French Casinos

France is among the countries that boast a rich, long history as far as gambling is concerned. Some of the oldest gambling venues in Europe are located on French soil, not to mention this is the country to introduce the Queen to the standard 52-card deck we all have come to know and play with today. Many traditional table games were born in France, including staples the likes of blackjack and baccarat. France was also the place where the mathematician Blaise Pascal invented the roulette wheel in an attempt to create a perpetual motion machine.

• France’s Stance on Online Gambling
• The French Gambling Act
• Gambling Regulatory Bodies
• Taxes on Online Gambling in France
• The Future of Online Gambling

Yet, despite France’s colorful gambling profile, the country’s legal stance on online gambling remains rather paradoxical. Both land-based and some forms of online gambling are legal on the territory of the country, but heavy restrictions are imposed on the latter, preventing the French market from developing to its full potential. Despite the limited number of options Frenchmen are provided with, gambling remains a popular form of recreation in the county, with millions of French residents making bets online.

While the Gambling Act of 2009 legalized online gambling in France, currently, the local Regulatory Authority for Online Games (ARJEL), which was reformed to the Gambling Authority (ANJ) in 2019, has not issued any online casino licenses, leaving French players no other choice but to turn to offshore brands. While this means they would participate in unlicensed online gaming, French authorities still have not taken any measures against those who join offshore online casinos.

Below, we offer French players an overview of the current gambling legislation in their homeland as well as brief information on the country’s regulatory authorities and taxation policies. We have also listed several online casinos where French players can enjoy a vast variety of gaming options, generous promotions, and overall a great online gaming time.

Best French-Friendly Casinos

Below, we have compiled a concise list of top online casinos welcoming players from France. These operators cater to the preferences of different players, providing diverse gaming options that include anything from classic slots to innovative live-dealer options. The majority of these brands support payments in EUR, enabling fee-free transactions to French players who can avoid currency conversion surcharges.

Generous promotions are also among the perks the following casino brands can offer their new members. Meanwhile, regular players can often make use of recurring offers, making their casino journeys even more riveting.

France’s Stance on Online Gambling

The legal framework in regard to online gambling in France remained rather complicated for quite some time. All forms of interactive betting were considered illegal in the country until 2005, when the first steps towards regulation of the online gambling market were made. Once again, it was the European Commission that intervened and pressured France into opening its gambling market as was the case with several other European countries.

After conducting an extensive investigation of France’s interactive gambling climate in 2006, the European Commission requested several amendments to be made to the existing legislation so that it becomes compliant with the European Union’s laws regarding free trade. Some of the conditions the Commission deemed “unfavorable” included the French gambling taxation system, the limited number of gambling options offered by the operators, and the rigid requirements for keeping gambling servers on the territory of the country.

This pressure resulted in the French authorities introducing a new bill in 2009 that would at least partially open the country’s online gambling market to competition on behalf of operators, based in other member states of the European Union.

The French Gambling Act

The French Gambling Act is one of the most important pieces of legislation on gambling in France as it helped the country make its baby steps towards market liberalization. The Act officially came into effect as of May 12, 2010, and states that both land-based and online gambling is legal in France as long as the operators have acquired a license from a local regulatory body. On that note, it is also worth mentioning that the enforcement of the French Gambling Act coincided with the establishment of a new regulatory body, the Regulatory Authority for Online Games, that was to oversee and control the online gaming market in the country.

Much to the demise of French casino game fans, the Act lifted the ban only on specific forms of online gambling. France may be the country where the roulette wheel originated from, yet players in this jurisdiction are not allowed to legally partake in roulette games over the internet. The same applies in full force to other games of chance, such as online slots, arcades, baccarat, and craps. Blackjack is also excluded from the list of legal online gambling options, despite the fact skilled gamblers can influence the outcome of the hands through advantage play. These casino games are available for real-money play only at brick-and-mortar gambling establishments in France.

French legislators are primarily focused on preventing French players from becoming addicted to certain games that are based on chance. Lawmakers argue that playing the aforementioned games online comes with a higher risk of developing a pathological gambling problem since they were reliant solely on luck as opposed to games like poker, where players modify their strategy and are able to win thanks to their skills, experience, and knowledge.

Thus, the Act allows operators that have acquired local licenses to offer only three forms of online gambling to French residents, namely poker (the Act states “club” games, but basically poker is the only table game permitted), sports betting, and horse-race betting. Some of the largest poker platforms in the world have already received licenses to legally operate in France, including big industry players PokerStars and partypoker. Then again, many online casino operators in the industry are not eligible to receive a French license by default because their portfolios consist predominantly of games of chance, which are deemed “addictive” by the French legislators.

Online poker has been legal on the territory of the country for seven years now, but the operators need to pay hefty fees and taxes after obtaining their licenses from the French authorities. This is precisely what impedes the gambling market growth in the country.

Gambling Regulatory Bodies in France

Currently, there are several regulatory entities which are responsible for the supervision of gambling activities on the territory of France. Land-based betting is regulated and supervised by two different bodies, namely the Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU) and the Pari Mutuel Hippodrome (PMH), which are responsible for overseeing the horse racing sector of the French market. Then again, the national lottery and other similar games of chance, such as bingo, are under the control of the Francaise des Jeux (FDJ).

