Are French Online Betting Sites Legal?

Are French Online Betting Sites Legal?

Online betting is legal in France since a gambling law was passed with pressure from the EU. The law legalized sports betting, horse racing bets, and online poker. While the regulations are lawful within France, many foreign gamblers—including those to bet in Montreal—usually look for French-licensed sites due to their strict regulation and protection of consumers.

These markets are governed by the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), which replaced the previous governing body. However, most online casino games, betting exchanges, and spread betting websites remain prohibited.

Sports and horse racing bets are tax-exempt, although another poker tax forces gamblers to pay normally 6–8%. Online betting operators also pay corporate tax. There are fewer than 30 licensed sports betting websites, and a visit to unlicensed websites could be unsafe.

Online Betting Law in France

  • In order to operate in France, an operator must possess an ANJ license.
  • Sport betting (and horse racing) and poker only are permitted online.
  • Advert should be for adults only and promote responsible gaming.
  • Gamblers must be aged 18+.
  • Gamblers do not tax on wins but operators tax profit.
  • Operators are required to implement responsible gaming options, e.g., self-exclusion.
  • Bookmakers must comply with GDPR in order to protect user data. 

Betting Limits in France

The ANJ does not have set betting limits, but bookmakers impose their own deposit, withdrawal, and bet rules. Limits are typically higher for the most betted sports. All sites also must enable you to set your own personal limits for safer gambling.

How to Bet Online in France

It's simple. France has plenty of high-quality betting sites that can satisfy even the most demanding sports enthusiasts.

Want to know how to place a bet in France? It’s as easy as strolling through Montmartre! Here’s how it works, using the Vave platform as an example:

  • Go to the registration page.
  • Enter all required information: name, address, email, banking details, stake limits, phone number, and date of birth.
  • Add your payment method, set deposit limits, choose your preferred payment option, and confirm.
  • Place your bet: choose a market, enter the amount, and confirm.

Bet in France with a VPN

If you are geo-blocked and cannot visit betting sites, fear not. Simply sign up for a reputable VPN (NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark are popular) and relocate to France. This will make the site assume you are a local user and circumvent blocks.

Make sure to use a betting site with VPN acceptability to avoid being banned or flagged. You will also need to use cryptocurrency in case the regular payment options are not available. The best part is that our suggested French betting sites embrace crypto and are easy for newbies to use for a trouble-free experience.

Betting Markets in France

There are no excluded sports betting markets in France. You are permitted to bet on any odds put up by legal bookmakers. Some events shall have fewer markets, depending on popularity, the volume of betting, and the amount of trading. 

Major Payment Options Available on French Bookmakers

Before joining, make sure the site accommodates a payment method of your choice—no one needs to be burdened with hidden charges or waits. Fortunately, most legitimate French betting websites have an array of convenient options available:

Cryptocurrencies
Crypto may be the only way into high-end betting sites due to geo-blocking or restricted payment methods. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, Litecoin, and Binance Coin are fast and secure. Note that transaction speeds and fees are coin and platform-dependent—some clear in minutes, some take hours. Fees are usually low but not zero, so double-check before confirming. 

Debit Cards
Good old Visa and Mastercard are easy and secure. Deposits are usually instant and free, but watch out for currency conversion or withdrawal fees. Payouts typically take a maximum of three days.

Bank Transfer
Bank transfers will work if you're looking for the old school option. They're secure but can take up to five business days to process. Some banks and international transfers might also charge extra fees.

E-Wallets
For safety and speed, e-wallets like PayPal, Skrill, and NETELLER are suitable options. Payments are instant, and withdrawals are less than 24 hours. Some will incur a linked small fee—up to 5%—so be sure to read the terms.

Prepaid Cards
For anonymity, prepaid cards like Paysafecard are extremely effective. You can buy one in-store or online and use the secure 16-digit PIN for instant, trouble-free payments.