Several European counties that have been trying to adapt their gambling news and regulations to the fast developing gambling sector and France is among those that are currently experiencing various setbacks, concerning predominantly the poker sector. Prominent poker players accused the French gambling regulator ARJEL of careless behaviour towards the future of the poker industry.
As a response to players’ dissatisfaction, Charles Coppolani, the President of ARJEL, set a meeting with the aim of discussing and eventually figuring out the troubles that have befallen the French poker players recently. These include the bankruptcy of Europoker, the financial losses for the players and the pessimistic situation in general.
The meeting was held last week and it seems like it had a positive effect on players’ attitude towards ARJEL. They expressed their hopes that the future will bring many positive changes to the industry. The improved communication with the ARJEL authorities was considered to be a good start.
Apart from the President, Mr. Coppolani, five key figures in the gambling business attended the meeting as well. Representatives of the poker players were Antoine Lafond, Iannis Iglesias, Alexander Crouan and Jean Xavier Raynoud.
Despite the contrasting standpoints, both parties made efforts and discussed the reasons that have led to that unpleasant result and to the decline of the French poker industry in particular.
It is common knowledge that the poker activities were legalized four years ago and since then a rapid downfall have been observed. What made the players even angrier was the announcement the President made that the crisis is a result of the fact that the poker game is getting a bit unfashionable.
During the discussion, the two parties agreed that the current situation was caused by high taxes, the firm presence and respectively the negative influence of the unregulated gambling markets and last but not least the bad pay off.
The representatives of the players and the regulators focused manly on solving the following issues: the taxes, the operators are supposed to pay; the variety of games available and the licenses the French regulators are going to provide UK, Spanish and Italian gambling operators with.
Coppolani approved of the players’ proposal for making the taxes, the poker operators pay, a bit more bearable. Operators that provide their services in France are currently supposed to pay taxes twice higher than in the other European countries. The players’ representatives were convinced that the reduction of the taxes would encourage the operators to provide a wide variety of services and engage more players.
As far as the liquidity is concerned, the authorities have already rejected the acceptance of a proposal of this kind. However, the players asked Mr. Coppolani to try to convince the members of the French Parliament once again. Although ARJEL supports the idea of working in collaboration with counties, that have legalized the online poker as well, it meets the opposition of the Committee of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Economy.
After the meeting, the overall impression of the players was positive. They were hopeful that the difficult communication with ARJEL’s members is now in the past and Mr.Coppolani will take the matters wholeheartedly and work towards the prompt solving of the issues and the development of the industry. They are convinced that Coppolani has the power as well as the prerogatives to implement the amenities needed in order to revitalize the French poker sector.
