Le monopole de l’État français sur les jeux d’argent : de l’art d’extorquer des fonds aux plus démunis
Abstract
This article focuses on the socio-economic impact of the state monopoly over gambling in France within a political economic framework. Fiscal revenue collected from draw games and instant games specifically puts a disproportionate financial burden on low-income households. Consequently, games controlled by la Française des Jeux (FDJ) are inferior goods (where consumption varies inversely with income) which are subject to exorbitant tax rates. Furthermore, state-controlled FDJ encourages gambling to attract greater participation through aggressive marketing campaigns. By expanding its range of lottery games over the past several years the French state has sold the illusion of a better future to economically disadvantaged players, who statistically are programed to lose. Thus, the State uses gambling both as a fiscal tool and as a tool for social control which creates a situation that resembles racketeering towards disempowered households and individuals without using fiscal revenues from gambling to improve their plight. Far from advocating for deregulation, this article provides instead an institutional analysis of the State’s role in the gambling industry which argues for a more careful approach to regulation, one which would not only decrease public interest in gambling but would also utilize fiscal revenue from gambling for the common good.
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