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France Is Considering Legalizing Online Casinos

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 24, 2024

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).

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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

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University Of Cyprus And DegradationLab Launch Solar Research Project

The DegradationLab Strategy Unit in Infrastructure and the University of Cyprus Photovoltaic Technology Laboratory have launched a research project focused on validating a performance monitoring system for next-generation photovoltaic devices.

Named MPPT-Solution, and formally titled “Proof of Concept of Open-Source, Low Cost, And Adaptable MPP Tracking System For Perovskite PV Devices”, the project aims to improve Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) for emerging photovoltaic technologies, including perovskite-based solar cells.

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Addressing Hysteresis In Photovoltaic Performance

One of the project’s objectives is to address measurement hysteresis, a challenge associated with several emerging photovoltaic technologies. Researchers are developing an electronic monitoring system designed to track maximum power output more accurately and support performance assessment under varying operating conditions.

Rigorous Testing And Strategic Validation

Launched on March 1, 2026, the project is scheduled to run for nine months. Testing will be conducted under controlled laboratory conditions at the University of Cyprus before moving to field trials involving large-scale perovskite photovoltaic panels. During the outdoor testing phase, international industry partners will collaborate with researchers to evaluate system performance under real-world operating conditions.

Pathway To Commercial Viability

Alongside its research objectives, MPPT-Solution is exploring the development of an open-source, low-cost and adaptable MPPT system for future commercial applications. Project participants expect the technology to contribute to improving the efficiency and monitoring capabilities of next-generation photovoltaic installations.

Strategic Funding And Innovation

Funding is provided by the Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation through its Proof of Concept programme, which forms part of the broader Smart Development initiative. Support from the programme will enable the development and validation of renewable energy technologies while strengthening research activity in Cyprus.