Thus when the Government value market updates EUR 6

At the time when all eyes are riveted on the financial crisis and its implications on the real economy, it may seem strange for concern of... games. The game is, as the inventor of the concept "Homo Ludens", Johan Huizinga, the playful element constituting an essential feature of our societies, "a serious task". The game is, especially at this time, in the heart of a discrete, but busy news.

Judicial proceedings were in fact incurred by the European Union in 2007 against online gaming monopoly held by the French for games (JDF) and the PMU. Therefore, the monopoly should fall mid-2009, to the delight of the French, whose share of games of chance in annual leisure spending rose from 6.7 in 1990 to 9.5 in 2007.

However and so each time it opens a market the ideas received, carefully maintained by the historic actor, whizzing and roiling the serenity for the development of reasonable conditions for a market closed to an open market. The threat of "tax losses for the State" and the ambition to create new taxes on these activities have become the classics of the genre.

The reality of the facts to break these misconceptions. First of all, remember that, if the online games market is actually promising, it is however not gigantic. According to the Center for the Study of Gambling (Manchester University), it should not exceed 5 of the total market of games in the European Union in 2012. Above all, this market, the rate of return to players reached 95, against 60 for the JDF and 73 for the PMU. The gross product of games (PBJ) in line which is the true sales of game sits on only 5 of the amounts wagered. Thus, when the Government value market updates EUR 6.5 billion, is meant PBJ EUR 320 million (or 5 of this amount), the rest in the pocket of the players: voila which should calm some appetites.

Moreover, public revenues of monopoly rent in the area of the games are only a very limited share of the resources of the State, because of the small percentage that represent the games in the national product. Evoke the enormity of the risk of loss of budgetary resources is therefore widely exaggerated, especially when we know that, once a sector is open to competition, it grows and creates new tax revenues, which is verified in our electricity, of ADSL, air transport, etc. However, for this market develops and fill in the term, State funds, must invent emergency incentive taxation: light, competitive and striking, the current practice, the PBJ or gains and not implemented.

The fact that the game foreign players on line represent more than 75 of this sector in France cannot, to encourage them to open fully this market for the largest number of them spendable settle among us, and we do receive jobs created, the resulting growth and taxes paid in France. Historical actors were also wrong to be frightened by these potential new entrants since they will benefit indirectly, as this has happened for France Telecom, efforts of marketing and innovation of their competitors and can take advantage of this new breath to conquer foreign markets. Moreover, their growth (between 6 and 8 annually in recent years) has not affected by the coexistence of "illegal said market."

The "legalization" of this market will also, emulation and local regulations, to increase the protection of consumers (minors, addiction, secure payments, transparency, cheating, etc.). The opening to competition will indeed trigger a race to look good and the best security that can only benefit players. The mere fact that the PMU Vienna to adopt a Charter for responsible gaming reveals the self-regulating magic of competition development.

If the France means and this is her interest fully develop this sector carrier and promising, it has therefore choice other than to play competition in full.