Online casino france
New casino sites to play real money
The french-based online betting sites licensed by the country’s gambling authority ARJEL hold strict regulations in place to make sure players are treated fairly, with security and fair play being the focal points of their rules and guidelines. The CSA (independent authority of protecting freedom of audiovisual communication) and ADLC (french competition authority) also go towards protecting player interests, meaning it is virtually impossible to be scammed by a french online betting site, as the risks would be too high for the operators, with little to no gain on their part. In terms of foreign betting sites welcoming of french players, we are happy to report that many of them are licensed by trustworthy regulatory bodies, such as the isle of man, panama and the malta gaming authority. Of course, our team of experts hand picks only the most reliable betting sites, so that you can have a worry-free gambling experience no matter which casino you select. No deposit bonuses the no deposit bonus is a rare find among online casinos. Yet, when you come across one, you lose nothing by claiming it, but have a chance of winning money with no strings attached. Simply put, a no deposit bonus is given to you with no deposit required on your part. These bonuses have high wagering requirements, and a typical cashout limit of €100, but they’re a good chance at exploring an online casino with the chance of winning some extra cash in the process.
Online casino france
The french have a long history of gambling, and the country’s culture has influenced other countries as much as it has been influenced by other countries itself. This means that all sorts of games have been historically popular across the country, and remain so through this day.
With the advent of online gambling, players can enjoy a wide variety of games such as:
- Poker
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Baccarat
- Craps
- Scratch cards
- Keno
- Lottery
- Roulette
- Slot machines
Of course, casino games of chance are not legal on french soil, but they can be enjoyed at foreign online gambling sites. Sports betting is also extremely popular in france, given the country’s obsession with sports such as football. Race betting is also prominent, ranging from horse racing to greyhound racing and motor sports betting.
How we select the best french online casinos
The amount of french betting sites and foreign online casino websites accepting of french players is high, which may baffle newcomers and make their choice on where to play quite difficult. This is where we come in. Our reviews will guide your hand by giving all the required information you need prior to making a decision on where to play. As you read on, you will learn more about our review process, where we single out the most important factors we look at when determining the quality of an online casino. Of course, you can skip this read and head on over to our list of recommended french online casinos, which have been thoroughly vetted and pre-approved by our dedicated team of online gambling experts.
Security of french online casinos
The french-based online betting sites licensed by the country’s gambling authority ARJEL hold strict regulations in place to make sure players are treated fairly, with security and fair play being the focal points of their rules and guidelines. The CSA (independent authority of protecting freedom of audiovisual communication) and ADLC (french competition authority) also go towards protecting player interests, meaning it is virtually impossible to be scammed by a french online betting site, as the risks would be too high for the operators, with little to no gain on their part. In terms of foreign betting sites welcoming of french players, we are happy to report that many of them are licensed by trustworthy regulatory bodies, such as the isle of man, panama and the malta gaming authority. Of course, our team of experts hand picks only the most reliable betting sites, so that you can have a worry-free gambling experience no matter which casino you select.
Language at french online casinos
French-based online betting sites are naturally available in the country’s domestic language. Many foreign-based online casinos are also available in french, and offer the EUR as a currency for players to operate their accounts in. Many foreign online casinos also accept french players, but are available in english and some nordic languages. Still, this should not deter you from playing at these sites, as long as you have a basic understanding of english to smoothen your gaming sessions.
Customer support at french online casinos
Customer support is of essential importance at french online casino, as it is with any online casino. Fortunately, french players can rely on top-tier customer support at most gambling operators, especially those recommended by our website. This means professional and friendly live chat service, typically available 24/7 – 7 days of the week. On top of that, you can also expect telephone customer support, as well as email support channels with quick response times. For the most efficient support service, it is best to contact live chat, as response times are typically a few minutes, meaning your issue or question will be resolved in no time. Software providers and gaming selection for french online casino players foreign-based online casinos that accept french players boast games by the industry’s most esteemed gaming suppliers: netent, microgaming, rabcat, thunderkick, yggdrasil, play N go, quickspin – to name a few. This is why many casinos boast over a 1000 top-quality casino games of all kinds. As such, you can expect virtually limitless entertainment, variety and new game releases on a regular basis.
Slot machines slot machines are by far the most popular game type across online casinos. Some french online casinos over 1000+ slots alone, meaning potential for hundreds of hours of top-quality entertainment and most importantly – excellent winning potential. Slots are generally separated in 3 categories: classic, video and progressives. The classic slot is a 3-reeled slot machine that will take you back into time when these games were the dominant slot of choice. Video slots are the modern evolution of the slot machine, boasting the best graphics, themes and bonus features, whereas progressive jackpot slots can reward you with millions of euros derived from a single spin.
Table games table games in the likes of blackjack, roulette, blackjack and poker are prominent at every french online casino. What’s more, in addition to the basic variants of these games, online casinos also feature dozens of unique variants that will add extra spice to your gaming experience.
Live casino foreign-online casinos powered by evolution gaming offer the french people an immersive gaming experience through live dealer tables that is unmatched in the online world. These games are powered by HD streams, feature a myriad of unique betting options, dozens of innovative table games, and the ability to interact with the dealers in real time. A must-try for any gambling enthusiast.
Bonuses at french online casinos
Bonuses are a major point of each online casino when it comes to attracting new customers. French people are no exception in the eyes of operators, which means you can expect hefty welcome bonuses to facilitate your new membership at any online casino. Beyond that, you can expect regular promotions in the form of free spins, match deposit bonuses, loyalty schemes and VIP programs.
Welcome bonuses the welcome bonus is unparalleled in value among online casinos. Generally reserved to newcomers as an exclusive one-time offer, the welcome bonus will typically match your first deposit by 100%, up to a certain amount (€100, €200, €300, €500). What makes up the value of a welcome bonus are more often the bonus terms, rather than the bonus amount itself. Keep this in mind before claiming an offer, as a €500 bonus is worth nothing if it is coupled with unrealistic wagering requirements.
Free spins bonuses coincidental with the popularity of slot machines, free spins bonuses became commonplace in the online gambling world. Many free spins bonuses are often conjoined with welcome bonuses, but sometimes they come as standalone offers in order to entice newcomers or retain existing customers.
No deposit bonuses the no deposit bonus is a rare find among online casinos. Yet, when you come across one, you lose nothing by claiming it, but have a chance of winning money with no strings attached. Simply put, a no deposit bonus is given to you with no deposit required on your part. These bonuses have high wagering requirements, and a typical cashout limit of €100, but they’re a good chance at exploring an online casino with the chance of winning some extra cash in the process.
�� do I need to pay taxes on online gambling winnings in france?
No. The government does not view gambling as a profitable activity, and it does not tax any individuals on their gambling winnings, regardless of the amount won. An exception is made for professional poker players, as the government considers they have much larger control on their gambling ventures and profits.
�� can I play with euros at french online casinos?
Absolutely. Euros are the primary currency at all french gambling websites, as well as foreign european online casinos licensed by the malta gaming authority, panama, isle of man, gibraltar and UK gambling commission.
##is it safe to play at french online casinos? It is perfectly safe to play at french online gambling websites licensed by the country’s french gambling authority (ARJEL). At these sites, you can enjoy sports betting, horse race betting, and poker games and tournaments. As far as gambling at off-shore online casinos is concerned, you would not be breaking the law by doing so, but there are not too many online casinos accepting of french players, at least in comparison to other countries were online gambling is also illegal.
�� can I play for free at french online casinos?
Yes. Many games on offer at french online casinos have a free demo mode which lets you try out any game you like indefinitely. This gives you a great opportunity to test out a game you might like before digging in and playing with real money.
�� can I expect bonuses at french online casinos?
Yes. Bonuses are common across french betting sites, and you can expect them in many forms. The most common bonus type is the welcome bonus, often doubling your initial deposit and letting you extract higher profits from your deposits as a new player.
�� are there withdrawal fees at french online casinos?
This would depend on the payment method you are using to withdraw cash from the casino. In general, bank transfer tend to charge larger fixed fees for withdrawals from online casinos. In contrast, e-wallet payouts and credit/debit card payouts are free of any fees, unless currency conversion is involved in the process.
