In keeping with the current European trends, Titan Poker has announced the approval of their French service, Titan.fr.
Operated by the Paris-based Nation Traffic SAS, this newest entry into the French gaming scene is currently open to all members of the nation’s playing populace. According to a statement from the newly christened site, “Former TitanPoker.com players will receive excellent conditions for resuming their activity on Titan.fr while new members will receive particularly lucrative promotional offers.
“All Titan.fr players, both new and old, can expect tempting bonuses, tournaments, freerolls and a generous VIP programme.”
Following the model of their predecessors, Titan.fr hopes to find its niche in France’s closed-door poker market. Though the thought of government sanctioned online gaming is at first appealing, there are several factors which have arisen to challenge its player base. Among these is an increase in rake, which is used to pay the taxes imposed by the ruling body. This burden, in turn, falls on the relatively limited population of players operating within the nation’s borders.
“With over ten years of experience in the industry,” says Benjamin Issembert, President for The Nation Traffic, “we are confident beyond any shadow of a doubt that we will succeed in competing with the current leaders in the French poker market and will hold a place in the heart of French players.”
Titan’s worldwide operations may indeed give them a necessary edge, thanks to their high level of name recognition. The nation’s players are already serviced through such sites as PokerStars.fr, EverestPoker.fr, Bwin.fr, and PartyPoker.fr. The offerings of PokerStars and EverestPoker are generally considered to be the most popular, though their enrollment pales in comparison with even some mid-level sites offering international enrollment.
However, such services provide an interesting model for those seeking to craft a similar system in the United States. Members of Congress would do well to keep tabs on the respective successes and failures of the French poker market, in order to avoid any obvious pitfalls.