What is the gambling law in France?

The main legislative text governing gambling in France is the French Gambling Act of 2010 (Law No. 2010-476), which was a landmark piece of legislation that liberalized the country's online gambling market. Prior to this act, most gambling activities were under the strict control of state-owned monopolies.

The 2010 law opened up the online sector to competition for specific categories of games, namely sports betting, horse race betting, and poker. The primary regulatory body is the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), which replaced the former regulator ARJEL in 2020. The ANJ is responsible for issuing licenses to operators, ensuring compliance with regulations, and protecting players.

The French Homeland Security Code (HSC) also contains provisions that define and prohibit most forms of gambling as a general principle, with the 2010 Act and other specific decrees serving as exceptions to this rule. The state retains monopolies on lottery games through La Française des Jeux (FDJ) and land-based horse race betting through the Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU).

Land-based casinos are also tightly regulated and require a license from the Ministry of the Interior.