�� what do I need to do to receive my winnings?
To receive any winnings generated through gambling, any french casino member must verify his identity at their gambling site of choice. This is accomplished by sending out relevant identification documents to the casino’s support team, such as a photo of your personal ID, accompanied by a utility bill to your name no older than 3-6 months, and in some cases, a photo or scan of the credit or debit card you used to make a deposit.
�� how long will it take before I receive my winnings?
Withdrawal times are highly dependent on your withdrawal method. Casinos process all payouts in the same manner, and the processing times is usually no longer than 24 hours. After processing complete, the time it takes for your cash to arrive in your account depends on which payout option you are using. Generally, e-wallet payouts take 24 hours, credit/debit card payouts may take up to a 5 business days, whereas bank transfer payouts may take up to 2 working weeks.
�� which payment methods are available at french online casinos?
French residents can benefit from many EU-friendly payment options at online casinos, ranging from all types such as bank transfer, credit and debit cards, e-wallets and prepaid cards. Below we will list the most common payment options available to french gamers:
Cryptocurrency is also a viable option, although the layman would need to do some research on how to setup a crypto wallet and manage currency conversion. Bitcoin, litecoin, ethereum and bitcoin cash are the most commonly accepted cryptocurrencies among online casinos. If fast payouts and minimal fees are in your best interest, we recommend either neteller, skrill or cryptocurrency as your primary banking option.
France online casino guide
Gambling industry overview in france
The following approaches will be presented
France is not only one of the countries with richest history and a serious player on the territory of europe. The country also has a long history of gambling, which has become one of the most popular pastimes for local citizens over the years.
Gambling operations currently have a legal status in france. This basically means that all gambling activities are regulated by the country’s legislation up to date. Currently, card games are especially popular in the country, as well as horse races, slots and sports betting.
Overview
The history of gaming in the country dates back to the 16th century, when the french added the queen to the deck of cards. France is also known as the home of roulette, which originates from the 17th century, and to pari-mutuel betting, which was established in 18th century in the country.
Gambling has long been and still remains legal in france in most of its forms. The gaming activities in the country, however, are regulated by the competent authorities. Such activities are permitted only under the ministry of justice.
The country lowered the legal age for gambling from 21 to 18 in 1987. A year later, france legalized slot machines and became one of the most gaming-friendly countries in europe as a whole.
Gambling legalization in the country basically means that brick-and-mortar operators are allowed to offer casino and card games, as well as racing and sportsbooks betting. Web-based operators, on the other hand, are permitted to provide the same offerings as the land-based ones except for casino games.
No matter of the excessive regulation on the matter, the contemporary gaming legislation in france features high taxes, which are considered as one of the setbacks before licensed gaming websites to survive in this market.
Almost 50% of the online gambling operators which acquired licences half a decade ago have already left the market. Players are also considered to be affected by the high poker pots and sports bets taxes. This, on the other hand, resulted in a great number of players preferring to stick to unlicensed foreign operators.
Top rated online casinos for france
Still, the french government has not yet cut the options for local players. Currently, there are no laws that proclaim playing at an unlicensed websites as a crime. This basically means that french players can choose from a great variety of both licensed and unlicensed websites.
Relevant legislation in france
Many forms of gambling are permitted in france, which makes the country a gambling-friendly one. There are currently three main bodies, which are responsible for carrying regulatory functions out – the francaise des jeux, ARJEL and the pari mutuel urbain.
The francaise des jeux is responsible for regulating lotteries and betting games. ARJEL deals exclusively with online gambling regulation, and the pari mutuel urbain is primarily focused on horse races betting. Up to date, ARJEL issues licenses to operators that are willing to provide online casino and gambling services to local citizens. There are no licenses granted for casino games, exchange betting or spread betting.
Currently, licenses are required from gaming and gambling operators that are willing to run their activities on the territory of the country. That is the reason why licenses can be granted for online gambling offering, sports betting and horse racing activities. The applicants are demanded to comply with the current country’s legislature, which includes providing some information related to their identification, shareholding details, experience and other matters.
The licenses are granted by the relevant and competent regulatory authorities for a period of five years. There is also an option for extending the licenses for the same period of half a decade after their expiration.
A new legislative bill related to online gambling operations was introduced by the french government in 2009. Then, a year later, it officially legalized a total of three forms of online gambling activities – poker, sports betting, including fixed odds betting, pool betting and live betting, and horse races betting.
Online gambling
When it comes to online gambling, this segment of the market is also legal on the territory of france. The country started embracing online gaming operations back in 2005. Since then great alterations of national laws concerning the regulation and taxation of outlandish web-based casinos, internet poker and sportsbook websites have happened in france.
Despite the initial interest of the country, the european commission thoroughly analyzed the market and announced that it was incompliant with the regulations of the european union. That is the reason why the commission required the country to put some changes in its gambling laws.
At first, only a couple of locally-based companies were granted a permission to launch online gambling website. However, up to date, there is a large number of foreign gambling groups and companies, which are licensed by the country.
It was not until 2009 that the government first introduced a special bill that was supposed to legally open the country’s gambling market to other member-countries of the european union and make it more competitive.
The largest changes in france’s gaming and gambling legislation came in 2010, after the country was put under a lot of pressure by the european union. The latter required it to put a stoppage to the restrictive provisions in its gaming laws, so the gambling act no. 2010-476 was passed by the government. The new act resulted in establishing the french regulatory authority for online games, also known under the abbreviation ARJEL.
The gambling act is considered an important step in the development of the country’s gambling legislation, because it ended the kind of a government monopoly that has previously existed over the segment. It opened the french gaming market to competition from other countries in the european union.
The latest changes in the gambling laws of france became the catalyst for a lot of criticism faced by the country’s legislation on the matter. The alterations are related with some limitations, which are considered as too harsh and ungrounded. Traditional casino games are now kept out of the online offerings of gambling activities in france. The only gaming options given to players are sports betting, poker and horse race wagering.
Still, no matter of the latest restrictions, the online gambling market in france is considered not only viable, but also relatively promising after showing modest signs of growth.
Online casinos & gaming in france in 2020
In recent years, despite being a key EU member, the country is dragging its heels in regards to online gaming. No doubt you’re wondering how the country that brought the world the 52-card deck and the roulette wheel has reached a position where some online games are unlicensed. But there are various circumstances at play – and let’s not forget that the country has a huge bricks-and-mortar casino industry to protect.
The EU has continually put pressure on french lawmakers to bring their policies in line with european regulations, and there has been significant change since 2010, but there is still a long way to go.
In terms of the best online casinos in france, residents can access some top games and offers. This means that slots enthusiasts in france can enjoy spinning the reels online just like the rest of us, without any worries about legality.
Under current french gaming law, it's legal to play at online casinos. France does require local licences, however, for sites offering games to residents. Here is a list of the best rooms in 2018:
Best french casino sites in 2020
Unique casino - #1 pick with 400+ vegas slots
Unique casino features more than 400 vegas style slots. The casino is open to free and real money players with games starting as low as one cent up to €500 a spin. The slot machine features include progressives, instant win bonus rounds and in some cases, the slots are highly volatile. This casino accepts euro, takes all french credit cards and has a payout rate of 98.65% making it our top pick for real money slot players.
- Accepts players from france
- Play games at just one cent up to a few hundred euros
- All transactions & games are secure & fair
- Daily promotions with free cash for slot players
- Visa, bitcoin and e-wallets deposits accepted
- 100% up to €200 bonus on 1st deposit
play now
- Truly dedicated to slot fanatics
- An incredible selection of bonuses
- A VIP program with exclusive rewards
- Enjoy bonus offers, VIP perks and more
- Optimized to excel on all devices
- A packed lobby to suit all your needs
- Choose from lots of unique promotions
- Play 100s of quirky and exciting slots
- Fast and secure withdrawals guaranteed
- Exciting new games added this month
- One of the best bonuses available now
- Join now, play all the year round
- Exciting new games added this month
- One of the best bonuses available now
- Join now, play all the year round
- Enjoy 300+ slots from top providers
- Get daily bonuses and VIP perks
- Deposit and withdraw using bitcoin
Gambling laws in france in 2020
For a country with such a rich gambling tradition it’s remarkable that the french authorities have prohibited certain forms of gambling over the years. Some of the oldest gambling establishments in the world can be found in france, and as a country it contributed to the development of some of today’s most popular games.
