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France Is Considering Legalizing Online Casinos

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

62%. This is public support for the French authorities’ intentions to legalize online casinos, according to a survey by the French Association of Online Games (AFJEL). Very soon, such legal amendments may become a fact, writes the French publication Le Figaro. 

Online casinos in France are prohibited by law. Along with Cyprus, it is the only country in the EU that completely bans online casino games. French authorities only allow sports betting, horse racing, and poker online. The online lottery is also legal in France, although there is only one operator – La Française des Jeux (FDJ).

However, in 2023, illegal online casinos operating in France generated an impressive 750 million euros in turnover, a sign that legal restrictions are in no way preventing these businesses from thriving from the comfort of tax havens, in which are registered.

Now the government is proposing changes as part of the draft budget for 2025, which would make the activity of online casinos subject to control. The texts were presented over the weekend and considered by French MPs on Monday. If the changes are finally adopted, virtual casino games will be taxed at 55.6% of their turnover.

The government claims that legalizing online casinos will help tackle the presence of illegal sites that often operate from tax havens. This could contribute to limiting the risk to public health,

However, the proposed amendments are not being taken lightly by casino owners, who have come out strongly against the amendment, which will expose their establishments to unwanted competition. 

“According to our calculations, the opening of online casinos to competition will lead to a drop in gross gambling revenue of land-based casinos by around 20 to 30% and the closure of 30% of establishments,” said Gregory Rabuel, president of the Casinos de France union. to the French media Les Echos.

THE BUDGETARY POLICY OF FRANCE

Last year, France’s government deficit reached 5.5% of the country’s GDP, significantly exceeding forecasts and breaching the EU’s target of 3%. Late last month, new budget minister Laurent Saint-Martin revealed that this year’s deficit could exceed 6%.

While the government hopes to rein in spending, it is also looking for ways to raise revenue. Part of the country’s current financial problems are related to reduced tax revenues. This is partly because economic growth has recently been driven by exports rather than domestic consumption, resulting in lower VAT revenues.

A review of the revenue side of the 2025 state budget, which calls for 60 billion in new tax revenue, began on Monday, kicking off the most important few weeks of Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s tenure, whose government enjoys fragile support.

In his opening speech, Economy Minister Antoine Armand advocated a budget that would allow the public deficit to be reduced to 5% of GDP in 2025, rejecting any “austerity” while predicting a 0.4% increase in public spending

Cyprus GDP Growth Accelerates To 3.3% In Q2 2026 As Employment Rises

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

Cyprus’ seasonally adjusted GDP grew 0.8% in the second quarter of 2026 from the previous quarter, while employment increased 0.5%, according to Eurostat data.

Compared with the second quarter of 2025, GDP rose 3.3% and employment increased 1.6%. Quarterly economic growth accelerated from 0.5% in the first quarter.

Cyprus Growth Picks Up In Second Quarter

The 0.8% quarterly expansion followed growth of 1.2% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 0.8% in the third quarter. Annual growth also accelerated to 3.3% from 3% in the first quarter, after reaching 4.2% in the fourth quarter and 3.5% in the third quarter of 2025.

Employment growth resumed after remaining unchanged in the first quarter. The 0.5% quarterly increase followed gains of 0.7% in the fourth quarter and 0.5% in the third quarter of 2025.

Annual employment growth slowed to 1.6% in the second quarter from 2% in both the first quarter of 2026 and the fourth quarter of 2025. Growth stood at 1.4% in the third quarter of 2025.

EU Growth Strengthens

Across the EU, GDP increased 0.7% in the second quarter from the previous quarter, while euro area output rose 0.6%. Both figures marked a sharp acceleration from the first quarter, when EU GDP grew 0.1% and euro area GDP was unchanged.

Year on year, GDP increased 1.4% in the EU and 1.2% in the euro area, up from 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively, in the previous quarter.

Ireland recorded the strongest quarterly growth at 10.2%, followed by Slovenia at 1.8% and Lithuania at 1.7%. Austria was the only member state to record a contraction, with GDP falling 0.1%.

Consumption And Trade Support Growth

Household consumption contributed 0.2 percentage points to quarterly growth in both the euro area and the EU. Net exports added 0.9 percentage points in the euro area and 0.8 points in the EU.

Inventory changes reduced growth by 0.5 percentage points in both regions. Gross fixed capital formation had little impact in the euro area and added 0.1 percentage points in the EU.

Employment increased 0.1% quarter on quarter in both the euro area and the EU. Annual employment growth reached 0.5% in the euro area and 0.4% in the EU, with 221.4 million people employed across the EU and 176.4 million in the euro area.

Hours worked increased 0.1% in both regions from the previous quarter. Compared with a year earlier, hours worked rose 0.7% in the euro area and 0.8% in the EU.

Employment Trends Vary Across Europe

Portugal recorded the strongest quarterly employment growth at 1%, followed by the Czech Republic and Malta at 0.9% each. Finland saw the largest decline, at 0.8%, followed by Greece at 0.4%.

In the United States, GDP increased 0.4% from the previous quarter and 2.1% year on year.

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