I don't know about anyone else, but doesn't it seem a little hypocritical of the French to exclude foreign betting operators from accepting wagers from French citizens, but yet the French government can accept bets from other European citizens? Well, at least the European Commission has taken note. As reported by Casinowire, France's land-based and online gambling monopoly, Partouche, is preparing to launch a new online sports betting website just in time for the Euro 2008 Football Championships.

Intending to cater to the UK market, Partouche will apparently be using the recognizable face of former Manchester United star, Eric Cantona on the website. They also plan to prominently display some links to an online poker room on the Red Planet platform. Okay, if that doesn't sound like catering to UK online gamblers, then somebody please fix me a drink.

I suppose in order to skirt around France's protectionist gambling laws, the French monopoly will not be accepting bets from French citizens. But UK players, dig in! The French want to milk you dry and offer nothing in return. Oh, let's be fair. Odds. Yes, they'll offer us odds. What gets me even more are the ties that Partouche has with former 888 CEO, Vahe Baloulian (now the current CEO of Red Planet). If you are new to the block, let's just say that 888 will milk you dry as well!

The only thing else I have to say is that I hope UK bettors make a stand against Partouche, no matter how good the bonus offer. Hopefully, the European Commission will have their say first and put these mobsters in their place. Negotiations are apparently taking place as I write this, so we shall just have to wait and see.