Ten years after its partial liberalization, the French gambling market on the Internet had experienced an extraordinary year in 2020. The year of a health crisis, despite the cancellations or suspensions of sports competitions and horse races, is ultimately the year of all online gambling activity records, according to the National Gaming Authority (ANJ), the new authority of regulation of gambling, installed in 2019.
These “historic performances”, for the three gaming segments opened to competition by the law of spring 2010 – sports betting, horse betting, and poker – are still thriving. In these years, the money flow is in billions of euros just from French casino sites.
In further text, various information about online gambling in France, the best casino sites in France, as well as general information about them will be presented.
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Gambling in France is governed by very strict legislation. In recent years, the legislation has tightened, especially with the development of online games which, unlike land-based gaming rooms, connect two virtual people: the player and the owner of the site. It is an approach that is understandable especially since the transactions that take place on these sites are essentially monetary. Let’s take stock of the regulations of these online casinos in France which are not necessarily French.
On the internet as in real life (terrestrial), it is possible to play casino games. To date, there are several casino games that are: Slot Machines, Caribbean Stud/3-Card Poker/Let It Ride, Roulette, Craps, Baccarat, Blackjack, Video Poker, etc. These games are available on a multitude of online gaming sites which the French can discover.
Online games in France are subject to very coercive regulation. The French legislator has established a very clear barrier that distinguishes online games which are purely random and therefore of luck, and the games which are played and won thanks to the contribution of the deductive faculties and the insight of the player. This is why the legislation is more and more relaxed in the face of online games such as sports games, backgammon, poker (duplicate poker), or horse betting, and those are even approved by the Arjel (Regulatory Authority Online Games). ARJEL publishes a list of legal online gambling operators. On the other hand, the legislative blockade has been maintained on online games such as virtual slot machines, craps, blackjack, video poker, roulette, and many other games.
French people who play casino games in France do so on foreign gaming sites in Malta, Gibraltar, or Curaçao and are therefore subject to the legislation of the countries in which these sites are registered. Their jurisdictions are more conciliatory. They are also the only ones since the other countries do not give any gifts to the French. The coercive laws of France have led some foreign casinos to prohibit their access to French customers.
The large casino groups have so far remained unsatisfied in the face of a promising French market, but strongly embattled by ARJEL. For both land-based French casinos and foreign online casino operators, this is fertile ground to they are prohibited from accessing. Many sites have to date received warnings to prohibit their access to French people living on French territory.
Generally, when this injunction has not been followed up, the case is brought before the courts which proceed to the blocking of the site by the Internet service providers. This blocking is done under penalties. To date, there is a very implacable case law that has punished casinos that have defied the bans, if only by offering access to their casino sites to the French people. Real witch hunts have taken place against foreign sites. We can cite a few cases of legal proceedings since 2010:
In view of all this, we understand why most European countries refuse access to their sites to French people. This is a very uncomfortable situation for French casino game enthusiasts who secretly wish that French national legislation would relax its diktat a little more.
Is Online Casino Legal in France?
Online gambling is legal in France when done at French casino sites and when playing casino games that are allowed by the state. All other forms of gambling online are generally prohibited but the French are always finding ways to gamble at foreign casino sites via VPN.
A few searches on the internet are enough to find a considerable number of online casinos available in France. However, some platforms stand out from the competition with attractive features. Objectively, it is impossible to define the best French online casino. Indeed, multiple platforms provide a satisfactory quality of service to Internet users. Nevertheless, it is essential to define the characteristics to be taken into account when making your selection.
As a first step, it is essential to check the license of an online casino in France. This information obviously specifies the reliability of the platform concerned. Although France exclusively issues approvals to bookmakers, TURF, or online poker sites, the license from a foreign country may nevertheless reassure players.
The variety of games available is another major feature. Logically, a large selection will allow a player to vary their experiences from a single platform. Very often, this factor refers to Slots Machines as well as the different game modes related to online poker.
The majority of online casinos offer new French players more or less attractive welcome bonuses. Sometimes, certain offers are based on relatively complex systems (credit granted during a second deposit, the release of a bonus according to the value of the first payment, etc.). Some analyses are therefore essential to define the interest of the welcome offers available before proceeding with your registration.
Inevitably, the winning percentage is valuable information. This will define the rate relating to the pecuniary redistribution. The larger it is, the more likely you will be to win the “jackpot”. Statistics associated with win percentages are often difficult to verify. Some web addresses offer complete and objective comparisons. It is therefore recommended to consult a specific service.
The availability of an application dedicated to an online casino is ideal for playing without any geographic limits. Accessible on iOS or Android, these programs allow enthusiasts to consult their account, but also to bet/play from a smartphone or a touchpad.