As was mentioned above, the Regulatory Authority for Online Games is the body, responsible for the licensing and regulation of all permitted forms of online gambling in France. ARJEL can issue interactive gambling operators three different types of licenses – for online sports betting services (which include pool betting, betting on the live markets, and fixed-odds betting), for web-based horse racing betting services, and for online poker products (which covers poker variations such as Omaha Poker 4 and Texas Hold’em Limit/No Limit/Pot Limit). The listed variations of poker can be offered by licensed operators in the form of cash games or tournaments.

The Regulatory Authority for Online Games also ensures the locally licensed gambling providers operate in compliance with its guidelines. Other responsibilities of ARJEL include protection of vulnerable players, prevention of pathological gambling, ensuring fair play on behalf of online gambling operators, dealing with unauthorized gambling websites, and prevention of financial frauds and money laundering practices.

France made the first steps toward market restrictions when in June 2010, the Regulatory Authority reached out to unauthorized gambling websites that were known to accept players from the country and politely demanded them to cease these practices if they do not intend to apply for a local license. Since these offshore operators were practically licensed under jurisdictions where online casino games were legal, French authorities had no way of effectively persecuting them. Because of this, the authorities opted for restricting the access to such unlicensed websites, rather than levying fines on them. The former is obviously deemed the more effective option.

Once operators obtain a French license, they are subjected to system verifications and various compliance audits on a regular basis. The Regulatory Authority has published an official list of authorized gambling operators on its website for all French players to see and updates it on a regular basis. Another requirement is for the online gambling operators to offer their services via a French domain, ending in the .fr extension.

Very few online gambling operators continue to accept French players and to cater to their needs. Some web-based casinos support French which allows players from the country to conveniently manage their accounts, process payments, and participate in promotional offers in their native language. Since France is a member state of the European Union, French players are typically able to deposit in their preferred currency, the EUR. However, since such operators are not licensed by ARJEL, they risk facing fines for offering their services to local players. The good news is that players, at least, are not subjected to any persecution on behalf of the local government for betting at unauthorized casino websites.

Taxes on Online Gambling in France

France opening its market to foreign competitors results in a number of benefits for local players as the latter are provided with the option to choose from a wider range of licensed, secure gambling websites where they could legally bet on poker and sports. However, there is one major stumbling block to the market’s liberalization and it results from the excessive taxes, levied by the local government.

Taxes are imposed on both poker and sports betting but the taxation system in France works a bit differently when compared to that in other countries. For instance, there is a 2% tax that is imposed on poker pots plus the rakes that online poker operators typically collect from each pot. This translates into French players being forced to pay around 7.5% in overall rake per pot as opposed to other countries where poker fans pay an average rake of 4% to 5% per pot. Meanwhile, there is a tax of 8.5% on all sports betting wagers.

Licensed gambling operators offering sports betting, horse race betting, and poker services over the web to French citizens are also expected to contribute with various taxes. The procedures concerning the application are similar for all three services, but a separate license needs to be issued for each. Thus, approved licensees are required to pay a fee of €2,000, €8,000, or €10,000, for one, two or all three licenses, respectively. In addition, there are annual fees that amount to €20,000, €30,000 and €40,000, depending on the number of licenses the gambling operators hold.

The Future of Online Gambling in France

France may have commenced treading the thorny path toward market liberalization but unfortunately, its market is not growing at a rapid pace. This can easily be attributed to the fact the number of options players from France are given is quite limited, with poker, sports and horse-race betting being pretty much the only legal forms of online gambling in the country.

The excessive corporate taxes and license fees are yet another obstacle to the market’s development as they prevent a good number of established online operators from even applying for a local license. Some large poker operators, such as Titan Poker, PKR Poker, and 888poker, have already opted for leaving the market altogether, citing the burdensome taxes as the reason.

Many French poker players still prefer to engage in their favorite game of skill at unauthorized poker websites which have not obtained local licenses. This can be easily explained by the disadvantageous conditions French poker fans are forced to play in. Unfortunately, the increased rakes per pot are not the only disadvantage players from France suffer from. In addition, French poker fans, registered at leading poker platforms like PokerStars, are “fenced off” from fellow players from other countries since the French regulations dictate that only permanent residents of France can contribute to the accumulation of the online poker pools. Thus, when a given player accesses a licensed poker website via its .fr domain, they are able to compete only against other people who are located on French soil. As of February 2017, Winamax became the only online poker platform in France to accept registrations from people residing in other countries.

This way, French poker websites cannot generate enough interest on behalf of local players as the latter simply have no incentive to bet there because of the smaller pools. In addition, this also leads to liquidity problems for the interactive poker operators themselves due to the limited player base frequenting their websites.

The online gambling market in France has a huge potential to grow provided that various amendments are made to the current legislation, including the reduction of license fees and lifting the restrictions on online poker pools.

