iPoker comes to France

Playtech has announced that it is launching its own iPoker network on the newly regulated French gaming market with Chilipoker being hte first website to operate on the network

Since the recent legislation in France which has legalised online gambling, Playtech has started its own iPoker Network in France and Chilipoker is the first operator which has launched a site on the network.

So far the body in charge of regulating online gambling in France, ARJEL, has given out 11 licenses to online poker operators which include Chilipoker, Bwin, Everest, PartyPoker, BetClic, PokerStars and Winamax.

Over the coming months it is expected that more licenses will be granted for members of Playtech’s new French poker network. A number of gambling operators have said that they are seeking licences including the French land based casino groups JOA, Groupe Tranchant and Casino du Golfe. Two of them, JOA and Casino do Golfe, have already submitted their applications for a French online licence to ARJEL.

Another group which recently received a French online gambling licence was the 888/Microgaming joint poker network; they will be in direct competition with the French iPoker network in their attempts to attract French players.
Chiligaming has already entered into a partnership with the French group Iliad, they are in charge of the French internet service provider (or ISP) called ‘Free’.

The Chief Executive of Chiligaming, Alex Dreyfus, said that, “Chilipoker is very proud to have been the first iPoker licensee in France and is working actively with Playtech to make iPoker France have the biggest liquidity. Because of our poker expertise and knowledge of the French market, Chilipoker will launch a B2B poker offering very soon.”

The Chief Executive of Playtech, Mor Weizer, has said that he is “delighted” to announce the launch of the new iPoker network. He went on to say, “I am confident that it will develop to become one of the leading liquid networks in France. As the market expands in its regulated form, France has the potential to become a very substantial local market.”
However, most of the major Playtech names such as TitanBet and William Hill have not yet announced whether of when they will be launching in the new French online gaming market.