In 2010, the France also legalized online gambling. [1] [2] It is supervised by ARJEL (“Regulatory Authority for Online Games”). Despite the fact that it was invented in France in the 17th century, roulette is a game that cannot be played online in the country today. The same goes for online slots and other popular online casino games, as they have all been deemed too addictive by lawmakers. The legislation that came into force in 2010 – the French Gambling Law – has at least opened up the online gambling sector to create competition for state-backed operators, but the laws still prohibit the aforementioned gambling as well as spread betting and exchanges such as Betfair. 14 Only persons whose inclusion on that list is not voluntary are criminal convicts whose registration has been requested by a judge or persons whose conduct is likely to disturb the proper functioning and tranquility of gaming establishments. Since French law does not allow unlicensed online bookmakers and poker rooms or any type of online casino games other than poker, many players in France are frustrated – they cannot access their online gaming and poker accounts. Despite the country`s initial interest, the European Commission thoroughly analyzed the market and announced that it did not comply with European Union regulations. For this reason, the Commission has asked the country to amend its gambling laws.
Operating any type of physical gaming establishments in France requires a license that has strict requirements and high fees (for more information on French gaming licenses, see the Gaming Licenses section in France below). Land-based casino managers and board members must obtain approval from the Ministry of Interior, which can be suspended or revoked at any time. In fact, developments in the situation of managers and members of boards of directors are closely monitored by the Ministry of the Interior. Similarly, all employees responsible for access control, security personnel and video surveillance must obtain special permission from the French Ministry of the Interior.15 Newly authorized employees must undergo special training to monitor gamblers and detect signs of gambling addiction.16 Currently, licences are required for gambling operators who are willing to operate in the territory of the This is the first time we have had a debate For this reason, licenses can be issued for online gambling offers, sports betting and horse racing. Applicants must comply with applicable country legislation, including providing certain information regarding their identification, details of participation, experience and other matters. 21. Century – Online gambling was partially legalized in 2009, and in 2010, Internet gambling was fully legalized. This framework applies to all gambling operators, with the exception of casinos and gaming circles controlled by the SCCJ. Recent changes in France`s gambling laws have become the catalyst for many criticisms of the country`s gambling legislation.
The changes are related to certain restrictions that are considered too severe and unfounded. Traditional casino games are now being kept out of the online offering of gambling activities in France. The only gambling options available to players are sports betting, poker, and horse racing. The ANJ may also impose fines, the amount of which may vary depending on the seriousness of the infringement, the status of the online gambling operator, the harm caused by the infringement and the benefits derived from that infringement. In any event, such a penalty may not exceed 5% of the turnover achieved by the online gambling operator during the previous financial year (increased to 10% in the event of a repeat offence). If an infringement occurs during the first financial year of an online gambling operator, the penalty will be limited to €150,000 (or €375,000 in case of repeated infringements). The licensing process and the specific obligations imposed on online gambling operators are explained in more detail in Section III. La Française des Jeux is responsible for regulating lotteries and sports betting.
ARJEL deals exclusively with the regulation of online gambling, and Pari Mutuel Urbain focuses mainly on horse racing. To date, ARJEL issues licenses to operators wishing to provide online casino and gambling services to local citizens. No license is issued for casino games, stock betting or spread betting. Nevertheless, the French government has not yet narrowed down the options for local actors. Currently, there are no laws that make gambling on an unlicensed website a crime. This basically means that French players can choose from a variety of licensed and unlicensed sites. Despite the restrictions placed on the online gambling industry in France, it still manages to show signs of modest growth. Gambling operators are obliged to exclude minors, whether emancipated or not, from participation in gambling activities (participation of minors in gambling activities is only allowed for very specific types of gambling, such as lotteries for charitable purposes, , fairground activities and traditional bingos).
The French-speaking gambling sector contributed to the creation of various forms of gambling, several of which still have French names today, such as: There are currently 15 gaming operators licensed to provide online poker services in the country. UPDATE 2022: There are only 12 French online poker companies, many have ceased operations due to extremely high gaming tax rates. Many forms of gambling are allowed in France, which makes the country user-friendly. Currently, there are three main bodies responsible for exercising regulatory functions: the Française des Jeux, the ARJEL and the Pari Mutuel Urbain. The French National Lottery was founded in 1933 to help veterans. FDJ, the gambling operator, was founded in 1976 and inherited the exclusive rights to organise lottery games that had previously been granted to the French National Lottery. In 1985, sports betting was first authorized in France, and the FDJ was also granted the exclusive right to organize such activities by decree. UDPATE 2022: While researching the German online casino gaming industry, we came across a court case that perfectly sums up the position of the EU Supreme Court: In the more than 200 land-based casinos in France, if you are 18 years of age or older, most forms of gambling are legal, casino card games, slots, sports betting and horse betting (from 2022). Internet gambling was legalised in 2009 under pressure from the EU2. However, most forms of online gambling were not legalized until a year later, in 2010. In addition, the HSC specifies that `online gambling` is to be regarded as any game of chance or betting carried out exclusively through an online communication service and that `online gambling operators` are any person who regularly offers online gambling or betting services to the public with stakes of monetary value and on terms which constitute a standard agreement which must be accepted by players.3 All of these operators must: actively prevent listed players from participating in gaming activities. Licensed online operators are also required: players must also pay taxes on their online gambling winnings, ranging from 19% to 34%.
Before you start playing on the Internet, you need to determine if it belongs to a category prohibited by law.