Best French Betting Sites

France is a Western European country and among the most historic ones when it comes to gambling. It is the birthplace of roulette, blackjack and the very first regulated horse racing wagers. Despite that, sports betting in France has had many ups and downs before finally being legalized and successfully regulated.

Football attracts the majority of bettors, and there are numerous Française des Jeux (FDJ) betting shops to facilitate them. Furthermore, there are also -currently 17- licensed betting sites in France. More online bookies are also available to local players, they’re just not locally licensed.

Best Betting Sites in France

The following shortlist contains the best betting sites France has to offer. We selected those particular bookies after comparing their odds, betting markets and payout.

Bet France - 5 Things to Know

• 1
  At the moment, there are 17 French bookies holding a local license
• 2
  There are still no licensed online casinos
• 3
  No betting exchange or spread betting websites operate in France
• 4
  The legal gambling age is 18 years of age
• 5
  Despite restrictions to accessing unlicensed bookies, technically, it isn’t illegal to bet on them

General info

⏩Population: 67.000.000

⏩Active players: 9.000.000

⏩Currency: Euro

⏩Regulated gambling products: Sports betting, horse race betting, casino games, poker, lottery, keno, bingo, scratch cards

⏩Operator types: Licensed & unlicensed online bookmakers, land-based FDJ betting shops, land-based casinos, state-regulated horse races (PMU), lottery games operator Française des Jeux (FDJ)

⏩Designated authority: Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ)

⏩Status: Regulated

Online Betting in France: The Legal Framework

Law No 2010-476, the 'French Gambling Act', was the first legal piece to regulate the online sector. It officially came into force on May 13, 2010 and opened the market to competition, allowing foreign online operators to apply for a local license.

It also took a decisive step towards the regulation of the gambling industry with the creation of an official regulatory body; the Autorité de régulation des jeux en ligne (ARJEL). According to the provisions of the French Gambling Act, only 3 types of online gambling activities (i.e. sports betting, horse racing betting and poker games) are considered legal.

Therefore, there are only three types of appropriate licenses. France online casino games, on the other hand, did not receive licenses. That happened due to the fact that, along with spread and exchange betting, they were characterized as highly addictive by lawmakers.

Moreover, prior to the regulation of the online gambling market in 2010, sports betting and horse racing betting were under the control of the then state-owned monopoly operators Française des Jeux (FDJ) and Pari mutuel urbain (PMU).

They both received permission by the state to legally offer their services online back in 2001. Nowadays, although they continue to operate, they apparently no longer have a monopoly in the online betting France scene. Nonetheless, they still monopolize the operation of land-based betting shops in the country.

Betting France - Recent changes

As of October 2019, the Autorite Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) has been formed, taking over from ARJEL. This is an independent authority reporting straight to the Parliament. It officially took over on March 4, 2020. No new law has been in place yet. However, a few changes have been made:

1. The Française des Jeux (FDJ) has been privatized.
2. The ANJ has more powers and is able to audit and/or sanction operators. It not only regulates the online gambling market, as the ARJEL used to do, but it also regulates land-based casinos, land-based horse racing betting parlours and lotteries.
3. Its efforts against money laundering and towards the protection and safety of players are now codified under the Internal Security Code.
4. Operators' taxation basis is now over their GGR instead of being based on players' total wagers. For online France bookmakers, that reaches up to a massive 55.2%.

Licensed French Betting Sites

Currently, 15+ licensed French sports betting sites offer their services to locals. This relatively low pool of licensees is mainly due to the new tax system for online operators. That’s 33.8% of their GGR, plus 10.7% of social security payments. Adding another 10.7% contribution to the National Centre for the Development of Sport, it sums up to a staggering 55.2%.

That significantly limits their potential profits, non arguably. Apart from licensed online bookies, French bettors can choose to place their bets on any of the land-based betting shops operated by FDJ; plus, on any unlicensed bookie, at their own discretion.

Unlicensed Bookmakers in France

With such a few online betting sites licensed by ANJ, it becomes apparent that there are many others who don’t hold a domestic license. However, they still manage to operate within the French market despite the fact that they could face fines.

One can access those bookies directly through their .com website. If they are blocked, then they should be accessible through mirror websites or by using a VPN. At the end of our analysis you can find the list of all online bookies that offer their services to French players.

Bookmakers that Exited the French Market

The strict licensing system and the heavy tax regime that still apply in France have led many international brands to leave the local market. Bet365 France is one of the most prominent foreign bookies that exited the market and hasn’t applied for a local license.

22bet is yet another example of a popular bookmaker that left the market too. 1xbet France has also pulled over and is still out of reach of local bettors.

Online Sports Betting France

Football in France is by far the most widespread betting activity. Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 fixtures are always on top of bookmakers France's lists of choice. Betting on tennis, especially on the French Open, is also very popular among bettors. As regards cycling, the Tour de France also attracts millions of players every year.

Another fan favourite is the Monaco Grand Prix, as betting on the famous F1 circuit has always been fascinating. Last but not least, Six Nations betting is also one of the all-time favorite sports nationwide. Betting on Les Bleus on big events like the Six Nations Championship is almost like a ritual.

How to Bet in France: Deposits & Withdrawals

Despite the strict measures that ANJ implements, there are numerous ways you can make a deposit or a withdrawal. Credit/debit cards, e-wallets (like Skrill), PayPal France and bank transfers are all available without fees; except for Neteller, which charges minimal fees of around 2-4% that apply in accordance to the EU laws.

If you choose to place your bets on an unlicensed bookmaker, then you may also use Payeer, and Neosurf, as well as cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, Litecoin, or even Dogecoin.

Also Read: Best Dogecoin Betting Sites

Gambling Regulations in Nearby Areas

⏩ Monaco: While land-based casinos are famous worldwide and are regulated by the Gaming Act of 87', online gambling falls under no law or regulation and operates as a grey market. This means that players can safely register on any of the best Monaco betting sites they prefer. 

⏩ Belgium: It stands out as one of the earliest European countries to fully regulate online gambling. Since 2011, numerous Belgium betting sites have emerged, catering to players with their services. However, it's worth noting that all locally licensed bookies enforce a deposit limit of €500 per week. 

⏩ Switzerland: Despite the existence of a dominant monopoly operated by Swisslos, the online gambling landscape in the country displays a lot of flexibility. Users enjoy easy access to a growing list of Swiss betting sites with minimal oversight. 

Betting in France - What the Future Holds

It's hard to believe that a country with a liberal heritage like France would treat gambling so strictly. Since the imposition of the French Gambling Act, the market has been mostly dominated by local operators.

Heavy taxation and the lack of online casino licenses are the reasons why top international brands like Bet365 stay out of the market. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the lack of decent betting options forces local players to opt for unlicensed bookmakers in France.

It sure isn't the most welcoming country when it comes to online betting, and it needs a more operator-friendly legal framework. The French gambling scene has a long way to go before it can truly fulfill its potential. It’s all down to the ANJ to show its colors in the coming years.