France will force ISPs to filter illegal online gaming sites.
Starting Hands
1 month after announcing their plan, the ministry of Interior continues to fight online gaming sites with 2 new measures: control of the access to money and of financial movements.
They're added to the project of law that will be discussed in parliament on 21 November.
(Interview with a ministry spokesman)
What's the legal situation concerning money games?
Opening a land-based casino in France is subject to approval from the ministry of Interior based on recommendations of the gambling commission. This system allows a strict control of the operators and the money flow.
What about the Internet?
In France, casino, gambling and other money games were banned in the 19th century. They are submitted to 3 state organizations (PMU, state casinos & FDJ).The same rules apply and in principle that makes all the sites that offer online money games illegal.
The law doesn't allow operating casinos on the net but practically speaking they kept growing in the last years. Online games are a new risk factor that strengthens and multiplies the risk connected to gaming.
Online casinos sites are outside the law and it facilitates white-washing money, evading taxes, scamming players and influences vulnerable people and minors into playing.
What are the new measures?
A "money games in new technologies observation center" was put in place.
The police track activities of illegal gaming sites and they will systematically bring to justice anyone who is promoting/advertising illegal gaming sites.
Stiffer sanctions against such advertisers will be discussed on 21 Nov. Other measures to fight gaming sites will be introduced too.
The main idea is to control the access to these sites. ISPs will be forced to warn users that these sites are illegal and legal sanctions can be taken.
The 2nd idea is to fight white-washing money. Because most sites are not located in France it�s hard to track if the money transferred to a French citizen is clean.
It's impossible to track outgoing money but we�ll force banks to block all INCOMING money from such illegal gaming sites.
Is it in accordance with European law?
The Euro laws leave it up to the states to decide how to tackle the issue, as long as the state laws are in accordance with the common interest.
Online money games are not part of the new directive about electronic commerce.
Most countries have strict laws, except the UK and Malta.
The UK voted the Gambling Act last year and it will come in effect in 2007. Commissions will deliver licenses for all gaming (internet, cell-phones�). This law is also to protect against illegal activities and vulnerable people.
France has to prove that its policy of money control and state controlled monopolies are justified. This will take months.
Meanwhile France is working hard to convince other countries to create a common law at the EU level that will be in the same direction as the French law.
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