Well ahead of the opening up of the French online and land casino gambling market, anticipated to happen in 2010, the French daily Le Monde carried reports indicating that numerous prominent players in the industry including Betlick, Unibet, and Bwin are already teeming with French interests in great anticipation.

In major publicity and advertising activities specifically intended to raise awareness, the teams have reportedly joined hands with time honoured firms like the state controlled Francaise des Jeux and Tour de France Amaury in funding numerous sporting and a variety of activities. Unlike what has been in the past, there are indications that French authorities, knowing that change is looming are beginning to take a tolerant position.

Unibet is reportedly backing up its pledge of Euro 1 million in a renewable treaty for the coming year. The company is already teaming up with the Paris Saint-Germain football club, with the rare opportunity to consider having their trademark on the back of the players’ shirts this coming season.

According to Le Monde, Betlick will be the endorsed shirt sponsor of the Olymique de Marseille football club for 2009 – 2010, and it’s the certified gaming affiliate for Saint-Etienne.

Responsive to the challenges of the contests ahead, Fdj is upping its sponsorship in multi-million franc contract, which include its very own Fdj- backed poker team, clearly also eyeing Bwin and Unibet which have collaborated with Le parisien and Metro publications to build up poker events.