Online Casinos France

French Casinos by Type

Online casino players in France have different tastes when it comes to games and payment methods. To cater to all players, we can broadly classify online casinos based on the said features.

Popular Payment Methods in French Casinos

French online casinos provide several payment options through secure banking networks for their growing player base. The payment systems include traditional banking methods alongside innovative digital solutions for all transaction needs. Players can select from numerous banking choices that match their specific requirements for both deposits and withdrawals. Here are the top options:

Most Popular Slots in France

Most table games, including roulette, are highly popular in France. Similarly, French players love slot games. Here are the top slot machines available at French online casinos:

Expert Insights

After reviewing hundreds of French casinos, I've found that Neon54 and Wazamba consistently offer the best combination of game variety and payout speeds. Their instant verification process saves you valuable gaming time.
I also tested multiple payment methods and my experience shows that Jeton is more popular, easy to use and safe (the rest are also safe, but I prefer Jeton). For faster withdrawals, I recommend Litecoin.

The History of Casino Gambling in France

Blaise Pascal’s invention of the roulette wheel in the 1600s seemed to have kicked off gambling in France. Grand casinos would later emerge across France in the 1700s. These elegant establishments made France a leading gambling destination.

Online gambling arrived much later but the digital age brought new challenges. France needed modern regulations and the government took action in 2010. They created comprehensive gambling laws.

The French Gambling Act of 2010 changed everything when it legalized some forms of online gambling. However, online casinos remained prohibited.
Here are the main points covered by the Act:

• Types of Gambling Allowed: The Act gave permission for online sports betting, horse race betting, and online poker. Online casinos were left out because of worries about addiction and money risks from casino games.
• Licensing and Control: The Act created the ANJ (which used to be called ARJEL) to give licenses to betting operators. The ANJ watches companies to make sure they follow the rules. It can also punish those who break these rules. Only companies that prove they can protect players and offer fair games can get a license.
• Stopping Fraud and Money Laundering: The Act requires operators to have strong security measures. They must check who the players are and watch money movements for any strange activity.
• Player Safety Rules: The Act focuses on keeping players safe. Betting sites must help players control their gambling. Players can set limits on deposits, block themselves from betting, and see clear warnings about gambling dangers.
• Money and Tax Rules: The Act includes specific tax rules for gambling companies. These rules make sure companies pay their fair share to the government while still making enough money to stay in business.

Gambling Regulations in France

The Civil Code, the Online Gaming Law, and the Homeland Security Code are the primary documents that govern gambling in France. There are several gambling laws, though, that govern specific gambling activities.

The French government implemented comprehensive gambling regulations through the Gambling Act of May 12th, 2010. This legislation emerged after sustained pressure from the European Union to modernize France's gaming laws.

The current framework permits several forms of online betting, including sports wagering, online poker and horse racing activities. However, digital casino games cannot function within French borders due to ongoing restrictions. The Justice Ministry maintains firm control over gambling expansion to protect public welfare.

Launched in 2020, L’Autorité nationale des Jeux (ANJ) is the gambling regulatory body in France. The ANJ oversees:

• Online gambling
• Lottery games
• Horse race betting
• Casinos

ANJ’s predecessor, l’Autorité nationale de régulation des jeux en ligne (ARJEL), only regulated the online gaming market. Currently, the ANJ oversees 78% of the French gaming sector, unlike the ARJEL, which covered 11%.

Furthermore, compared to its predecessor, ANJ has more powers. This includes the power to conduct on-site controls and the authority to require an operator to remove promotional materials.

The jurisdiction of ANJ covers all 14 licensed internet gaming operators in the nation. This includes lotto and betting games offered by Française des Jeux (FDJ).

Notably, while the ANJ oversees a large share of the gambling market in France, it doesn’t have a say in money laundering. Integrity and anti-money laundering remain under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs. This ministry also issues licenses to land-based casinos in the country.

Besides offering licenses, here are 4 primary objectives of the ANJ:

• To shield kids and teens from harmful gambling and to stop compulsive gambling
• Guarantee the honesty, dependability, and openness of gaming
• Stop unlawful and fraudulent activity
• Guarantee the equitable and balanced development of games

The minimum legal age for casino gambling in France was 21 years. It was reduced to 18 years in 1987, a year before slot machines were legalised in the country.

French-Specific Online Casino Regulations

The primary company in France that deals with horse racing wagers is Pari-mutuel Urbain (PMU). You can find PMU stores all across the nation. It was the first licensed online sportsbook in France.

Regarding taxes, the Gambling Act set extremely high tax rates for sports betting and poker when it first came into effect. Besides the standard rate that the poker sites take out of every pot, there is an additional 2% tax rate.

To put it in perspective, the industry average is between 4% and 5%. However, French players pay at least 7.5% overall.

Sportsbook operators must also pay 33% corporate tax on top of these high levies. This forced most operators to stop offering gambling services to French gamblers.

The Gambling Act also forbids cross-border merging of player pools. That’s to say, French players can’t compete against foreign gamblers.

Online gamblers from France are also unable to participate in international competitions. Several operators with French licenses have complained of the challenge of maintaining games with such a small player base.

Land-based Casinos in France

There are over 300 brick-and-mortar casinos in France. The table below summarises the popular gaming establishments in the country:

Responsible Gambling in France

In France, over 1.2 million people are problem gamblers. In 2020, the ANJ pledged to give gamblers additional resources and assistance to regain control of their gaming.

To more accurately detect unhealthy behaviour, they also recommended tracking player activity. Together with responsible gambling resources, they suggested a register for the nation's self-exclusion database.

Besides that, the ANJ vowed to collaborate with financial institutions. By working closely with banks, they’ll be able to combat and prevent illicit activities in the country. One such partnership is with the French Observatory for Drugs and Drug Addiction (FODDA).

The way these people see it, problem gambling is equally dangerous as drug addiction. They have a unique way of doing everything, remember?

Additionally, the regulator promised to work hand in hand with the Ministry of Interior. Together, they’d conduct on-site inspections of retail stores and casinos.

Gambling Addiction Support in France

French authorities have established multiple support networks to assist individuals struggling with gambling-related challenges. The two most notable ones are:

1. Adictel Prevention Addiction: This organization maintains continuous support services through their dedicated email system and comprehensive online platform.
2. The Gamblers Anonymous France: This network provides essential community support through regular meetings and rehabilitation programs.

Also, professional therapeutic services are provided through Headspace Therapy, which offers both in-person and remote counseling options. The Centre d'Information et de Traitement de la Dépendance delivers specialised treatment programs for gambling addiction recovery.

Pro tip: After years of playing at online casinos, I've noticed that setting up deposit limits right from day one makes a huge difference.

Did You Know?

• France was the first nation to come up with the 52-deck of cards used today at online casinos.
• 90% of online casino accounts in France are owned by males.