French politicians propose ARJEL and anti-doping agency merger
Bill gets first reading in French National Assembly for planned single authority covering sport and online games
French online gambling regulator ARJEL could be merged with anti-doping agency AFLD after a new bill was put forward by lawmakers to the French National Assembly in an effort to reduce public spending.
The bill outlines the possible introduction of a single authority responsible for “the integrity of sport and online games” and after a reading in the National Assembly it has been referred back to the Committee on Cultural Affairs and Education for revision.
The proposals, backed by 27 politicians, also state the new authority will be split into two sanctioning commissions with one focused on online gambling and the other on tackling doping. Support functions and legal services for ARJEL and AFLD will be merged.
The news comes after ARJEL recently reported its latest figures for the French egaming market showing overall operating income remaining negative during 2012 despite some operators starting to return to profit.
Last month the egaming regulator partnered with the country’s advertising industry’s regulatory organisation L’Autorité de Régulation Professionnelle de la Publicité (ARPP) to help combat online gambling addiction.