Allowed Betting Sites in France

Our table below gives you a quick rundown of the top three bookies in France. They have different sports and are trustworthy, so make sure to check them out!

Although France is known for its strict regulations, it still allows online gambling. Recently, however, the government has been cracking down on operators who offer illegal bets. Although they have not yet closed down all countries of betting websites, they have made it very difficult for operators to operate in France. French bettors are traveling to safe sites overseas to play casino games that are illegal in France. The government cannot stop this interest, and they are losing their market share by enforcing their hard stance on gambling.

Despite all the controversy surrounding legal betting in France, punters still love to wager on sports. There is even a vast range of options available, including horse racing and soccer betting.


The best online betting sites in France

Although gambling is technically illegal in France, the laws surrounding it are relatively lax. Betting has traditionally been a monopoly of the state, but recent rulings from the European Union have forced authorities to open the market up to international operators, providing bettors with more opportunities.

Welcome OfferClaim your £30 Free Bet
Positives
  • Wide range of casino games
  • Hundreds of sports betting markets
  • Lots of other betting options like bingo and poker
  • Cash Out option
  • Low minimum stake
  • High maximum winnings
  • Professional customer support
Negatives
  • Low welcome bonus amount

William Hill, a gambling site founded in 1934, is now one of the largest online gambling companies in the world. This company has branches in many countries and allows you to bet on sports and games as well as casino games. In French, however, the site is not available. If you would like to play at William Hill's French website, you can choose to do so either in English or another language you prefer.

Claim Bonus
Rating: 7.9
Positives
  • Good bonuses
  • Big range of sports betting options
  • Different casino games
  • Mobile apps
  • Cash out function
  • Live streaming
Negatives
  • Poor support

Unibet, a leading online gaming provider with over 11 million users, is available in over 100 countries. Their slogan is “By players, for players” and they aim to make their site as user-friendly as possible. They have won awards for their poker services, as well as their sports betting. In addition to offering services in French, this company has also provided services in Spanish and German for customers who prefer speaking one of those languages.

Claim Bonus
Positives
  • Große Auswahl an Sportwetten
  • Hohe Gewinnchancen
  • Verschiedene Zahlungsmethoden
  • Professionelle Kundenbetreuung
  • Mobile Apps und Site-Version
Negatives
  • Mange an Boni für bestehende Kunden

Bwin is the world's largest online gambling operator, offering casino games for punters and a wide range of sporting wagers on more than 30,000 different events each day. The company offers its services in French, a convenient option for those who wish to bet in their native language. This site is licensed by the UK Gaming Commission and regulated by Gibraltar, adding credibility to the site's offerings.

Claim Bonus

French Bookmakers Promo Codes & Bonuses

The French have several bonuses and promotions available on betting sites. Almost all sites offer some type of welcome bonus, which is usually a sum of money provided to new customers when they register an account and make their first deposit or free spins. Each site’s terms and conditions vary slightly from their welcome bonus, so be sure to read them carefully before claiming your promotion!

3 bonuses

Betway casino welcome £50

FortuneJack 100 FS No Deposit



Betting sites often give existing customers bonuses to encourage continued playing. These are more varied and changing than welcome bonuses and should be checked regularly to ensure that customers are not missing out on any opportunities. Users should read the terms and conditions carefully before depositing any money to avoid being caught out by a trap requiring them to turn over a certain amount of money within a certain time period before they can withdraw it.


French Bookmakers Comparison

In France, gambling generally operates under a government monopoly. There are several organizations that license and regulate gambling activities, both online and offline. They have controlled this monopoly for several years, and there is nothing to indicate that it is loosening up any time soon.

