the repeal of the law which grants a legal monopoly to Française des Jeux (FDJ) and to allow Stanleybet to open an initial one hundred shops across France. The licence application remains unanswered.

 

"The French State's desire to push forward their online gaming bill has left us with no option but to challenge these plans before the Council of State. It is a myth that the French market is set to open as the majority of betting will remain firmly and monopolistically in the hands of Française des Jeux and Pari Mutuel Urbain with only online betting which represents approximately 3% of the value of the total market being freed up. EU law is designed to give the consumer choice and we challenge France to open its market truly and give the French consumers the choice that they deserve and to which they are legally entitled," said John Whittaker, Stanleybet CEO.

 

Stanleybet's cross-border business model has been endorsed by the European Courts of Justice in both the Gambelli (2003) and Placanica (2007) rulings - decisions which resulted in the opening up of the gaming market in Italy, Denmark and elsewhere in Europe.

 

"We have no doubt that like the Italian courts, the French legal system is respectful of the rule of law and we are fully confident that the Council of State will deal with our claims in earnest and impartially and do what is right," said John Whittaker.



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