I don't know about anyone else, but
doesn't it seem a little hypocritical of the French to
exclude foreign betting operators from accepting wagers
from French citizens, but yet the French government can
accept bets from other European citizens? Well, at least
the European Commission has taken note. As reported by
Casinowire, France's land-based and online gambling
monopoly, Partouche, is preparing to launch a new online
sports betting website just in time for the Euro 2008
Football Championships.
Intending to cater to the UK market,
Partouche will apparently be using the recognizable face
of former Manchester United star, Eric Cantona on the
website. They also plan to prominently display some
links to an online poker room on the Red Planet
platform. Okay, if that doesn't sound like catering to
UK online gamblers, then somebody please fix me a drink.
I suppose in order to skirt around
France's protectionist gambling laws, the French
monopoly will not be accepting bets from French
citizens. But UK players, dig in! The French want to
milk you dry and offer nothing in return. Oh, let's be
fair. Odds. Yes, they'll offer us odds. What gets me
even more are the ties that Partouche has with former
888 CEO, Vahe Baloulian (now the current CEO of Red
Planet). If you are new to the block, let's just say
that 888 will milk you dry as well!
The only thing else I have to say is
that I hope UK bettors make a stand against Partouche,
no matter how good the bonus offer. Hopefully, the
European Commission will have their say first and put
these mobsters in their place. Negotiations are
apparently taking place as I write this, so we shall
just have to wait and see.