It was as far back as the 1500s when the queen was introduced as a face card in the deck, taking the place of the nobleman, and france was the first to introduce the standard 52-card deck that we use today. It was also a french mathematician by the name of blaise pascal who invented the roulette wheel in the 17th century, which led to the development of the game we know and love. Even the idea of pari-mutuel betting originates in france, which is said to have been invented in the country around 1870.
There are close to 500 casinos, horse racing tracks and "racinos" (a combined racetrack and casino) dotted around the country. This might go some way towards explaining the french authorities’ reluctance to embrace the online world. However, some of france's best-established poker rooms have shut down in recent years.
Until recently two state-owned gambling operators monopolised the french gaming scene: the PMU - which looks after horse racing - and the FDJ which takes care of betting games and lotteries. The only notable legal changes over the last 20-30 years had been a reduction in the legal age for gambling, which was brought down to 18 from 21 in 1987, and the legalization of land-based slots machines in 1988, which for some reason had been banned previously.
That was until france finally caught up with the growing industry in online casinos. France now has one of the toughest online legal frameworks in europe.
Viva la revolution de gaming
The french laws all changed with the revolution of 2010. After several years of pressure from the EU, france passed law no. 2010-476 of 12 may 2010 (the french gambling act). Under the new rules, the state monopoly of casinos was broken and online gambling was allowed. It also paved the way for the establishment of ARJEL – autorité de régulation des jeux en ligne - the regulatory authority for online games.
Under new rules, french online operators are required to apply for a license when running a casino, and online poker room, or a sportsbook (sports and/or horse racing) for real cash.
This was a vital piece of legislation for players, as it opened up the french market to other EU gaming operators. 35 companies applied for and were granted licences to provide sports betting, horse racing betting, and online poker to french players.
Sadly, at this stage the government decided to exclude casino games, slots and table games, as they were regarded as “too addictive” by french politicians, although it appears to be a slight contradiction that they continue to be acceptable at land-based casinos. Nonetheless, the change opened up the market for french players, and they now have a far wider choice for sports betting and poker at the websites that hold french licences.
There remains a huge “but” though, and that revolves around the french authorities’ approach to taxation and regulation. The high tax rate has led to 15 of the 35 original operators to gain licences withdrawing their operations from the country as a result of unsustainable operating costs.
ARJEL: autorité de régulation des jeux en ligne (the regulatory authority for online games) was set up following the 2010 french gambling act. It issues licenses to online operators and helps:
- Protect players and vulnerable gamblers
- Ensures the safety of games
- Fights illegal gambling websites
- Fights money-laundering and corrupt sites
When ARJEL was set up, any site operating under a .Com domain in france had to reapply for a .Fr domain. Guilty sites face a fine of €10,000 a day if they don't comply.
PMU: pari-mutuel urbain (PMU) is the main company in france that handles horseracing bets. PMU outlets can be found up and down the country. It was also the first online betting operator allowed in france.
Understanding tax in french gaming
When the gambling act was brought in, it included very high rates of tax for poker and sports betting.
Any poker pot is subject to a 2% tax rake in addition to the usual rake taken by the poker site. To put that in context, french players are paying 7.5% or more in total rake, compared to the industry average of 4-5%.
To make matters worse, the gambling act also prohibits the sharing of player pools across national borders. Or in other words, french players can’t play against anyone outside of france, and can’t compete for international tournaments or pots. Many licensed sites have stated that this makes it difficult to keep games running with such a limited pool of players.
The same high tax rate also applies to sportsbetting, which is liable for an 8.5% levy on every individual bet placed. When you consider that most of us can place a bet and collect our winnings without paying a penny in tax, you can see how this can have a huge effect on total profits for the punter.
In addition to these taxes, betting site operators are expected to pay 33% corporation tax, hence the large number of sites that have closed down.
Popular casino games for french gamblers
At online casinos in france, gamblers have a wide spread of games available. Slots are relatively new to the french masses, but players will find hundreds to play at licensed .Fr websites. European and french roulette are also widely played.
Slot machines: most large slot developers have licences to operate online in france. You can play in euros and all casinos with .Fr extensions come in english or french.
Roulette: roulette originated in france (roulette means "little wheel"). The game was brought to the US in the 18 th century where it flourished. European roulette is available at most good online casinos. France sites also run american roulette for real money.
French roulette: french roulette is an exciting variant of european roulette that has an added insurance bet. The la partage rule refunds half the player's even-money stake if a zero (0) appears. This helps reduce the house edge in french roulette to just 1.7%.
Online poker: online poker was hugely popular until france decided to segregate its market. Along with italy, portugal, and spain, france shut off its poker players from other countries. French poker players online had to make do with poker sites carrying .Fr extensions. Only french players can access the sites. However, in 2018, there are moves to pool players with spain.
Best deposit methods for french gamblers
French players have a limited but safe range of deposit options when gambling online. A deposit in euros is generally allowed, and fees can be low. Deposits can take anywhere from a few minutes to two or three days.
Bank transfer
A direct bank transfer can be a good deposit option for french players. At online casinos in france, use your internet banking page to send EUR directly to the cashier.
Hipay is a secure french e-wallet available in france and across europe. The deposit method is generally free from fees, and you can use your french bank account to send money.
Paypal is a leading e-wallet provider that lets you transfer cash easily online. With a single anonymous virtual wallet, french casino players can fund their gambling with multiple credit cards and bank accounts, or other e-wallets.
Live betting and casinos
Poker: live poker has suffered in recent years, but france has always had a poker presence. The aviation club de france (ACF) operated from 1908 until 2015 when it was closed down and its licence revoked. Major tours like the world poker tour (WPT) and european poker tour (EPT) have held live tournaments in france. The partouche chain of casinos has its own world-renowned championship too - the partouche poker tour.
France has produced some of the world's best poker players over the years. Fabrice soulier, antoine saout, and bertrand "elky" grospellier have all won millions on the live circuit. France also boasts two or three major online poker rooms that are popular both at home and abroad.
Casinos: france has a long tradition of brick 'n' mortar casino gambling. In 2018, the partouche group is the biggest chain and runs 39 casinos across france. "roulette anglaise" (european roulette) is offered at most sites as well as roulette electronique (electronic roulette terminals). Players will also find european blackjack, video slot machines, and "bataille" (battle). A form of progressive jackpot video poker can also be played at partouche casinos.
Find the best online casinos in 2020
In 2018, it's possible to gamble at some top online casinos. France-based players have a wide selection to choose from. France's online gambling framework is more structured now, but operators have strict rules to adhere to. French players still have some great slots and betting websites to gamble at in 2018, and they can access top bonuses upon sign-up. Find a EUR casino that's right for you.
French gambling at a glance
Population: 67m
Legal age of gambling: 18
Land-based casinos (Y/N): Y
Online casinos legal (Y/N): Y
Popular games: poker, horse racing, sportsbetting, roulette
Brief history of gambling in france
17 th century - blaise pascal invents one of the first "roulette" wheels. Roulette means "small wheel" in french.
1870 - pari-mutuel betting is allowed on some horse races.
1908 - aviation club de france casino opens on the champs-élysées.
1930 - off-track pari-mutuel betting is allowed. PMU is created.
1973 - partouche chain of casinos opens.
1987 - legal age of gambling drops from 21 to 18.
1988 - slot machines are legalized in france.
1997 - PMU starts to accept bets on overseas races.
2009 - after EU pressure, the french government passes the french gambling act and sets up ARJEL to handle and issue new licenses.
2010 - PMU launches online sportsbetting site, the first to operate under a new license in france.
