Is online gambling legal in France?

Online gambling in France is legal but is strictly limited to three specific categories: sports betting, horse race betting, and online poker. This legal framework was established by the French Gambling Act of 2010, which was enacted to open the market to competition while maintaining strong regulatory control.

Any operator wishing to offer these services to French residents must first obtain a license from the national regulator, the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ). The ANJ enforces a stringent set of rules designed to protect consumers, prevent fraud and money laundering, and combat gambling addiction. A significant aspect of French online gambling law is the explicit prohibition of online casino games.

This means that games of chance such as slot machines, roulette, blackjack, and others are illegal to offer online within the licensed French market. The government has maintained this ban due to concerns about the higher potential for addiction associated with these types of games. As a result, the online gambling landscape in France is bifurcated, with a legal and regulated market for betting and poker existing alongside a prohibition on online casinos.