Microgame Withdraws from the French Market

No reason given for the decision The latest reports from the giant Italian online gambling company Microgame, include news that it has withdrawn from the French market, where it held an ARJEL licence for its People's Poker and People's Bet operations. The decision has not been explained yet, but the reasons may be sought in a statement made by CEO Fabrizio D'Aloia in July 2011, when he warned that his company's success in obtaining sports betting and poker licenses is not enough and that "The French market is not currently profitable and we are looking at the right time to jump in." Microgame is only one of the operators who complain about excessive high taxes in the French market. The company actually had quite some expenses to obtain French licensing and opened an office on the Avenue des Champs Elysees in Paris. It now works with a number of smaller, local land-based partners who introduce players to the game through retail locations and act as a bridge between the online and terrestrial parts of the industry.