Legal Overview
France legalized online gambling in 2010 with Law No. 2010-476, creating a regulated market for sports betting, horse racing, and poker. Casino games were added in 2020 under the PACTE law. The market is strictly controlled by the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ).
Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ)
The ANJ (formerly ARJEL) is the French gambling regulator, responsible for:
- Issuing and monitoring gambling licenses
- Enforcing compliance with French gambling laws
- Protecting players and preventing gambling addiction
- Operating the national self-exclusion register (INTERDIS)
- Regulating gambling advertising and sponsorships
- Combating illegal gambling and money laundering
Licensed Products
France allows the following online gambling products:
- Sports betting: Pre-match and live betting on sports events
- Horse racing: Pari-mutuel and fixed-odds betting
- Poker: Cash games and tournaments
- Casino games: Slots, table games, and live dealer games (since 2020)
Player Protection Measures
France has comprehensive player protection requirements:
- INTERDIS: National self-exclusion register managed by ANJ
- Deposit limits: Weekly deposit limits of €500 (can be increased to €1,000)
- Account verification: Mandatory identity verification before play
- Cooling-off periods: 24-hour to 3-day cooling-off options
- Reality checks: Regular notifications during play
- Advertising restrictions: Strict rules on gambling marketing
- Responsible gambling messages: Mandatory warnings in all advertising
Licensing Requirements
To operate in France, online gambling operators must:
- Obtain a French gambling license from the ANJ
- Use a .fr domain or clearly identify as French-licensed
- Integrate with the INTERDIS self-exclusion system
- Implement all mandatory player protection tools
- Comply with strict advertising and marketing rules
- Pay applicable taxes on gross gaming revenue
- Submit to regular audits and compliance checks
- Have servers located in France or approved jurisdictions
Taxation
France has a complex tax system for gambling:
- Sports betting: 7.5% on turnover + 0.3% social levy
- Horse racing: 6.6% on turnover + 0.3% social levy
- Poker: 2% on entry fees + 0.3% social levy
- Casino games: 55.5% on gross gaming revenue
- Players: Winnings are tax-free for recreational players
INTERDIS Self-Exclusion
INTERDIS is France's national self-exclusion system:
- Voluntary registration: Players can self-exclude from all licensed operators
- Cross-operator: Exclusion applies to all ANJ-licensed sites
- Minimum period: Self-exclusion for at least 3 years
- Judicial exclusion: Courts can order exclusions for problem gamblers
- Casino integration: Also covers land-based casinos
Recent Regulatory Changes
The French market continues to evolve:
- 2010: Market opening for sports betting, poker, and horse racing
- 2020: Casino games legalized under PACTE law
- 2021: ARJEL becomes ANJ with expanded powers
- 2023: Enhanced advertising restrictions and player protection measures
- Ongoing: ANJ actively monitors and sanctions non-compliant operators
Responsible Gambling Resources
France provides extensive support for problem gambling:
- INTERDIS: National self-exclusion register
- Joueurs Info Service: National gambling helpline (09 74 75 13 13)
- Addictions France: Support organization for addiction issues
- SOS Joueurs: Support group for problem gamblers