With France set to change its gambling policy next year, authorities have moved to crackdown on online casino operators looking to jump the gun by advertising already.

French officials have been forced to warn several companies that the countryÂ's laws have not yet changed, with internet betting company Zeturf in particular catching the ire of media regulators.

Zeturf purchased a full-page advert in Metro featuring the Prix delÂ'Arc de Triomphe horse race which made reference to the companyÂ's favourable odds and prompt payments and French authorities are currently considering the ad ‘unauthorizedÂ'.

Zeturf have since insisted that the page was in fact only a press release, but Budget Minister Eric Woerth maintains that it was advertising in disguise and has warned the company that such actions could have an impact on their potential licensing next year.

With France opening its gambling market to licensed EU competitors by 2010, online casinos are queuing up to secure their piece of the French market. However, Woerth and his colleagues remain adamant about stopping any operator from gaining an unfair head-start on the competition and have warned that any such attempts will be remembered when the licensing hearings are held next year.