French court confirms ‘presumption' of tax fraud through Malta operation

France’s appeals court has rejected an attempt by gaming group Partouche SA to block evidence gathered during a 2011 raid by tax authorities at its Paris headquarters, over its Malta-based gaming operation.

22 May 2012, 12:00am
by Karl Stagno-Navarra

1 min read

Partouche SA chief executice Patrick Partouche faces jail if convicted over tax fraud through his Malta-based gaming operation

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The French court confirmed the "presumption of tax fraud" at companies set up by Partouche in Malta and Gibraltar, claiming that it didn't declare either operation for corporate and sales tax in France on the grounds that the companies didn't conduct business there.

Partouche was accused of setting up the shell companies in Malta and Gibraltar to facilitate online gaming in France at a time when it was banned.

Partouche Betting Limited is an International Trading Company (ITC) was registered and licensed to operate in Malta by the Lotteries and Gaming Authority in 2005, and operates from San Gwann.

Meanwhile, its Gibraltar operation - Partouche Interactive (Gibraltar) Limited- was registered in 2007 and is licensed as an online casino' licence, which allows it to operate online money games such as casino games, poker, skill games, Scratch cards and mobile games.

More from Karl Stagno-Navarra

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@Xifajk - The Gibraltar Gaming regulator certainly does make sure the licensed entities operate fair games and I expect Malta is the same; Why should companies which are not operating from France pay tax there? Which part of 'its not in your jurisdiction' have the French missed?

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If these companies are able to fraud governments, how much easier it is to fraud their customers? Are their customers given a fair play? Does the Malta Gaming Authority keep a watch on these gaming companies? Or their interest is to collect whatever and doesn't give a monkey about the players?