France
Historical birthplace of casino group, france is at the heart of its differentiation strategy and format segmentation. Its brands, which combine business dynamism and innovation, claim their identity and constantly evolve to anticipate new modes of consumption.
In light of this large and diverse portfolio, casino is deploying its network in france across 10 000 stores by closely adapting to all types of customers, local lifestyles and the direct environment: urban and suburban areas or countryside.
Casino supermarkets
With casino supermarkets, casino has an important network of supermarkets across mainland france. These stores are characterized above all by their quality, an enhanced fresh product selection and their friendliness.
Implanted in the heart of towns or cities or in the countryside, the brand casino supermarkets showcases a comprehensive and competitive offer of food products (with on average 13 000 products), a strong presence of casino label products and fresh products, as well as a selection of local products. Brand positioning is defined by a threefold commitment: low prices, assured quality and an easier life.
- Format : supermarket
- Number of stores : 433
- Average surface : 1 700 m²
- Catchment area : urban
- Website : www.Supercasino.Fr
Franprix
Founded in 1958, the franprix brand has developed over the years a network of convenience stores and it offers a range of products and services especially designed for consumers in town or city centres.
Historically located in ile-de-france, franprix asserts its leader position with a steady growth in paris and its region, and it was launched in 2004 in big french cities such as lyon, marseille, nice, aix-en provence and lille. With almost 900 stores, franprix is the convenience store brand of major cities or towns. Its stores are part of customers’ daily lives.
The brand offers a comprehensive food range which fulfills the needs of city dwellers in the search for quality, innovation, authenticity and taste. Franprix also offers convenience services in order to make consumers’ lives easier. In 2017, the brand launched « franprix noé » in paris, a new store concept dedicated to responsible consumption: organic and vegan products, bulk, self-service pick and mix…
- Format : convenience banner
- Number of stores: 893
- Average surface: 400 m²
- Catchment area: paris and ile-de-france, lyon region, PACA and occitanie regions
- Website : www.Franprix.Fr
Géant casino
Formerly the symbol of mass consumption, the hypermarket format has experienced many evolutions in the last few years. Casino group has learnt how to anticipate these changes by initiating a deep transformation of its géant casino stores into human scale hypermarkets, really close to customers, focused mainly on the food offer and displaying the lowest prices for mass market commodities.
Géant casino hypermarkets are deploying a large offer, based on four specificities: the predominance of their own label, a wider and more prominent range of fresh products, the development of new non-food concepts non alimentaires such as cdiscount show-rooms and even lower prices.
The géant casino concept is promoting pleasure and a great shopping experience: thoughtfulness of the staff, friendly spaces, fresh product enhancement with the market area and the multiplication of service counters (deli, butcher’s, cold meat counter, fish counter…).
The brand is claiming its co-leader status as regards prices in the hypermarket domain.
Géant hypermarkets are mainly present in the regions of the south of france.
- Format : hypermarket
- Number of stores : 122
- Average surface : 7 400 m²
- Catchment area : suburban
- Website : www.Geantcasino.Fr
Leader price
True to its ambition to make quality accessible to all, leader price is today one of the main discount names in france, as much for own label and national brands, without having to sacrifice quality in the service of its customers.
On the discount market, leader price has known how to create a strong image for quality and choice since 1990. The brand differentiates itself via a balanced selection of more than 4 500 references.
- Format : discount supermarket
- Number of stores: 777
- Average surface : 800 m²
- Catchment area : urban and suburban
- Website : www.Leaderprice.Fr
Le petit casino
Pioneer in french convenience stores since 1898, le petit casino brand is part of casino group’s DNA. Thanks to its strong historical roots, casino proximités started to modernize the brand in 2017. The new « le petit casino » is in the heart of towns or cities with a wish to recreate the atmosphere of a shopping street. Designed as real living spaces, the importance is given to personal relationships with customers.
- Format : convenience store
- Number of stores : 790
- Average surface : 80 à 500 m²
- Catchment area : city or town centres
- Webiste : www.Casino-proximite.Fr/enseigne/petit-casino
Monoprix
Multi-channel leader and historical player of town and city centres for 85 years, monoprix features on a daily basis a quality product offer and innovative services designed for its urban customers. The brand offers among its aisles food products but also beauty, fashion and home products.
Since the opening of its first store in rouen in 1932, monoprix has constantly reinvented itself to fit in with city evolutions and life styles. Monoprix has the ambition of being THE reference in terms of convenience stores with a differentiating experience in store and outstanding customer service.
- Format : qualitative banner
- Number of stores: 316
- Average surface: 1776 m²
- Catchment area: town or city centres across france and internationally (tunisia, mauritius, libya, qatar, luxembourg, lebanon, martinique island)
- Website : www.Monoprix.Fr
Monop’
Since 2005, the monop’ brand fulfills all the needs of convenience for city shoppers. Monop’ stores are located in urban areas with high traffic such as business districts and residential areas. It offers customers, six days out of seven and from 9am until midnight, a wide choice of products going from fresh to ultra-fresh to grocery products through hygiene and beauty products. Monop’ is defined by several concepts: monop’daily (fresh quality products, made on site and « ready to go »), the canteen (healthy fast food), monop’beauté (beauty product range), monop’station (convenience stores in train stations).
- Format : convenience store
- Number of stores: 199
- Average surface: 223 m²
- Catchment area: urban areas with heavy traffic
Naturalia
Naturalia is one of the top brands in france specialized in organic products. Its offer, which combines organic foods and pleasure, counts more than 10 000 references, organic grocery, natural cosmetics and food supplements, particularly with brands in specialized stores and a range of own label products.
Since its creation, naturalia has been accompanying new consumption trends which redefine the codes of « better consumption ». Historically designed for vegans, naturalia opened in 2017 the first three « naturalia vegan » stores with a quality selection, respectful of the environment and vegan culture, while guaranteeing all the benefits of organic farming.
- Format : convenience store
- Number of stores: 168
- Average surface: 216 m²
- Catchment area: ile-de-france and major french cities
- Website : www.Naturalia.Fr
Sherpa
Exclusively located in mountain regions, sherpa is geared towards the winter sports market and as such tends to be the reference at ski resorts, with a clear concept, unique services and an offering designed so that customers can enjoy stress-free holidays.
- Format : convenience stores
- Number of stores: 120
- Website : www.Sherpa.Net
Equally rooted in its territory and proud of its international brand status (it is present in over 48 countries), SPAR is the leader in food convenience stores in developing geographical areas and it boasts a recognized brand image thanks to its aisles of traditional products and a strong visual identity.
- Format : convenience store
- Number of stores : 860 SPAR stores in france
- Catchment area : geographical areas in development
- Website : www.Spar.Fr
Vival
First food franchise in france with nearly 1 700 sales outlets, vival offers a concept adapted to rural areas. Its product range offers the best of the casino brand as well as essentials from big national brands. Vival also offers a wide range of services: postal service, PMU betting, parcel collection, money transfer… it’s a meeting and networking place for the locals. The brand has also launched the free library “vival livres” offering the opportunity to exchange books freely.
- Format : convenience store
- Number of stores : 1630 vival shops
- Average surface : 60 to 150 m²
- Catchment area : countryside or town/city neighbourhoods
- Website : www.Vival.Fr
Casino restauration
For 50 years, casino catering has been committed to research in quality and innovation, which means it can adapt to tastes, food behaviours and consumer expectations. Thanks to its desire to offer quality meals accessible to all, casino catering has imposed itself as a major player on the catering market (outside of the home).
Today, these 6 brands combine all the eating habits of the french, suggesting traditional, innovative, original and more creative recipes.
A la bonne heure
Innovative concept, the brand relies on revisited tradition to make the customer feel « at home ». An accessible restaurant, with a menu offer, a starter and dessert all-you-can-eat buffet selection, especially designed for families. The brand offers its customers a healthy and popular cuisine to enjoy every day, at low prices. Chefs are creating new recipes through the seasons, while highlighting the raw materials used.