FAQ

Deposit Methods

Due to the current legal status of online casino gaming in France, players residing in the country often resort to illegal gaming at offshore casinos. That calls for extra cautiousness when they play online and wager real money. That is why French players must carefully pick the payment methods they utilize for their online deposits and withdrawals, allowing them to handle all their bankrolls in a safer manner.

The predominant number of offshore online casinos that accept registrants from France include crypto brands that mostly enable payments through popular cryptocurrencies. These include Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and many more, catering to different players who are looking for a safer way to handle their payments. Often, crypto casinos may also allow players who do not own crypto to use third-party platforms in order to purchase crypto for their gaming purposes.

In addition to crypto options, online casinos catering to French players might also offer alternatives like bank cards and e-wallets, allowing fast and safe deposits to those who are eager to enjoy their favorite games online.

Crypto Payments

As mentioned above, the majority of online casinos that are currently accepting players from France tend to cater to those who prefer crypto payments. That makes crypto options some of the most convenient solutions that French players can use to handle their casino deposits. Whether you prefer Bitcoin or another popular cryptocurrency, chances are, you will be able to easily handle your deposits at your preferred crypto casino.

Typically, crypto casinos tend to offer third-party platform payments for players who do not own crypto. Changelly is often commonly integrated into the payment systems of such casinos, allowing French players to use regular fiat options like credit/debit cards or e-wallets to purchase crypto coins for their casino adventures.

The great thing about crypto deposits is that you will be able to top up your gaming account almost instantly, allowing you to enjoy your favorite casino games any time you feel like it. Withdrawals to crypto wallets are also usually a convenient option available to French players. Crypto deposits often qualify players for generous match bonuses, making their gaming experience even more enjoyable. The limits on crypto deposits often differ according to the casino’s policy but one great thing is that the casino will not impose fees on deposits carried out via a crypto method.

Bank Cards

French players might also have the chance to handle their casino deposits via credit/debit cards, enabling instant and safe deposits at any time and place. Visa and Mastercard, which are the two top card issuers in most parts of the world, are both accepted at a wide range of French-friendly online casinos. If you choose this method, you will be able to top up your gaming account instantly, with the majority of casinos imposing no surcharges on card deposits.

While some methods might be excluded from promotions, card deposits are usually your most secure way to snag a generous match bonus. This is another reason why some French players might consider handling their casino deposits via credit/debit cards. Once you have topped up your gaming account via a bank card, you may also be able to withdraw your winnings using the same method.

Card payments are usually extremely secure as they utilize SSL encryption and other industry-standard technology to protect your payments. That said, one considerable disadvantage of the method is the need to expose your card details if you wish to use it for your casino deposits. Other than that, card payments are considered a great payment solution for French players.

E-wallets

The availability of e-wallet options depends on the casino’s banking policy, but this is another alternative that may be often available to French players. Depending on the casino’s preferences, players might be able to resort to the service of digital wallets by Skrill, Neteller, Payz, or other similar companies.

A great feature of e-wallets is the speed of transactions, allowing players to make instant deposits, with no personal information being shared with the casino during the transactions. Casino payments via e-wallets tend to be extremely safe, giving players peace of mind while they play online.

Conveniently enough, e-wallets are often accepted as a withdrawal option at most French-friendly casinos. That way, players can easily handle all of their casino payments with a single option, allowing them to usually enjoy their winnings in the 24 hours following the casino’s withdrawal approval.

Popular Games and Live Dealers

Online casinos that welcome French players tend to offer a huge gaming diversity, bringing players a wide selection of classic and innovative new options. Resorting to the software solutions of various providers, online casinos catering to French players can offer a myriad of titles that fall under different categories and can suit the preferences of any type of player.

When it comes to slots, players from France will usually have the chance to explore various options, with classic three-reel slots and advanced feature-packed video slots offering casino fans plenty of diversity to explore. Some top titles we can mention include Book of Dead, Big Bass Bonanza, Valley of the Gods, and plenty of other exciting slot variations that anyone can enjoy.

Of course, slot diversity is not the only thing French online players can enjoy as many virtual casinos have also included a wide range of table and card games in their gaming lobbies. If you enjoy classics like roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and poker, chances are, you will be able to explore a myriad of variations of these all-time favorites. Ranging rules, bet limits, and bonus features are some of the elements you can add to your classic casino play, enjoying titles like French Roulette, Single Deck Blackjack, Baccarat Pro, Pai Gow Poker, and many more.

Video poker variations may also be available at French-friendly casinos, offering players the chance to bet on popular variations like Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Double Bonus Poker, and many more. Some options may also offer the chance to bet on multiple hands at once, making video poker a faster-paced game.

Jackpot games are also among the exciting options one could enjoy at a French-friendly online casino. You can test your luck and maybe even win a life-changing payout thanks to jackpot titles like Crown of Fire, A Night in Paris, Fire Hot 100, and many more.

To make one’s online casino experience even more intriguing, casinos catering to French players may also add some extra spice by offering live-dealer solutions by major providers like Evolution and Pragmatic Play. That means a myriad of Live Casino options that include classic table games as well as live game shows. Some exciting titles worth mentioning include Lightning Roulette, ONE Blackjack, Sweet Bonanza Candyland, and Dream Catcher to name a few.