Court Ruling Delivers Blow To French Gambling Monopolies

The Cour de Cessation, the highest appeals court in France, ruled that the
country's only justification for maintaining a state-wide monopoly on gambling is that of crime prevention. In basic terms, this means France may only prevent industry competition if the competitor is breaking one or more laws set forth by the European Union while providing their services to French residents.


The judgment supports a recent ruling from EU Courts, stating limits to competition, including those 'stemming from limits on gaming as a special or exclusive right, cannot be justified.'


The Cour de Cessation's ruling stemmed from a sanction review of Zeturf, a Maltese-based horse race betting company. The matter was brought before the court by Paris Mutuel Urbain, who currently holds a monopoly on remote horse race betting.


According to reports, France's high court overturned a decision to ban Zeturf from providing Internet horse race betting in France, boosting the EU's pressure to end corresponding state monopolies in France.


The Cour de Cessation ruling sends the case against Maltese Internet gambling company Zeturf, back to an appeals court in Paris for a re-hearing. The case may not see the light of day again for as much as one year.