- Traditional restaurants
- Number of outlets : 100 restaurants
- Average surface : 450 to 650 m²
- Catchment area : suburban shopping areas
- Website :http://www.Restaurant-alabonneheure.Fr/
Cœur de blé
For a quick break or a relaxed lunch, sitting or standing, the cœur de blé concept fulfills new snacking needs for today’s consumers. Resolutely oriented on balance and taste, cœur de blé offers gourmet and original recipes while carefully selecting products and ingredients.
Manager are also working towards respecting food balance and the seasonality of products.
- Snacking
- Number of outlets : 92 restaurants
- Average surface : 80 to 120 m²
- Catchment area : in city/town centre or suburban areas
- Website :http://www.Coeurdeble.Fr/ http://www.Coeurdeble.Fr/
Comptoirs casino
Restaurants (« free flow » type) with various counters, les comptoirs casino offer french cuisine and foreign specialities. They are the conceptual evolution of the historical brand of casino catering: casino cafétéria. Today, they are mainly present on motorways and they offer different decors and types of foods to fulfill the many needs of a variety of customers.
- Number of outlets: 19 establishments
- Catchment area: on the motorway network
- Website : www.Lescomptoirs-casino.Fr
St once
The brand offers its customers meal box delivery and a catering service for all events as much for both companies and associations. Well established in the sport sector, st once also has concession rights in big stadiums and french race courses. St once fulfills all catering needs for events as it offers real quality, by carefully selecting its products (AOP, labels…) which are used in creative recipes put together by famous chefs.
Online casinos accepting players from france
Online gambling in france is legal and licensed by regulatory authorities. Unfortunately, the government has decided that horse racing, sportsbetting, and poker are the only online gambling activities that are acceptable. Casino games such as slots, blackjack, roulette, and craps are all forbidden from being licensed for online play.
Online gambling in france is overseen by ARJEL [autorite de regulation des jeux en ligne (eng. The regulatory authority for online games)]. They also publish a list of licensed operators such as pokerstars and partypoker.
While offshore operators are not licensed in the country, we are aware of no prosecution of players who venture onto the internet and play at operations licensed elsewhere. Many, but not all online casinos located offshore, welcome players from france and french territories.
The authorities have had the ability to block isps under certain conditions since 2014. ARJEL, in collaboration with the budget ministry, has the ability to execute payment blocking as well.
Most players will not experience either of the market protection methods in place to protect government monopolies or licensed operators. Authorities do not maintain a blacklist of banned sites.
If you choose to use a VPN to access a gaming site, it is strongly suggested that you get an agreement with the operator in writing before risking your funds. Some venues will allow you to use a VPN and others will not.
Player protections in france
Online casino gamblers who experience control problems are not protected by the country's self-exclusion program known as “L ‘interdiction volontaire de jeux”. Land-based gamblers and those who bet on horses, sports, and poker can exclude themselves from gambling for a minimum of three years. When the term has expired they must explicitly petition the ministry of the interior in order to be removed from the list.
Land casino gamblers who experience problems can exclude themselves from specific venues under a program known as "ANPR", rather than entering their information into the nationwide database.
Number of casino licenses in france
While there are no limits on the number of terrestrial licenses available, market forces have capped land casinos to about 200. Most of these properties are owned and operated by one of four main operators in the country: barriere, partouche, JOA, and tranchant.
Gambling growth in france by the numbers
According to H2 gambling capital's most recent report, the FDJ sports / lottery / bingo sector is the fast-growing interactive element of the french gambling economy with gross gambling wins (GGW) of €5.60m in 2018 rising to an expected €6.46m in 2019 with steady growth predicted for all intervening years and GGW of €12.20m projected for 2024.
H2GC has proven to be the most accurate forecaster of gambling revenues, offering deep research and frequent updates to their databases. Total onshore interactive gaming for 2020 is projected to be €2511.4m with offshore (mostly poker sites) achieving €523.5m.
It is estimated by the european casino association that the unlicensed offshore market (mostly casino games) is worth only 15 to 20 percent of the legal online market, or about €150m.
Best online casinos for france
Online games for french players
While the authorities have deemed online games of chance to be too "addictive" to regulate, other licensing authorities do not make such a distinction. Offshore casinos in licensing jurisdictions such as curacao and elsewhere offer every type of game usually found in french terrestrial casinos.
Following is a partial list of games found at the gaming sites we list here that accept players from france:
- Chemin de fer ( baccarat, punto banco) - multiple variants, commission/no commission, side bets, etc.
- Blackjack - at least a dozen variants and rule sets
- Casino poker - casino hold'em, oasis, 3-card poker, etc.
- Casino war - A "child's game" with real money wagering
- Craps
- Keno
- Progressive slots - multi-million dollar jackpots
- Reel slots - mostly 3-reels, traditional and modern bonus mechanics
- Roulette - french/0/00
- Sic bo - asian game using 3 dice
- Unique games - fixed odds, virtual racing, and virtual sports, esports, pull tabs, etc.
- Video poker - over 1,000 paytables, providers, and hand counts from single hand to 100 hands per round
- Video slots - the most popular casino gambling game online
Live dealer streams
Online players in france no longer need to visit one of their local casinos to play table and card games against real live dealers. Several providers stream live games from studios and casino floors in europe. No special software is needed to play as the HTML5 framework allows players in france to play on their mobile or desktop device web browsers.
The most popular live games are blackjack and roulette, but baccarat and sic bo can also be found in abundance.
Live casino games are usually accessed directly from the online site's lobby page.
Look for table limits from €0.10 to €500,000 per hand or round. Some operators offer one on one games to rated VIP players.
Best slots casinos
French mobile gaming
Any game that can be played on a desktop browser can also be played on your mobile device. Some operators offer apps for android and ios, but the modern HTML5 protocol allows gameplay right in your browser, so you won't need to download or install any apps for most sites. Poker is the exception to the rules as poker (cash games and tournaments) platforms are usually a stand-alone operation separate from the casino software.
All games are available in france for smartphone, tablet, laptop, and desktop systems regardless of the OS, be it mac, PC, or linex, etc.
French casino bonuses
Each gaming site has its own offers as well as terms and conditions. French players can take advantage of welcome bonuses or multi-stage welcome packages (good for more than one deposit) as well as VIP status and rewards.
If you are familiar with bitcoin and other digital currency transactoins it is always good to see if the site offers special bonuses for using cryptocurrency.
Since there are no processor fees on the cashier end, and players cannot chargeback a busted deposit with BTC, many sites offer amazing match percentages for using future currency rather than fiat euros. Most sites also raise the limit on the amount of money eligible for match play far beyond the limit for euros.
Most gambling websites are now using geolocation software. The site will either be in the french language or you will have an option to choose french. Just as important is the fact that geolocation allows casino marketers to offer only the bonuses available for your region.
French players are most welcome at our listed properties and can expect to find some very lucrative welcome offers designed especially for them.
Be sure to consider accepting a no deposit bonus offer as long as you can still get deposit matches and extra spins. The amount you can cash out from free chips is usually limited, and you may need to make a small verification deposit to cash out, but you will be playing with their money, rather than any of your own!
French casino payment methods
We've already mentioned the bonus enhancements possible with BTC transactions. Another benefit is the payout speed. Some gaming sites will payout in less than 15 minutes if you deposit with a cryptocurrency. Some others pay within 24 hours.
Sofort is a popular deposit option for players in france as well as germany and austria.
Skrill and neteller are popular ewallets for french players. Be sure to check bonus terms and conditions if you intend to deposit with one of these wallets as some welcome offers will not be available for this deposit method. Maximum bet amounts may also be reduced when using neteller or skrill.
Rapid transfer is a relatively new skrill deposit method which sends money directly from your bank account to the casino. Some players complain it actually takes longer than a regular skrill deposit from a funded wallet.
If you find the paypal logo in the cashier section of your favorite gaming site you will be able to transfer funds using your account. France is one of the countries with the most paypal services. Australia, canada, USA, UK, germany, netherlands, and new zealand are also "preferred countries" and all but US players can use their accounts for online gambling.
