Online gambling is likely to be getting a complete overhaul in France.  The market will not be opened to all games offered at online casinos put it will hopefully make life easier for other forms of online gambling.  The sports world is hoping for the new laws to make it legal to advertise their online gambling sponsors. 

Soccer clubs in particular would like to legalize the practice of fans wagering on matches using popular websites.  There is no doubt that several fans already practice this form of gambling, much like the how millions of player still gamble at online casino in the United States despite the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.  Current laws simply make it more difficult for sportsbets and soccer teams to do business.

It is illegal for teams to advertise private online gambling companies in France, even if they are major team sponsors.  That has forced teams to resort to creative measures to promote their sponsors.  One example is the Lyon team that in the past has made players wear jerseys advertising their online gambling sponsors in games outside of France.  These games were of course broadcasted in France as well. 

For now, the French Parliament is more concerned with protecting minors from unlicensed online gambling companies.  There is no real solution to protecting against gambling addiction except to forbid games of skill.  

“This bill will lead to a boom in the number of gaming websites on offer and, even more dangerously, an exponential rise in the number of users who will be lured by advertising,” said Socialist legislators Michele Delaunay and Valerie Fourneyron.