France

Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) ↗Partially regulatedsince 2010verified 2026-08-03

France operates a deliberately partial online-gambling regime: Loi n° 2010-476 du 12 mai 2010 opened only online sports betting, horse-race (pool) betting and poker to licensed competition, while online casino and slot games remain prohibited. The ANJ (Autorité Nationale des Jeux), which replaced ARJEL in 2020, approves operators, oversees player and minor protection and integrity, approves each operator's annual promotional strategy and combats illegal offers; FDJ (lottery and retail betting) and PMU (retail horse-race pools) hold specific monopolies. Since the 2019-2020 reform, state levies are charged on gross gaming revenue rather than stakes. A 2024-2025 proposal to legalise online casino was dropped after opposition from the land-based casino sector, so online casino remains banned.

Tax

Gross gaming revenue (GGR / produit brut des jeux)

GGR-based levies; online sports betting bears the highest combined burden

Since the 2020 reform levies are charged on GGR rather than stakes, combining fiscal and social-security prélèvements; the 2025 Finance Act (loi de finances 2025) increased gambling levies. Exact current percentages should be confirmed against the loi de finances (medium confidence on precise figures).

Key facts

Licence termANJ approval (agrément) granted for 5 years, renewable.

Regime since2010

Key-person licencesOperators must be established in the EU/EEA and demonstrate integrity, financial guarantees and technical certification; the ANJ approves each operator and validates its annual promotional strategy.

Prohibited productsOnline casino and slots are illegalOnly sports betting, horse-race betting and poker may be offered online.

Self-exclusionFichier des interdits de jeux (national ban register)Register of self-excluded and banned players, historically maintained via the Ministry of the Interior; operators must screen against it.

ID and age checksMinimum age 18; mandatory KYCIdentity and age verification required at registration.

AdvertisingANJ-supervised; mandatory risk warningsOperators' promotional strategy is approved annually; advertising to minors is banned and health messaging is compulsory.

Licence types

Online sports betting (fixed-odds and pool)Online horse-race betting (pool)Online poker(Online casino and slots — PROHIBITED)

Fees

ANJ approval (agrément)No large upfront licence fee; state take is via GGR leviesOperators are approved by the ANJ; the principal public revenue comes from levies on GGR rather than a fixed licence fee.

Change-watch

2025

Government proposal to legalise online casino (2025 Budget) withdrawn after opposition from land-based casinos; online casino stays prohibited.

2025

2025 Finance Act increased gambling levies on GGR; exact new percentages to be confirmed against primary sources.

Sources

ANJ — Autorité Nationale des Jeux (official site)anj.fr

ANJ — Approved operators (opérateurs agréés)anj.fr

Légifrance — Loi n° 2010-476 du 12 mai 2010 (online gambling)legifrance.gouv.fr

Not legal or tax advice. This is a teaching summary; confirm every figure against the primary regulator (Autorité Nationale des Jeux) before relying on it.

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