Inpay supports some french banks for deposits. It is a danish company with localized transactions. More and more online casinos are adopting the method every month. Players access their banked funds by using their regular and familiar online banking pages to make deposits.
The method is fully encrypted and secure. Inpay is regulated by the danish financial supervisory authority (FSA).
Neosurf is a french company. We list over 80 gaming sites that accept the payment method. You can read all about neosurf here.
You can also access tutorial videos in french by visiting the company's youtube channel here.
Other methods may be available to players in france. The best course of action is to visit a site listed here and look for your preferred payment method on the footer of the home page, or in the cashier section. If you see the logo, you should be able to deposit. When in doubt about deposits and withdrawals, a customer service representative will be glad to assist you.
French online casino conclusion
Gamblers in france have been deprived of licensed and regulated online casino gambling along with the protections that go along with a robust regulatory framework. However, many operators are willing to provide services to them.
Before joining an offshore gambling site, please read our reviews and consider the pros and cons of each one - not all sites are perfect for everyone. If you decide to click through without reading the critical review, please be sure to check the terms and conditions if you plan to accept a deposit incentive such as a match bonus or extra spins.
By following our guides and choosing a gaming site that accepts french players, you are already on your way to a safe and secure online casino gambling experience. We've done the hard work for you so that you can simply enjoy your gaming time.
Casino.Buzz
Online casino reviews, gambling news, free slots
�� best online casinos in france for 2020 ✔️
Introcution to online gambling in france
Some of the best gaming venues in the world today are the best online casinos in france. It is no secret that the people of france have long been fond of gambling games like blackjack and roulette. Now it is possible to play those games and many more at the best online casinos in france.
Here is a brief guide that will help you understand more about gambling in france and how these games of chance and skill can now be found online.
Gambling in france
French culture has always been one that supports gambling. This goes hand-in-hand with the french tradition to celebrate life and personal freedoms. Anyone that has ever been to paris will agree that the french have an appreciation for the finer things in life. This includes playing games at both live and online casinos.
Gambling on games of chance, cards, casino games, horse-racing, and sports remain a popular activity throughout all of europe, but the best online casinos often can be found serving france. Casino gaming in france is steeped in elegance and tradition. Today that tradition is proudly carried on by online casinos which offer games such as baccarat, craps, and slot machines.
About french online casinos
There are two types of casinos which may be found in france. The first of these is the online casino that has its base of operations in france. These casinos are licensed in the country and regulated by local gaming authorities. Many french nationals prefer these gaming venues, making them the best online casinos in france.
Not all of the best online casinos are based in france, however. Some casinos that serve france are located offshore in places like malta or curacao. These casinos operate in the same manner as other casinos that are registered in france. They provide the same games, the same deposit methods, and the same realistic graphics. You really can’t tell the difference when you play at either of these casino types.
The fact that there are different types of online casinos in france is good news for the player. This means that the casinos are always competing with one another for business. They will regularly try to top one another in the bonuses they offer and other promotions. Always check to see which french online casino is currently serving up the best deals for players.
Are online casinos legal in france?
Gambling online in france is 100% legal for all adults that reside in the country. France has taken one of the most progressive approaches to online gambling of any country in europe.
Some online gambling games originated in france
It is no surprise that online gambling games at online casinos are very appealing to the citizens of france. It is an interesting fact that some of the most popular gambling games have their origin in france. We can say with certainty that some games were first played at french gaming tables.
Perhaps the most famous game of them all is known as vingt et un. This is a card game that you might be familiar with. It uses a deck of cards and players try to make a total that exceeds the total made by the dealer. If either the player or the dealer goes over a certain total defined by the rules of the game the result is a loss.
Does this sound like a casino game you might know? It should. Vingt et un can be translated in english as the number 21. That’s right. The french game vingt et un is the original 21 or blackjack. This card game went on to become the most famous casino game of all time. It is one of the primary games that you will find in online casinos.
Another gambling game that likely originated in france is roulette. This is the popular game in which a ball is dropped onto a spinning wheel. The bettors make wagers on which numbered slot the ball will fall into.
It it interesting to note that there is a significant difference between roulette as it is played in france and the way the game is played in the united states. In european countries the roulette wheel contains one green slot which is assigned the number zero. In the US there are two green slots assigned the numbers 0 and 00. The presence of the additional green slot increases the house edge of the casino.
Chemin de fer is a french phrase that means “a railway” in english. You might be surprised to discover that this french card game is actually a predecessor of the online casino game baccarat. You will find many baccarat games offered in online casinos for french citizens. Baccarat is so popular because it is very easy to learn and play. Very little strategy is required on the part of the player to master this game.
As you can see, there are many online casino games which have strong ties to france. All of them can be played today with your mobile device at any one of our recommended online casinos.
Getting started with online casinos in france
It is not difficult to begin playing online casino games in france for real money. All you need is a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone that has a data connection. You also need to reside within the country of france and be of legal age to play casino games.
The first step will be to choose a french online casino that best suits your needs. Everyone has different requirements for an online casino, but some are fairly common. For example, you will want to choose an online casino that has access to many games.
You should be able to play slot machines, blackjack, and other table games with one online casino account. In some cases you might also be able to bet on sports or horse racing in france. Always check to see which types of betting are available.
You might also want to see if the casino you have chosen offers any live dealer games. In these games you can watch the dealer complete the actions of the game in real time with a video stream. This makes some players feel much more confident in the outcome of the gambling games.
The next step will be to see what deposit and withdrawal policies the online casino has. You should always seek to know this before you decide to gamble. Most casinos will accept deposits from a credit or debit card, bank transfer, or payment processor such as paypal or skrill. It is likely that you will be able to make withdrawals of euro in the same manner.
Always ask how many withdrawals you are permitted to make in one week, and find out what the limits and charges are for withdrawals.
Once your questions have been answered you are ready to create an account. Just enter in a few personal details, verify your email address and contact information, and make your first real money deposit. That’s all you need to do in order to get started gambling at online casinos in france.
What about french online casino bonuses?
Before we conclude we should mention that there are several types of online casino bonuses that are available to those in france. These bonuses can put hundreds of dollars in your casino account, and you can use that money to play any of the games that the casino offers.
The first type of casino bonus is the no-deposit bonus. This type of bonus does not require the player to deposit any of their own cash. As soon as the account is created a sum of money will be deposited in the player’s account. This amount of money can be as little as $10 or it can be more. The idea is to give the player a chance to sample the games of the online casino without having to risk their own cash.
A more popular type of online casino bonus in france is the matching deposit bonus. In this type of bonus the player is rewarded for making a cash deposit. The casino will generally match the deposit amount 100% up to a certain amount. For example, if the player deposits $300 the casino will give them another $300 in free bonus money.
There are terms and conditions which apply to these bonuses. The player is always advised to check with the casino to see what requirements must be satisfied before the bonus amount can be cashed out.
There is exciting online gaming action waiting for players from france. All those in the country who like to bet on slots or table games are encouraged to check out the list of recommended new online casinos here. In just a matter of minutes you could be signed up and playing all the gambling games you love right from the privacy of your own home for real money.
France online casino guide
Gambling industry overview in france
The following approaches will be presented
France is not only one of the countries with richest history and a serious player on the territory of europe. The country also has a long history of gambling, which has become one of the most popular pastimes for local citizens over the years.
Gambling operations currently have a legal status in france. This basically means that all gambling activities are regulated by the country’s legislation up to date. Currently, card games are especially popular in the country, as well as horse races, slots and sports betting.
Overview
The history of gaming in the country dates back to the 16th century, when the french added the queen to the deck of cards. France is also known as the home of roulette, which originates from the 17th century, and to pari-mutuel betting, which was established in 18th century in the country.
Gambling has long been and still remains legal in france in most of its forms. The gaming activities in the country, however, are regulated by the competent authorities. Such activities are permitted only under the ministry of justice.
The country lowered the legal age for gambling from 21 to 18 in 1987. A year later, france legalized slot machines and became one of the most gaming-friendly countries in europe as a whole.
