Gambling Laws in France: Legality, Regulators and What Chinese Citizens Should Know

The short answer: gambling in France is not banned outright; it is licensed and tightly regulated by the state. Land-based casinos, lotteries, horse-race betting and licensed online sports betting, online horse betting and online poker are all legal. Online casino games (slots, roulette, blackjack and the like), however, remain prohibited by law as of October 2026. All gambling is restricted to adults aged 18 and over, and minors cannot take part even if they are legally emancipated.

For readers moving from China this is a big change: at home, apart from the state welfare and sports lotteries, there is essentially no legal gambling, while France has a legal market worth more than EUR 14 billion, overseen by an independent authority. This page covers law and regulation only: what is legal, who issues licences, age and advertising rules, whether winnings are taxed, how to self-exclude and the Chinese criminal-law risks you must know. We do not recommend any operator or carry any promotional offers.

Is gambling legal in France? The categories at a glance

The legal basis rests mainly on two texts: Law no. 2010-476 of 12 May 2010 (opening and regulating online gambling) and Ordinance no. 2019-1015 of 2 October 2019 (reforming gambling regulation and creating a single new regulator). The relevant provisions are now part of the Internal Security Code (Code de la sécurité intérieure). The table summarises the legal status as of October 2026:

France’s gambling regulator: the ANJ and licensing

France’s gambling regulator is the National Gaming Authority (Autorité nationale des jeux, ANJ), an independent administrative authority that replaced the former online gambling regulator in 2020. Only operators approved (agrément) by the ANJ may legally offer online gambling in France, and the ANJ publishes the list of approved operators and of blocked sites on its website. It also supervises the exclusive rights of FDJ and PMU and can impose fines, withdraw licences and request the blocking of illegal sites.

At the European Central Bank reference rate of 23 October 2026 (EUR 1 = CNY 7.4660), EUR 14.13 billion is roughly CNY 105.5 billion. For an overview of life in France, start with our France country guide.

The French gambling market in 2025

According to the ANJ annual report, gross gaming revenue (stakes minus winnings paid out) grew 3% in 2025. The online market reached EUR 2.617 billion (about CNY 19.5 billion), up 8.6%, or about 18.5% of the total; online sports betting grew fastest, at 10.4%.

Sports betting is closely tied to French professional leagues and major events; for background see sports in France.

Online casinos: still illegal as of October 2026

Both the Ministry of the Economy’s official guidance of June 2026 and the ANJ’s 2025 annual report state plainly that online casino games remain prohibited in France. In October 2024 the government tabled an amendment to the 2025 finance bill to open and tax online casinos, but after opposition from the land-based casino sector and others it was withdrawn within days and the government opted to consult the industry instead. At the time of checking we found no law legalising online casinos.

Land-based casinos: who may enter

French casinos require government authorisation and have traditionally been located in tourist, spa and seaside towns. The ANJ report shows that 203 casinos and gaming clubs had their prevention plans reviewed in 2025, with 31.6 million casino entries during the year; land-based casino revenue was EUR 2.816 billion (about CNY 21.0 billion). Foreign visitors may enter on the same terms as residents, but they must be 18 or over and show a passport or other ID as the casino requires, so that age and the self-exclusion list can be checked. See our guide to casinos in France for details.

Gambling age and advertising rules in France

Article L320-7 of the Internal Security Code bars minors, even if emancipated, from gambling. The age of majority in France is 18, and FDJ and ANJ communications use a uniform “-18” logo. On advertising, the law forbids commercial communication aimed at minors, and Decree no. 2020-1349 of 4 November 2020 also bans content such as showing minors buying gambling products. In 2025 the ANJ reviewed campaigns together with the advertising self-regulation body ARPP, intervened about fifteen times, and backed proposals in a sports reform bill to reduce advertising pressure on 18 to 24-year-olds.

Gambling tax in France: are winnings taxed?

French case law treats gambling as governed by chance rather than as a profit-making occupation, so ordinary players’ winnings are generally untaxed. However, the Conseil d’État ruled on 21 June 2018 that poker winnings can be taxed as non-commercial profits when a player plays habitually, has the skill to master chance and earns significant income. If you are still a Chinese tax resident, also consider how PRC individual income tax law treats foreign income; see tax residency.

Responsible gambling and voluntary self-exclusion

The latest official estimate, from the French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT) for 2024 and cited by the ANJ in 2026, is that about 1.17 million people show problem gambling behaviour, including about 360,000 excessive gamblers. At the end of 2025, 87,182 people were on the national voluntary self-exclusion register, up 19% year on year. The process works as follows:

1. Apply onlineSubmit a request through the ANJ self-exclusion service and verify your identity
2. RegistrationYour name is added to the national exclusion register
3. ScopeApplies to casinos and licensed online gambling sites; existing accounts are closed
4. DurationVoluntary exclusion lasts three years and is renewed tacitly

What Chinese citizens must know: Criminal Law Article 303

Comparison with other European countries

France has opened online sports betting and poker but still bans online casinos; other European countries take different approaches. Compare gambling law in Spain, gambling law in the UK and gambling law in Germany.

FAQ

Is gambling legal in France?

Partly. Lotteries, horse and sports betting, online poker and land-based casinos are legal under licence and supervision; online casino games are still prohibited as of October 2026.

Can tourists enter French casinos?

Yes, if they are 18 or over and show valid ID; individual casinos set the detailed entry rules.

Are winnings in France taxed?

Ordinary players generally pay no tax on winnings in France, with exceptions such as professional poker players; Chinese tax residents should also check PRC rules.

How can I tell if a site is legal?

Check only the ANJ’s list of approved operators. Any site offering online casino games has no legal licence in France.

Sources

1. ANJ – Rapport annuel 2025 (French National Gaming Authority annual report 2025, published June 2026) (accessed October 2026)
2. ANJ – Rapport semestriel 2025 (half-year report 2025) (accessed October 2026)
3. economie.gouv.fr – Comment sont contrôlés les jeux et paris en ligne ? (French Ministry of the Economy, 17 June 2026) (accessed October 2026)
4. Légifrance – Loi n° 2010-476 du 12 mai 2010 (online gambling opening and regulation act) (accessed October 2026)
5. Légifrance – Ordonnance n° 2019-1015 du 2 octobre 2019 (gambling regulation reform) (accessed October 2026)
6. ANJ – Text of Article 2 of Ordonnance 2019-1015 (Internal Security Code arts. L320-6, L320-7, L320-9-1) (accessed October 2026)
7. Sénat – Written question no. 00278 (2022) and government answer (12 January 2023) on minors and gambling advertising (accessed October 2026)
8. ANJ – Interdiction volontaire de jeux (online voluntary self-exclusion service) (accessed October 2026)
9. Joueurs Info Service – Se faire interdire ou exclure des casinos et sites de jeux (accessed October 2026)
10. Assemblée nationale – Written question no. 2109 (19 November 2024) on legalising online casinos (accessed October 2026)
11. Lexis Veille – Executive withdraws online casino legalisation amendment (29 October 2024; legal media, backup source) (accessed October 2026)
12. Actu-Juridique – Joueurs de poker : l’imposition des gains se précise (legal media, backup source) (accessed October 2026)
13. China News Service – Cross-border gambling criminalised for the first time (23 February 2021) (accessed October 2026)
14. European Central Bank – Euro reference rate CNY (23 October 2026) (accessed October 2026)
15. iGaming Business – France gambling regulator: further efforts needed to reduce problem gambling by 2027 (8 Apr 2026; trade media citing ANJ/OFDT) (accessed October 2026)