1xBet
22Bet
Betano
N1bet
CasiniaBet
LibraBet
SportPesa
Sportsbet.io
Rating
3.95
Welcome Bonus
£40
Bonus Percentage
100%
Minimum Deposit
£10
Turnover
x3
Apps
Features
  • Bet Builder
  • Cashout
  • Casino
  • E-Sports
  • Live Betting
  • Live Casino
  • Live Streaming
  • Lottery
  • Poker
  • Request a Bet
  • Virtual Sports
Deposit Methods
Visit Unibet
New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 35x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. No deposit required for NI customers. Call 08081699314 to claim. Full T&Cs apply | 18+ | begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | Play Responsibly
Rating
3.25
Welcome Bonus
€20
Bonus Percentage
100%
Minimum Deposit
€20
Turnover
1x
Apps
Features
  • Live Betting
  • Cashout
  • Casino
  • E-Sports
  • Live Casino
Deposit Methods
Visit Vbet
18+ T&C apply | 18+ | begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | Play Responsibly | This promotion is not available to UK customers. For UK offers please click the button above.
Rating
4.15
Welcome Bonus
€130
Bonus Percentage
130%
Minimum Deposit
€1
Turnover
x5
Apps
Features
  • Cashout
  • Casino
  • E-Sports
  • Live Betting
  • Live Casino
  • Live Streaming
  • Lottery
  • Virtual Sports
Deposit Methods
Visit MELbet
18+ T&C apply | begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | Play Responsibly
Rating
4.45
Welcome Bonus
£10
Bonus Percentage
100%
Minimum Deposit
£10
Turnover
x1
Apps
Features
  • Live Streaming
  • Live Betting
  • Cashout
  • Casino
  • E-Sports
  • Live Casino
  • Poker
  • Virtual Sports
  • Bet Builder
  • Request a Bet
Deposit Methods
Rating
3.45
Welcome Bonus
€/£/$100
Bonus Percentage
100%
Minimum Deposit
€/£/$20
Turnover
7x
Apps
Features
  • Live Streaming
  • Live Betting
  • Cashout
  • Casino
  • Live Casino
Deposit Methods
Visit Campeonbet
18+ T&C apply | begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | Play Responsibly

The online market is becoming less regulated by the government, which is a result of agreements with other countries to allow foreign companies to compete. However, there are a number of companies that have withdrawn from the French market due to unusually high taxes set by the government.


Betting Features and Options in French Bookmakers

French bookmakers offer many different ways for players to enjoy their experience, including:

Bet Builder

Bet Builder

A bet builder is a type of betting system that lets members choose from pre-made combinations and how many bets to place. If all the bets are successful, the punter receives winnings higher than those from placing many separate bets. If just one of the bets loses, the whole bet builder loses.

Live Betting

Live Betting

Live betting gives you the chance to place bets after an event has started, and work with the odds that might change with the gameplay, instead of at the beginning of an event. This feature often increases the odds of your bet, and allows you to bet based on what’s happening right now – instead of relying on analytics.

Live Streaming

Live Streaming

Live streaming is a method of watching events that are not shown on television or otherwise visible to the bettor. To use live streaming, you usually have to bet at least €1, but this is a reasonable barrier put in place by the operators to prevent abuse of their service.

Cash Out

Cash Out

Punters have the option of withdrawing early from their bet if they feel as though they’ve lost. They receive winnings based on the odds of the event at the time of cash out, regardless of the outcome. Some sites will allow punters to cash out, leaving some of their bet in partially.


Payment Options used By French Bettors

When you’re betting at a betting site, you’ll usually have several options for making a payment. The most common forms of payment are Visa and Mastercard (both credit and debit cards are accepted), Neteller, Skrill, PayPal and bank transfer. And many sites will also offer far more options than these, but they’re the most common ones. When it comes to withdrawing money after you’ve placed a bet on an event though, most sites only accept withdrawals from the same way that your bet was made (for example if you deposited using Skrill then you must withdraw using Skrill too).

  • Visa LogoVisa
  • Neteller LogoNeteller
  • Skrill LogoSkrill
  • Trustly LogoTrustly
  • MasterCard LogoMasterCard
  • PayPal LogoPayPal
  • ApplePay LogoApplePay

Most methods of deposit and withdrawal are free, except for bank transfers, which charge a fee and can take up to 3 or 5 business days. The minimum deposit or withdrawal amount is usually €1, but the maximum is usually around €99,000. Always check the specifics of the site you have signed up to before making any deposits or withdrawals; this will ensure that you’re not being scammed.

For punters looking to deposit and play at online casinos, Francs and Euros are the most commonly accepted currencies in France. This is because players can deposit and play with euros on national websites, as well as international sites. Punters don’t have to use currency converters on the site, which often charge hidden fees.


