| Updated: September 26, 2025France has a rich gambling history. After all, two of the most popular casino games – roulette and baccarat – originate in France. Sports betting is also a popular pastime in the country. Figures from Statista show that the country’s gross gaming revenue from sports betting reached €1.4 billion in 2021.
Catholicism is the dominant religion in France, which helps explain why gambling was illegal for many years. Fortunately, the country eventually changed its stance and legalized certain forms of gambling. Today, online sports betting in France is legal, but the number of licensed betting sites remains limited.
Best Sports Betting Sites in France
At the time of writing, only a handful of online sportsbooks are authorized to operate on French soil. However, thanks to the strict regulations imposed on operators, sports fans can rest assured that they will enjoy a safe betting experience when they choose any of the following sportsbooks.
Best Sports Betting Bonuses in France
Licensed betting sites reward their members with a variety of sports betting bonuses. It is important to note that in 2022, France’s gambling regulator issued a set of guidelines for bonuses offered to sports fans. Under the new rules, operators must provide greater transparency about their promotions. In addition, sports betting sites have to disclose the exact nature of each reward. The regulator also instructed its licensees not to offer promotions exceeding €100.
Match Deposit Bonuses Free Bets Risk-Free Bets Odds BoostMatch Deposit Bonuses
French bettors can take advantage of match deposit bonuses once they make a qualifying deposit. The betting site will match your deposit by a certain percentage up to a specified amount. Keep in mind that you must clear a playthrough requirement to cash out your profits. Additionally, most online sportsbooks impose minimum odds requirements on these promotions. Players are given a limited time to meet the wagering turnover.
Free Bets
French punters can claim a free bet bonus, allowing them to place a wager without risking their own funds. Remember that sports fans cannot withdraw the stake provided as free bets. With this promotion, you can wager on a sporting event and keep any winnings if the bet is successful. In many cases, you must make a deposit to receive the free bet.
Risk-Free Bets
Risk-free bets are another popular promotion at many French betting sites. Bettors place a wager on a preferred sporting event and collect any profits if it wins. If the bet loses, you’ll get back the amount you staked in free bets. Unlike standard free bets, risk-free bets require you to place an initial real-money wager.
Odds Boost
Online betting sites that accept French punters often boost the odds of a specific outcome in a particular sporting event. This allows bettors to win more money without assuming additional risk. Operators usually offer enhanced odds on selected betting markets. Place a qualifying wager and the boosted odds will be applied automatically.
Betting Regulation in France
Football is the most popular sport among French punters. Other sports that attract significant attention from local bettors include tennis, horse racing, cycling, basketball, golf, and handball.
For decades, every form of gambling was outlawed in France, yet punters continued to place bets. The thriving black market eventually pushed legislators to regulate the activity.
In 1985, France legalized sports betting and granted a monopoly to Française des Jeux (FDJ). Pari Mutuel Urbain, meanwhile, was the only company authorized to offer horse racing bets. In 1987, the country lowered the minimum gambling age from 21 to 18, and just one year later, slot machines were regulated.
France Regulates Online Sports Betting French Regulator Introduces Measures to Prevent Gambling ProblemsFrance Regulates Online Sports Betting
France has been a member of the European Union since 1958. Free trade among its members is one of the EU’s core principles, and gambling monopolies run contrary to it. In 2007, the European Commission requested that French legislators amend the country’s gambling laws to comply with EU standards.
In 2009, lawmakers introduced a bill to open the French gambling market to operators from other EU countries. A year later, the Gambling Act came into force, regulating the online sports betting market and establishing licensing conditions for international operators. Initially, Autorité de Régulation des Jeux En Ligne (ARJEL) oversaw the market, but in 2019, Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) assumed that role.
Securing a license to operate in France is no easy feat. Among other requirements, the operator must be headquartered within the EU – a restriction that explains the limited number of licensed betting sites. Since 2020, sports betting operators have paid a 33.8% tax on their gross gaming revenue (55.2% when all additional taxes are included). Prior to that, bookmakers were taxed based on turnover.
Operators must also obtain two different licenses if they wish to accept bets on both sports and horse races. Fortunately, there is no cap on the number of licenses the regulator can award.
French Regulator Introduces Measures to Prevent Gambling Problems
French residents must be at least 18 years old to wager on sports. As noted earlier, the minimum gambling age was lowered from 21 to 18 in 1987. To mitigate gambling-related harm, the French regulator issued a series of player-protection rules in 2021. Every bettor must have the option to self-exclude at any time. In addition, all operators are required to provide responsible-gambling tools, and sports fans must be able to set deposit and session time limits.
In 2022, the regulator released four 30-second videos emphasizing the importance of responsible gambling. The short films remind viewers to keep their wagering under control and introduce the available protective tools.
Later in 2022, the French gambling regulator updated its advertising guidelines, banning any commercial that suggests gambling can improve social status or portrays unrealistic chances of winning. Moreover, operators were required to limit advertising to three commercials per platform per day. The regulator also instructed operators to cap welcome bonuses at €100.
Regarding restrictions, it is important to note that spread betting and betting exchanges are illegal in France. The Justice Ministry has also banned online casino games of chance to minimize the risk of gambling problems among French residents. Consequently, the only forms of online gambling allowed in France are sports betting, poker, and horse race betting.