The WSOP online activity expands to the French regulated market as ARJEL, the French regulatory gambling body approved WSOP.fr
There was fantastic news this week for French online poker as WSOP, the famous World Series of Poker brand, were granted a license to operate in France by the French online gambling regulatory agency, ARJEL. This news comes at the same time as WSOP announced it would be moving its European venture from London to Cannes.
WSOP.fr is a site created through a joint venture by Caesars Interactive Entertainment and Groupe Lucien Barriere. The site will offer real money online tournaments and also provide satellite tournaments that allow players to participate for a place in the WSOP Europe in Cannes. This move sees WSOP increase its interest in European poker having only just been granted approval to operate in Italy back in December 2010.
The news is a boost to poker in France after ARJEL only just recently suspended PokerStars Home Games after accusations that the format was contravening French law. The case remains ongoing as matters are addressed. This latest move by ARJEL that approves the World Series of Poker contradicts claims that ARJEL was to begin cracking down on online poker sites operating in France. There is a slight feeling that this is a politically motivated move by World Series of Poker. The negativity that came with the PokerStars Home Games suspension could be the reason why ARJEL has moved quickly to counter act their act of suspending PokerStars and granted WSOP approval to operate.
The bottom line is that this approval paves the way for WSOP to continue to dominate the poker scene. World Series of Poker Europe is growing in stature every year and with France holding such a firm grasp on the tournament’s format, it is only great for WSOP and France to have such stability where the WSOP Europe tournament is concerned.
