France to legalize online casinos by 2025
With France considering the regulation of online casino games, the Ministry of Economy and Finance has been tasked with holding a public consultation early in 2025. The ministry will be gathering input from gambling operators, healthcare providers, and advocacy groups.
Following this public participation, the Ministry will proceed to draft and forward the law to the National Assembly for review and approval. If the proposition passes through the National Assembly, online casinos will be fully operational in France by the end of 2025.
A gamble on economic gains
France is among the few EU countries with strict online gambling regulations—only sports betting and poker are legal. But with the country looking to offset its current fiscal deficits, liberalizing online casinos sounds a done deal.
The proposal is considered to have substantial economic benefits. This is evident from a 2023 study conducted by France’s gaming authority, l’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ). The study established that the gross revenue from overseas casinos ranged between €748 million and €1.5 billion.
If the proposal materializes, France’s online gambling market could generate annual revenue of up to $12.1 billion by 2030. A portion of this income could support health, education, and public infrastructure.
Addressing the rise of illegal gambling
With the growth of the online gambling industry, several countries have updated and reformed their gambling policies to benefit economically. For example, revamping rules on online gambling was done in countries such as the UK, Sweden, and the Netherlands to collect more tax revenues from citizens and reduce illegal bets.
So, what can France learn from these countries?
While sports betting and poker remain legal in France, French players still visit illegal online casinos. This deprives the government of potential revenue and puts players’ safety and financial data at risk.
The rise of these unlicensed platforms calls for a regulated and legal online gambling framework. This could help France collect more revenue while preventing problem gambling and protecting players from fraud.
Resistance from land-based casinos
Since France is a European economic powerhouse, legalizing online casinos could significantly shift European gambling regulation–a win for domestic and international stakeholders. The regulation could curb unlicensed platforms in France and create a safer gambling environment for French players.
However, not all stakeholders support this move. Brick-and-mortar casinos and Casinos de France oppose an open online market and want exclusive rights to manage online casinos through a transitional period.
What’s the resistance for?
Land-based casinos and Casinos de France fear legalizing online casinos would end their market monopoly. They argue that the proposal would result in the same regulatory mistake made in 2010 when the government allowed sports betting and poker. This move allowed international operators to build huge market shares.
In an interview with the business daily Les Echos, Gregory Rabuel, the head of France's casino association, said the move could result in the closure of 30 percent of their establishments, putting 15,000 jobs at risk.
Despite this worry, proponents and experts believe the proposal will solve France’s economic crisis and promote responsible gambling.
What’s next for online gambling in France?
The road to legalizing online casinos in France is taking shape, with public consultations coming up in early 2025. The process aims to collect comprehensive data on the potential benefits and social risks of iGaming.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance will use the data to draft and submit legislation to the National Assembly for review. If the National Assembly approves the legislation, online casinos will be fully operational by late 2025.
Courtesy to Kevin Roberts