Gambling legalization in the country basically means that brick-and-mortar operators are allowed to offer casino and card games, as well as racing and sportsbooks betting. Web-based operators, on the other hand, are permitted to provide the same offerings as the land-based ones except for casino games.
No matter of the excessive regulation on the matter, the contemporary gaming legislation in france features high taxes, which are considered as one of the setbacks before licensed gaming websites to survive in this market.
Almost 50% of the online gambling operators which acquired licences half a decade ago have already left the market. Players are also considered to be affected by the high poker pots and sports bets taxes. This, on the other hand, resulted in a great number of players preferring to stick to unlicensed foreign operators.
Top rated online casinos for france
Still, the french government has not yet cut the options for local players. Currently, there are no laws that proclaim playing at an unlicensed websites as a crime. This basically means that french players can choose from a great variety of both licensed and unlicensed websites.
Relevant legislation in france
Many forms of gambling are permitted in france, which makes the country a gambling-friendly one. There are currently three main bodies, which are responsible for carrying regulatory functions out – the francaise des jeux, ARJEL and the pari mutuel urbain.
The francaise des jeux is responsible for regulating lotteries and betting games. ARJEL deals exclusively with online gambling regulation, and the pari mutuel urbain is primarily focused on horse races betting. Up to date, ARJEL issues licenses to operators that are willing to provide online casino and gambling services to local citizens. There are no licenses granted for casino games, exchange betting or spread betting.
Currently, licenses are required from gaming and gambling operators that are willing to run their activities on the territory of the country. That is the reason why licenses can be granted for online gambling offering, sports betting and horse racing activities. The applicants are demanded to comply with the current country’s legislature, which includes providing some information related to their identification, shareholding details, experience and other matters.
The licenses are granted by the relevant and competent regulatory authorities for a period of five years. There is also an option for extending the licenses for the same period of half a decade after their expiration.
A new legislative bill related to online gambling operations was introduced by the french government in 2009. Then, a year later, it officially legalized a total of three forms of online gambling activities – poker, sports betting, including fixed odds betting, pool betting and live betting, and horse races betting.
Online gambling
When it comes to online gambling, this segment of the market is also legal on the territory of france. The country started embracing online gaming operations back in 2005. Since then great alterations of national laws concerning the regulation and taxation of outlandish web-based casinos, internet poker and sportsbook websites have happened in france.
Despite the initial interest of the country, the european commission thoroughly analyzed the market and announced that it was incompliant with the regulations of the european union. That is the reason why the commission required the country to put some changes in its gambling laws.
At first, only a couple of locally-based companies were granted a permission to launch online gambling website. However, up to date, there is a large number of foreign gambling groups and companies, which are licensed by the country.
It was not until 2009 that the government first introduced a special bill that was supposed to legally open the country’s gambling market to other member-countries of the european union and make it more competitive.
The largest changes in france’s gaming and gambling legislation came in 2010, after the country was put under a lot of pressure by the european union. The latter required it to put a stoppage to the restrictive provisions in its gaming laws, so the gambling act no. 2010-476 was passed by the government. The new act resulted in establishing the french regulatory authority for online games, also known under the abbreviation ARJEL.
The gambling act is considered an important step in the development of the country’s gambling legislation, because it ended the kind of a government monopoly that has previously existed over the segment. It opened the french gaming market to competition from other countries in the european union.
The latest changes in the gambling laws of france became the catalyst for a lot of criticism faced by the country’s legislation on the matter. The alterations are related with some limitations, which are considered as too harsh and ungrounded. Traditional casino games are now kept out of the online offerings of gambling activities in france. The only gaming options given to players are sports betting, poker and horse race wagering.
Still, no matter of the latest restrictions, the online gambling market in france is considered not only viable, but also relatively promising after showing modest signs of growth.
French online casinos
French online casinos are a little tricky, because the parliament of france as of 2020 has an ambivalent view of internet gambling. French lawmakers, if left to their own devices, would simply outlaw all forms of gambling in france besides their state-run monopolies on horse racing and the lottery.
Luckily, they follow EU guidelines, which requires fairness for international gaming operators, too. The EU commission on economics has put pressure on french lawmakers to put their statutes more in line with the general european community, so the creation of ARJEL in 2010 began a process of liberalization of the french anti-gambling code.
French online gambling laws
I’ve noticed that where brick-and-mortar gambling industries are strongest, that’s where you’ll get some of the greatest resistance to online gambling interests. For instance, in the united states, the state of washington is one of the strongest anti-online gambling proponents. France seems to be in the same position as nevada, as you’ll find 464 land-based casinos, horse tracks, and racinos spread throughout the land of wine and cheese. With such strong live casino interests, it’s probably no surprise france has been so late to the online gaming table.
Before 2010, online casinos were not legal in france. That didn’t mean online casinos didn’t accept french players, but these were black market websites that operated outside the laws. This kind of black market fosters a situation where problem gambling, gaming addiction, and underage gambling flourish. That’s why ARJEL was created: to provide responsible oversight and regulation, while collecting revenues from a potential lucrative tax resource. ARJEL regulates online sports betting, online horse betting, and online poker. You might notice online casinos aren’t listed, so let’s take a look at how france does govern online casino gambling.
Ecogra is important
When french minister of budget, jean-francois cope, established “COJER” (the “consultative committee for implementation of the monitoring policy of responsible games and gambling”), it was decided that ecogra membership would be an important prerequisite. French land casinos like casino france net joined ecogra and established their own sites. I’ve also seen where golden riviera received a license, but “casino city” states that french players aren’t accepted at golden riviera, so I’m dubious about the idea they have a license to accept frenchmen.
Are online casinos legal in france?
As you can see, you won’t find a whole lot of licensed french online casinos. The french parliament is considering full legalization, but none can say when or if that’s going to come to pass. Until then, french players will have to review your casino options carefully–and from a much small lists of options. You can take encouragement from the fact the european union is pushing for big countries like france and germany to reconsider their stance on legalized online casinos and come into alignment with EU policies on the subject.
That’s what frustrated american gamblers like myself do when we see little antigua and barbuda winning court battles against the US government before the WTO. I have a feeling french politicians will learn the value of online casino revenues and strong regulation long before their american counterparts ever will, so you can take comfort in that. Legalized french online casinos are coming down the road, so the whole world of online gambling should open up to the french in the next few years. Until then, these are a few sites you can enjoy.
Best european online casinos
A man could write all day about european online casinos and the various national laws which affects those websites. If you wanted reviews of the best euro online casinos, that might take all week. I prefer to give readers a glimpse at the overall scene, to make further study easier and less confusing.
With that in mind, I’m offering a quick survey of the european gambling laws and authorities, so you get an idea how complicated gaming law is on the continent. Then I’ll offer up some of the biggest and most famous online casinos in europe, to give you ideas about where to play and show how this dynamic industry continues to flourish, despite efforts by local political leaders to throw a fly in the ointment.
Play at europe's leading casinos online!
European gambling laws
When you discuss european online casinos, it’s a discussion of a large number of jurisdictions and national laws. The internationalization of europe through the european union hasn’t reached such a point that its gambling laws are uniform yet, so you’ll find a patchwork of laws and statutes much like what you’d find with the state system in the united states. In the US casino market, you’ll have nevada giving much leeway for casinos, while utah next door has no legal form of gambling whatsoever–even a state lottery. The state of texas outlaws most gambling, while it’s nearby neighbors oklahoma and louisiana set up casinos on the border with texas, thus luring in billions of dollars in texas gambling money every year.
You’ll find a similar patchwork in europe, though the rulings and legislation are charged with the national/international conflict and national rivalries. The EU would like to see a more uniform set of laws, but this is still some distance away. Where europe and the united states differ is the overall hostility (or lack thereof) of its politicians to online gambling: while the EU tends to favor legalized gambling with regulation and taxation, many US politicians prefer to make the whole matter illegal.
I wanted to touch on some of the latest online gambling laws on the european continent, to give readers some idea of the mood of legislators and the people they represent. This is a necessarily limited picture of european online casino laws–more of a snapshot than anything.
