Online gambling: the Barrière group files a complaint for “fraudulent use of its image”

The Barrière group of casinos and hotels announced Monday that it was filing a complaint against advertisements “usurping the image of the Barrière brand to encourage players to register and play on platforms offering illegal online gaming activities.”

The group “decided to contact the Paris public prosecutor so that the perpetrators of these acts, namely not only the owners of online games operating without approval and using the image of the Barrière group for their advertisements but also the platforms disseminating such advertisements and thus enriching themselves at the same time, are identified and held accountable,” according to a press release.

The group “is surprised that platforms, which are regularly made aware of the aforementioned risks, allow the dissemination of such prohibited elements to the general public and in particular to a minor population,” continues the press release. “The investigation will have to establish in particular whether these international actors, well known to the general public, have respected the obligations prescribed to them by French law and European regulations,” notes Barrière.

The law punishes with three years' imprisonment and a fine of 90,000 euros the fact of offering the public an offer of online gambling or chance games without approval or exclusive right, and a fine of 100,000 euros for the dissemination of advertising in favor of an unauthorized betting or gambling site, recalls Barrière.

“By filing a complaint and thus contacting the public authorities, the Barrière group believes that it is in its role to put an end to such acts with serious consequences and thus protect its customers,” comments Grégory Rabuel, general manager of Barrière cited in the press release.