by Margaret Oliveira, News Staff Writer

September 5, 2009
 

Anticipating liberalized online gambling laws in France, leading European online casino and poker room software developer, Playtech, has announced plans to open a stand-alone internet poker network targeting the French market. As revealed to EGR Magazine, Playtech's CEO, Mor Weizer, said the company is making plans so that they are ready to start doing business in France as soon as online gambling regulatory laws go into effect.

Using the same strategy that was successfully implemented to become a major player in Italy, Weizer said Playtech would be building French-only liquidity by forging alliances with the leading French gambling operators already in business on the internet front or likewise seeking to enter the online gambling marketplace. Weizer did not go into detail about these alliances nor would not confirm exactly how many partners the software developer had acquired, but did say the agreements would "work in a balanced way between all licensees" so as to foster mutual success.

Top poker room, Chili Poker, which is already supplied by Playtech, is reported to already have an agreement with France's second largest ISP, Free, to serve as an online poker platform. Other potential partners are also rumored to be part of the agreement.

Analysts will agree that "balance" is the key to gaining momentum in France, where up until now, monopolization and EU non-compliant trade policies were pushing outside operators out of France. But with pressure from the EU and the online gambling community at large, France has turned around it's policies and is coming one step closer to liberalization. And that entails more operators and competition vying for French players.

Playtech certainly will not be without competition in the online poker sector. Party Gaming's CEO, Jim Ryan, also recently announced the online gaming giant also intends to launch a French poker room when legislation is enacted. Still, considering how active the French online gambling market is, there will be plenty to go round.

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