How To Legally Gamble Online In France! (2024)

How To Legally Gamble Online In France! (1)

tags: activities, gambling

France is one of the top 10 countries with the most casinos, with around 200 casinos nationwide.

However, gambling online in France is still relatively new and highly regulated.

Can I gamble online in France?

At the more than 200 land-based casinos in France, if you’re 18 years old or older, most forms of gambling are legal, from casino card games, slots, sports betting and horse race betting (as of 2022.)

However, online gambling in France is an entirely different story.

Online gambling is regulated by : L’Autorité nationale des Jeux – ANJ

Online gambling is still in its infancy and has only been legal in France since 2010. However, it’s strictly regulated. In an attempt to stop gambling from becoming an addiction, the Justice Ministry in France does not allow any online casino games of chance, such as spread betting and betting exchange.

What types of online gambling can you play in France?

Only three types of internet gambling are permitted, which must be run by licensed companies:

  • Online horse race betting
  • Online sports betting (VisitBestbettingsites.comfor a list of betting sites in France)
  • Online Poker. (Although poker is a classic casino game, it’s legal to play online because it’s a skill-based game where players can change their strategy for different situations.)

The French have a long history of gambling.

  • In the 1500s, the French were the first to add the Queen to the deck of cards.
  • In the 17th century, the French mathematician Blaise Pascal invented the roulette wheel, which later led to the introduction of the popular game of roulette.
  • The game 21, “vingt-et-un,” may have originated in French casinos around 1700 A.D. and migrated to the United States around the 1800s.
  • Blackjack might have originated from a French card game called “chemin de fer,” which translates to “railroad.”
  • In 1997, the gambling age was lowered from 21 to 18.
  • In 1988, slot machines became legal after previously being banned.

How To Legally Gamble Online In France! (2)

Because French law doesn’t allow unlicensed online bookmakers and poker rooms or any kind of online casino games except for poker, many players in France have been left feeling frustrated- unable to access their online gambling and poker accounts.

Players also have to pay taxes from their online gambling winnings, from 19% to 34%.

Some players have managed to find ways to bypass the legislation:

  • Using a foreign postal address
  • Hiding their IP address
  • Using third parties to make deposits for them
  • Changing their IP address- a tactic that some British vacationers and expats who want to access their UK or foreign gambling accounts while visiting France.

What happens if a player tries to bet on an unlicensed site?

If you try to access an unlicensed site while in France, one of the following things might happen:

  1. You can’t access the site.
  2. A message may pop up stating that you can’t join this particular site.
  3. You’ll get redirected to the French equivalent, if available.
  4. You may be able to register if you use a UK address. Most UK bookies will ignore your location, although most operators take steps to identify your location once you have registered.

How can an operator verify my location?

When you sign up with an unlicensed bookmaker, they may use these three pieces of information to identify your location.

  • Your IP address
  • Your registered home address.
  • The address registered on your credit card.

You’ll also receive an email asking you to prove that you’re in the UK. Some operators may suspend your account if you can’t, but some may give you a grace period of up to two weeks to provide proof of address. They’ll ask you why you have a French IP address.

Is it possible to disguise your location?

It’s possible to get around the IP address check by changing your IP address to mask your PC’s location by using a VPN. Some players have also discovered a way to get a postal address in the UK and use various forms of secure payment methods, including pre-payment options to avoid giving details of their French bank accounts.

Despite the restrictions placed on the online gambling industry in France, it still manages to show signs of modest growth.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a 'petite commission' at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through my links. It helps me buy more wine and cheese. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Related Articles you might like

Budget travel France: Best cost cutting tips from a local

40 French Halloween costumes: Inspired ideas for adults

10 Largest Cities In France You’re Probably Pronouncing Wrong

Annie André

About the author

I'm Annie André, a bilingual North American with Thai and French Canadian roots. I've lived in France since 2011. When I'm not eating cheese, drinking wine or hanging out with my husband and children, I write articles on my personal blog annieandre.com for intellectually curious people interested in all things France: Life in France, travel to France, French culture, French language, travel and more.

How To Legally Gamble Online In France! (2024)

FAQs

How To Legally Gamble Online In France!? ›

At present, online casino is not legal in any form in France. Internet sports wagering and horse racing betting is permitted through approved operators, while licensed land-based casinos are also legal.

Is it legal to gamble online in France? ›

There are two main bodies responsible for the regulation of the gambling industry in France – PMU (Pari Mutuel Urbain) and (FDJ) Française des Jeux. PMU deals with horseracing, FDJ is responsible for betting games and lotteries. Both operators are state-owned. In 2010 France legalized online gambling as well.

