Supporters of the measure argue that the new law will help strengthen social bonds and reduce isolation in rural areas, where many bars have closed over the past few decades. Opponents, however, caution that the change could lead to increased alcohol-related health risks

Currently, France and Cyprus are the only EU member states where online casinos remain illegal. Although France permits online sports betting and poker – the latter being viewed as a game of skill rather than chance – casino games such as slots and roulette have been prohibited

Championed as crucial and timely by Constance Le Grip, a Member of Parliament from President Emmanuel Macron's party and one of the bill's architects, the proposed law targets a spectrum of nefarious activities believed to be orchestrated by external actors

This legislation, meticulously crafted over two weeks, navigates a labyrinth of considerations, from individual autonomy to societal compassion, from the alleviation of suffering to the specter of potential abuse