The agreement came after a meeting between France Budget Minister Eric Woerth and Internal Markets Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, which aimed avoiding sanctions against France for their restrictions against foreign online gambling companies.

The online gambling market in France is monopolized by PMU for horse racing and Francaise des Jeux for lotteries. "Proceedings against France for our monopoly as regards online betting have been open since June 2007. In these circumstances, either we dig in our heels or we change our position. Being realistic, we're beginning a controlled opening up of online betting, which we have presented to the European Commission," Minister Eric Woerth told the press.

The new law would be in the end of the year and would be presented to the French parliament , but France Budget Minister Eric Woerth  noted that as far as horse racing bets are concerned, there would be only prior to betting, while with the rest of the sports betting - only fixed odds betting would be allowed.