Leading Sports for Betting in Europe

  • Football is the most popular sport in the world, and France is no exception. French citizens love to bet on football matches both on local games and at international tournaments, including the World Cup. France has participated in this event since its inception, winning it several times; most recently, in 2018. Due to the worldwide popularity of football and the excellence displayed by French teams, there are always many matches to bet on through both national and international betting sites.
  • French sports bettors love to place bets on winter sports, such as ice hockey. The fact that the terrain and climate of France make it a great place for sports enthusiasts to learn and practice their favorite activities makes this country a popular destination for French sports betting. Although France isn’t considered one of the top countries in the world for ice hockey, it still offers plenty of opportunities to bet on local games and international matches – including ones played by other countries’ teams.
  • Tennis is one of the most popular sports in France, so it makes sense that French people would be interested in international tennis matches. As a result, sports betting activity tends to increase during the French Open, which is held every year at Roland Garros.
  • Baseball is not a popular sport to play in France, but the number of bets received by the sport makes up for this lack of interest. Known as one of the most popular sports in America, Major League Baseball attracts a large audience in France.
  • The French enjoy playing rugby, and they’ve proven their worth as a world-class rugby nation. They’ve also shown that they’re skilled at the Rugby World Cup – they are one of only two teams to have won the tournament more than once. As well as betting on international games, the national league always offers bettors excitement, and the opportunity to back a local team.

Online Casinos

The French government does not allow online casinos to offer roulette and slot machine games, because they believe these types of games are more addictive than others. As a result, the government banned them from being played in online casinos.

If punters are unhappy with the choices they have at government-regulated sites, they can always look internationally for greater variety.


Mobile Betting in France

Mobile betting is growing in popularity in France, and many companies are trying to meet the demand. Companies accept registrations from the French population and provide access to their mobile betting sites through apps for both Apple and Android devices.

Customers can enjoy the same betting experience on their smartphone or tablet as they do online without the need to download anything. Many online betting sites offer a mobile version of their website that works on smaller-screen devices.


Gambling Legislation and Laws

In France, gambling is legal both online and in brick-and-mortar establishments. Sports betting, horse racing, casino games and poker are activities that can be enjoyed by French citizens when they visit a casino or sports book.

The French government sought to limit online gambling operators to national businesses and sites only – no foreign operators. However, the European Union found this to be in non-compliance with their regulations and demanded that the French government relinquish its monopoly on the gambling scene. In 2009, they opened their market to international investors. This move was met with approval from many businesspeople because it taxed companies an excessive amount but was also upsetting for some players who saw it as a tax grab by the government

In 2010, France passed a law legalizing all types of online sports betting and horse betting. The country had previously prohibited these forms of gambling because its leaders believed that they required some skill. Today, however, many people bet on games of pure chance using sites like bet365.com.


Facts about Betting in France

  • Roulette, a popular gambling game first played in France in the 18th century, can be traced to French mathematician Blaise Pascal.
  • The 52-card deck that is still used today was invented in France.
  • The average French person gambles approximately 45% of their income.
  • You must be 18 years of age or older to gamble in a casino.
  • The gambling industry has a yearly revenue of over USD 35 billion.
  • In France, sports betting and lotteries are the most popular forms of gambling.

French bettors are similar to their European counterparts in many ways. Like other Europeans, most people who engage in betting activities are male (approximately 80%). Betting is more popular with younger audiences, who are likely to be under 35 years old. Online betting is becoming more popular than traditional betting venues, although these remain the most popular methods of betting among French bettors. French punters also tend to engage more often in sports betting than they do in any other form of legal gambling.


FAQs

Are online gambling sites legal in France?

Yes, online gambling is legal in France. The government has licensed some operators to allow French punters freedom of choice when it comes to choosing where to bet. This includes games of chance such as roulette and slots.

Are there any taxes for French players on their winnings?

Yes, French players are taxed on their winnings if they are playing on a licensed site. If a player wins more than €1,500 at a licensed site, the player must pay 12% tax on his or her winnings. Any winnings less than this amount are not taxed.

How can you find the best online betting site in France?

There are many factors to consider when looking for the best online betting site in France. It’s important to select a site that is safe and secure. All licensed operators must have strong safety policies to prevent misuse of personal data. Licensed operators in France are trustworthy, so punters should feel comfortable with their services.

Are there any betting restrictions for French players?

France has legal restrictions on online gambling that apply only to pure chance games and to those in which skill determines the outcome. Thus, players who wish to abide by the law cannot play these kinds of games. Despite this, there is an international betting scene that offers a full range of gambling options. Therefore, punters are still able to choose whether or not they want to take part in illegal betting activities if they wish.

Are bet exchanges available for French bettors? Can you help me?

The French government has banned bet exchanges and many sites will not accept registrations from punters in France. Although there may be some sites that will continue to illegally accept French players, it’s best to avoid these sites.

What is your favorite website to bet on sports?

Bwin is the best sports betting site for French punters, offering a wide range of bets, great promotions and bonuses. Users can be confident in using Bwin because it is a reputable company that has been operating for over a decade.

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