France will begin issuing authorisation for online betting operators to enter the country from the second half of 2009, according to Budget Minister Eric Woerth.
It is understood that Woerth has been in dialogue with the European Commissioner for Internal Markets and Services, Charlie McCreevy, to discuss proposals that would avert court action against France by the European Union over restrictions on online gambling.
Brussels had previously given France a final warning to change its gaming rules or be taken to the European Court of Justice.
In response to these actions, Woerth has now laid out the guidelines under which France would move towards a controlled opening of its online poker, betting and gaming markets, and said he would present them in detail to the French government during a cabinet meeting later this week.
