Latvia and France Regulators Discuss Igaming Cooperation

Representatives from the Latvian and French regulatory authorities have met last week in an effort to discuss about mutual interests regarding the online gambling industry and igaming suppliers in the two European countries. The French gaming authority, ARJEL, was represented by Charles Coppolani, who discussed with executives from the Latvian gambling regulator Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection.

Spokespeople for ARJEL later announced that Latvia regulators wanted to hold this meeting to profit from the experience built by the France regulator regarding national internet gaming. Even so, igaming suppliers and online gambling operators should know that the two nations drew conclusions regarding the fact that they do share interests regarding consumer protection and the fight against companies that do not comply with the law.

When it comes to other aspects that could link the two gambling jurisdictions, spokespeople for ARJEL explained that the two countries are different in terms of regulatory frameworks and tax regimes. Thus, igaming suppliers and online gaming companies might like to know that the two nations would probably not create any gambling compacts in the near future, due to the differences in their gambling laws.

ARJEL finally stated that the two gambling markets did not find a lot of points in common regarding tax levels and gaming market structure. Like so, Latvia currently has a more relaxed tax regime, operators only having to pay 5 percent of their gross gaming revenues for the state coffers. On the other hand, operators who purchase online casinos from igaming suppliers and open gambling businesses in France are required to pay 37 percent of their gross gaming revenue to the state.

Several nations seem to be interested in the French regulatory regime, as ARJEL hosted earlier this summer lawmakers from the Singapore gambling industry, who intended to learn more about the French gaming regulatory framework.