A couple of news lines emanating from France today have caught our eye.

Firstly, French monopoly FDJ have announced that they've fully integrated a new technology platform which will improve their sports betting offering.

The Advanced Gaming Platform will be supplied by British firm LVS, and will improve fixed odds betting for both online and offline FDJ customers.

For years, states like France have been justifying their restrictive gambling market by saying that consumer protection from gambling addiction is a chief concern of theirs.

We therefore find it just a little strange when Pascal Blyau, head of IT Projects at FDJ says:

"Now that we have this engine working at home, we are moving forward and building new features with LVS that will make our offer even more appealing for the future."

Public operators are clearly trying to turn a profit and entice customers like any private company. Yet they continue to falsley claim that they protect consumers better than anyone else.

Here's an idea Pascal, if you want to truly serve French customers best, then why not allow them to bet with whichever EU operator they choose?

Better odds? More choice?  And superior service? Oh no, that wouldn't be good for French consumers now would it? Not as good anyway, as the FDJ getting a new AGP.

Interesting also that the new platform was supplied by a British firm. Cross-border trading, it's a wonderful thing isn't it?

On a more positive note, the Senate in France has thrown out the part of the new gambling bill which states that operators would have to close the accounts of their current French customers if they want to receive a new French license later this year.

The bill which will in our opinion further restrict the French market under the guise of liberalization, is being reviewed in the Senate, and even though this point has not passed, there are still several others that render the bill as bad news for consumers.

Sacrebleu!