Is it legal to use a VPN to gamble? ›

Is it illegal to gamble with a VPN? No, it's not illegal to gamble with a VPN. By using a VPN to access gambling sites, you are simply protecting your online traffic from being tracked and ensuring that your personal information is kept secure.

How to legally gamble online? ›

Is online gambling in California legal? No, online gambling is not legal in California. As things stand, you cannot legally place an online bet on a sports event, and you cannot play real money online casino games on your desktop or your mobile device.

What is the online gambling tax in France? ›

For horse racing, this will become a 6.8% GGR levy, for sports betting, 10.7% and for online poker, 4.1%. A further 10.7% levy will be applied to online sports betting, to be allocated to the National Center for the Development of Sport.

Is Draftkings legal in France? ›

There are a great many European countries where DFS is legal. These include big markets like the U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Spain. However, even smaller countries like Croatia, Greece, Poland and more have legalized DFS. Some European countries that haven't include Switzerland, Ukraine, Belarus, and Macedonia.

Do you pay tax on gambling winnings in France? ›

As a general principle under French fiscal law, gambling gains are not subject to income tax. The interest generated by such gains, however, is subject to such taxation.

Can online casinos detect VPN? ›

Yes, some online casinos can detect VPN usage. They use advanced tracking tools that can identify multiple connections from the same VPN server IP address. Some casinos also run Know Your Customer (KYC) checks, which can expose discrepancies between your registered details and your actual location.

Which VPN is best for online gambling? ›

NordVPN – the best VPN for gambling

As the service offers more than 6300 servers in 111 countries, it will be able to unblock virtually any gaming site you throw at it. During our tests, it successfully unblocked Betfair, Roobet, Stake, BetVictor, 888sport, 22bet, Bovada, and more gambling and sports betting websites.

Can Draftkings detect VPN? ›

The platform is very efficient at detecting VPN usage, which is very prominent when using free providers. While many of them have locations in the US, 99% of them won't work because the website will detect them. And once that happens, it will block your access, preventing you from using its services at all.

What happens if you illegally gamble online? ›

Illegal gaming is a misdemeanor carrying up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1000. Though gambling becomes a crime whenever there is a “bank” or “house” that collects funds or takes a “rake.” All gaming participants face being arrested, including players, dealers, and hosts.

Can you get in trouble for online gambling in us? ›

See § 1081. The Department of Justice maintains that, under the Wire Act, all Internet gambling by bettors in the United States is illegal.

Is offshore online gambling legal? ›

Aside from it being illegal, you run several risks by betting with an offshore sportsbook. Unlike legal sportsbooks in the U.S., offshore books aren't regulated by government agencies, which means they aren't subject to regular checks and controls.

What is France 30% tax? ›

For French residents : the 30% flat-rate levy (of which 12.8% for income tax and 17.2% in social levies) applies to investment income including dividends, interest and capital gains on the disposal of securities and shares. The 40% allowance on dividends and similar income does not apply.

Who regulates gambling in France? ›

The ANJ is an independent authority. It reports to Parliament. Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin was appointed President of the ANJ by decree of the French President for a six-year, non-revocable term.

When was gambling legalized in France? ›

Gambling in the casinos of spa or seaside resort towns was permitted by the Act of June 15, 1907, and the Act of 30 June 1923 authorized gambling in private cercles. Then, in 1933, the National Lottery was reestablished, to be replaced by Loto in 1976.

Is online gambling illegal in Europe? ›

Is Online Gambling Legal in Europe? For the most part, the answer is yes. It's “for the most part” because Europe is made up of 44 different countries, all having other legal frameworks. So, it's impossible to regard online gambling as “legal” or “illegal” without going into the specifics of the legislation.

What countries allow online gambling? ›

Some prominent jurisdictions where online gambling is legal and regulated include the United Kingdom, Malta, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, and Alderney. These countries have established licensing authorities that oversee online gambling operators, ensuring consumer protection and fair play.

Are you allowed to gamble in France? ›

For issues or concerns, contact your legal counsel. France permitted wagering on lottery, sports, horse races, and poker. The Autorite Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) regulates the gambling industry in France. As of 2023, over 500 unauthorized gambling sites were taken down by the ANJ.

Where is online gambling not allowed? ›

As of now, only two states—Utah and Hawaii—have completely banned all forms of gambling. The remaining 48 states have some level of legalized gambling, though restrictions vary widely.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Carmelo Roob

Last Updated:

Views: 5938

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (65 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Carmelo Roob

Birthday: 1995-01-09

Address: Apt. 915 481 Sipes Cliff, New Gonzalobury, CO 80176

Phone: +6773780339780

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Gaming, Jogging, Rugby, Video gaming, Handball, Ice skating, Web surfing

Introduction: My name is Carmelo Roob, I am a modern, handsome, delightful, comfortable, attractive, vast, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.