Belgian gaming commission
The belgian gaming commission or “BGC” tries to enforce the belgian gaming act by creating a black list of websites. Financial institutions and internet service providers are encouraged to sign this protocol, pledging to block activity involving these websites. In doing so, international online casinos are blocked inside belgium.
German gambling monopoly and EU law
Many of germany’s state lawmakers have tried to preserve a gambling monopoly within their various states, but an EU commission has complained these do not follow the german constitution or european law. Meanwhile, german lawmakers seek new ways to combat what they consider black market online casinos accepting players from inside german states. One possible solution is to follow the north german state of schleswig-holstein, which has institute anti-money laundering measures and policies to deal with problem gambling. Most important schleswig-holstein’s state laws comply with EU standards.
French gambling laws since 2010
French anti-gambling laws have been pushed back significantly since 2010. In that year, the french parliament created the “autorite de regulation des jeux en ligne”, thankfully shortened to “ARJEL”. ARJEL creates greater regulation, allowing for better policing of rogue sites, better treatment for underage gaming and gambling addiction, and the collection of more revenues from online gambling. ARJEL began accepting licenses for legal websites that would offer online sports betting, online horse betting, and online poker.
The french policies have long been derided as hypocritical. For the longest time, france outlawed most forms of gambling as immoral, while the government operated the FDJ and PMU. The PMU is the pari-mutuel urbain, a state-run horse racing monopoly, while the FDJ is the group francaise dex jeux, the state-run lottery. Though ARJEL has been a step in the right direction for uniformity and good sense, french lawmakers have also considered outlawing “games of skill” played online–which would be a major step backwards.
EU commission and the single market
The EU commission continues to push for a single market in all economic spheres, including the online casino industry. We’re a far cry away from that ever happening, but if you want to learn what the influential EU commission thinks about online gambling and “international market” services in europe, you might read the EU commission green paper (http://ec.Europa.Eu/internal_market/services/gambling_en.Htm) on that subject.
The fact is, powerful forces on either side of the national/international divide come into conflict over european casino laws. I included the news about casinos in germany, france, and belgium to show how three of the pillars of the european community react to EU gambling law imposition. Apply this to more than 30 countries and you’ll see that what the european union is doing is a bit like herding cats.
888casino – 888 casino has one of the largest player lists in the world. Using playtech software, you can enjoy the latest gaming trends, such as live dealers and no-deposit bonuses.
Euro grand casino – eurogrand is licensed in gibraltar and uses playtech software. You can play using the downloadable software or play an instant, no-download browser-based if you use the mac OS, linux OS, or simply prefer instant play.
Bet365 casino – bet365 is a UK casino which uses playtech software and has one of the highest payout rates on the continent.
William hill online – william hill‘s land-based business began as an english sports book, but their online casinos takes bets on table games like live blackjack and roulette, along with fruit machine gambling and video poker bets. William hill casino is powered by playtech.
Winner casino – winner casino uses playtech software and is licensed in antigua & barbuda. The casino is part of zirconium gaming limited and is another united kingdom based company.
All slots casino – allslots is a member of the jackpots factory group. All slots casino uses microgaming software and is part of the ecogra fair gaming association (led by microgaming). I’ve seen that ecogra continues to spread through the EU, such as the recent announcement that the ecogra sites had struck a bargain to enter the denmark online gaming market. Allslots is a favorite of UK players, but it supports 21 different european languages, so most euros should enjoy the site.
More european online casino
This is just the tip of the iceberg. The UK sites have tried to make themselves more euro-friendly in the past few years, seeking to replace the lost revenues from the lost US players. Local online gambling providers have also begun to use the latest technologies, so the competition is more fierce than ever. If you don’t try any of the sites above, consider 32red casino, winpalace, or golden cherry. Each of these is a proven operator which offers competitive rates and is powered by one of the top gaming platforms.
Licensing for euro online casinos
Because of the predominance of the british online casinos in euro online gambling, licensing often takes place in malta or gibraltar. Less frequently, you’ll see the netherlands antilles (antigua and barbuda), the isle of man, cyprus, or the kahnawake gaming commission out of canada licensing these sites.
Payment options in europe
You’ll find a myriad of payment options in europe. Credit cards like visa, mastercard, and diners club international are accepted in most places. Debit cards like delta, intercash, maestro, and electron are also available. E-wallet services like neteller, ukash, entropay, enets, clickandbuy, paysafecard, ecocard, click2pay, poli, abaqoos, barcode santander, dankort, dineromail, sofortuberweisung, ecard, ekonto, mycitadel wallet (citadel), ELV elektronisches lastschriftverfahren, eps, nordea, euteller, giropay, ideal, ticket premium, uinstadebit, lobanet, MB multibanco, mister cash, boleto bancario, moneta.RU, neosurf, przelewy24, teleingreso, semybank, and webmoney. So many of these exist across europa, it’s hard to list them all. If you don’t want to use credit, debit, or electronic transfer businesses, you can use instant wire transfer, internet banking, online bank transfer, online bill payment, check (cheque), or money order in many locations.
In the last few years, moneybookers has bought a number of the local electronic commerce services, so consolidation is taking place as I write. Moneybookers is now known as “skrill”, so this might add to the confusion of some.
Perhaps, the most common and widely accepted payment option for european casino players is paypal. The top casinos and betting sites in europe accept paypal deposits and will also allow you to use your account to withdraw any winnings.
French online casinos
French online casinos are a little tricky, because the parliament of france as of 2020 has an ambivalent view of internet gambling. French lawmakers, if left to their own devices, would simply outlaw all forms of gambling in france besides their state-run monopolies on horse racing and the lottery.
Luckily, they follow EU guidelines, which requires fairness for international gaming operators, too. The EU commission on economics has put pressure on french lawmakers to put their statutes more in line with the general european community, so the creation of ARJEL in 2010 began a process of liberalization of the french anti-gambling code.
French online gambling laws
I’ve noticed that where brick-and-mortar gambling industries are strongest, that’s where you’ll get some of the greatest resistance to online gambling interests. For instance, in the united states, the state of washington is one of the strongest anti-online gambling proponents. France seems to be in the same position as nevada, as you’ll find 464 land-based casinos, horse tracks, and racinos spread throughout the land of wine and cheese. With such strong live casino interests, it’s probably no surprise france has been so late to the online gaming table.
Before 2010, online casinos were not legal in france. That didn’t mean online casinos didn’t accept french players, but these were black market websites that operated outside the laws. This kind of black market fosters a situation where problem gambling, gaming addiction, and underage gambling flourish. That’s why ARJEL was created: to provide responsible oversight and regulation, while collecting revenues from a potential lucrative tax resource. ARJEL regulates online sports betting, online horse betting, and online poker. You might notice online casinos aren’t listed, so let’s take a look at how france does govern online casino gambling.
Ecogra is important
When french minister of budget, jean-francois cope, established “COJER” (the “consultative committee for implementation of the monitoring policy of responsible games and gambling”), it was decided that ecogra membership would be an important prerequisite. French land casinos like casino france net joined ecogra and established their own sites. I’ve also seen where golden riviera received a license, but “casino city” states that french players aren’t accepted at golden riviera, so I’m dubious about the idea they have a license to accept frenchmen.
Are online casinos legal in france?
As you can see, you won’t find a whole lot of licensed french online casinos. The french parliament is considering full legalization, but none can say when or if that’s going to come to pass. Until then, french players will have to review your casino options carefully–and from a much small lists of options. You can take encouragement from the fact the european union is pushing for big countries like france and germany to reconsider their stance on legalized online casinos and come into alignment with EU policies on the subject.
That’s what frustrated american gamblers like myself do when we see little antigua and barbuda winning court battles against the US government before the WTO. I have a feeling french politicians will learn the value of online casino revenues and strong regulation long before their american counterparts ever will, so you can take comfort in that. Legalized french online casinos are coming down the road, so the whole world of online gambling should open up to the french in the next few years. Until then, these are a few sites you can enjoy.
So, let's see, what we have: ✅ best bonuses in france ✅ up to $5000 bonus with fast payouts [updated march 2020] at online casino france
No comments:
Post a Comment