France: regulator bans online poker bonuses

Online poker operators prohibited from offering bonuses to players while the country remains in lockdown due to Covid-19.

France.- French gambling regulator, the Autorité de régulation des jeux en ligne (ARJEL), has banned operators from offering online poker bonuses during the Coronavirus lockdown.

The regulator said it had observed a “significant increase” in new online poker players in recent weeks, driven in-part by people being ordered to stay home.

“During this confination period, the offer of sports and races are extremely limited. Because of that, the ARJEL confirmed that gamblers are tending to a massive activity of poker,” the regulator said in a statement.

“Poker is seeing an increase in revenues”, Charles Coppolani, President of Arjel, told news agency AFP.

The regulator has asked online poker operators for “vigilance” on customer behaviour and to avoid potential problem gambling by offering bonuses.