GVC, PMU get shared liquidity licenses in France

GVC Holdings – an Isle of Man-based company with operations mainly in Spain – and Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU), a Paris-based company operating mainly in France, have secured shared online poker liquidity licenses in France.

The cross-border duo has become the latest operators to get the shared license from the French online regulator ARJEL. The licenses will allow both firms to offer services in the shared liquidity market between France, Spain, Italy and Portugal.

SAS, the local subsidiary of GVC-owned Bwin, will operate the licence on behalf of its parent company, while national gambling company PMU will now also join the market.

PokerStars, Betclic and Unibet have also been handed licences by ARJEL in recent month.

In July last year, regulators from France, Italy, Spain and Portugal signed a deal to allow firms active across more than one of the markets to merge player pools.

France and Spain have already started work on the collaboration and Portugal is also set to join after passing a resolution in February but Italy is yet to confirm its intentions.