Offering many means of payment is an effective solution to accommodate a maximum number of players. And some online casinos have fully understood this “strategy”. Several platforms will thus allow deposits by bank transfer, credit card, PayPal, or other relevant solutions.
The time needed to collect winnings is essential for all Internet users. In the past, several weeks were required to verify this process. However, many online casinos in France now provide fast and secure banking transactions.
The quality of an online casino’s customer service is a feature too often neglected by players… Until a problem surfaces! The presence of a telephone number or a text chat is therefore ideal for quickly obtaining an appropriate response to your request. Once again, the tests offered by certain comparison sites will allow you to find out more about the responsiveness of an online platform.
Carrying out banking transactions or playing via an online casino sometimes evokes legitimate concerns among the French. Indeed, many miscellaneous facts concerning certain online platforms are reported each year. In 2011, three poker sites were closed by the FBI after multiple frauds and money laundering. If this information does not concern the services available in France, the selection of your online casino nevertheless deserves particular interest.
When you discover the world of online casinos in France, focused on entertainment and pleasure, you can only want to try it out. Those who have never tried online gambling will find the following information quite useful.
To satisfy a good number of players, there are two modes, the real mode, and the demo mode. This second mode allows you to become better acquainted with the casino as well as to have fun with different online games before making your first deposit. You will be able to make your mark without betting real money.
We strongly advise you to always try a casino’s demo mode. You will be able to navigate and notice if everything is going well in terms of loading the games if the collection satisfies you and we can also take the opportunity to chat with customer support to see if it meets your expectations.
It must be said that online casinos are accessible at all hours of the day or night, with many advantageous and generous bonuses, with an ultra-complete catalog of games compared to land-based casinos. These allow you to win a lot of money, thanks to their generous redistribution rate (the frequency with which a game redistributes winnings) much more than the traditional establishments that we know.
It is therefore quite normal that more and more players are tempted by this very accessible facility on the Internet. Hence, there are a large number of online casinos in France today and the registration process can confuse many of us, and more particularly new players. If playing online may seem simple, you may encounter a few minor problems when registering for the first time. It would be very damaging to give up playing at an online casino just for this reason.
Therefore, here are the three steps usually needed to register at a French online casino:
Online casinos in France today rely heavily on the issue of security. They make it their number one concern, all data is encrypted. Here are two important criteria that we can highlight:
To sum up, if you are a beginner and want to discover a new online entertainment experience, choose the best casinos which will be able to help you and practice an approach with certain ethics. You will be helped to understand the bonuses and their conditions, and you will be guided to validate your account in order to receive your winnings.
Thanks to the Internet and IT technologies, anyone old enough to do so can register on a virtual gaming site and play whatever games they feel like. In further text, you will discover the casino games most appreciated by the French, as well as the different bonus modes to access them.
French players, much like those of other nationalities, are fond of slot machines. These have been around since 1894 and their ancestor was called the Card Bell and had 3 reels. Nowadays, they have evolved a lot, both in terms of functionality and graphics. There are even normal and progressive jackpots that can be found in the best French online casinos. They are so simple that they are accessible to everyone. Simply spin the stick and hope the matching symbols line up for victory.
Still known as 21, the blackjack card game is popular in France. The object of the game is to have a combination of cards whose value comes as close as possible to the number 21, however, without exceeding it. The bettors go up against the dealer, and this game was popularized in cinema thanks to cult films.
The game of roulette was created in France by Blaise Pascal in the 18th century. It is found in several universes: television, literature, cinema, and of course online casinos. Ultra popular, there are several variants grouped into two main categories: European and American. They differ according to the layout of the boxes on the game table. Indeed, European roulette has 36 boxes and only one for zero (0), while the American variant has 36 boxes and two for Zero (0 and 00). Although they are different in layout, the game rules and bets remain the same. Naturally, the French prefer the European version better.
Formerly, this card game was played by people of advanced age in priority, and a little less by young people. Nowadays, Rummy is a marvel of play for casino operators in France. There are several variations, but they are based on the same principle: with a deck of 52 cards, two to four players compete and must create combinations. Three or four cards with the same rank constitute a meld.
Points are counted according to the cards remaining in the hands of the different players. They are penalized according to the value of the aforementioned cards, knowing that those which carry a face are worth 10 points and the other cards with the exception of the ace (1 point) are worth 8 points. It is up to the players to decide the number of rounds and the target score to achieve.
This game is one of the most lucrative and exciting on online casinos in France. If it is so popular, it is not only because of the simplicity of its rules but also because the bettor has more than a 50% chance of winning than the dealer.
The principle is very simple. Card counting is the same as in poker, but the rules are easier to understand. At the start of the game, the player can choose between two betting opportunities, the first of which is the ante (your hand must be higher than the one of the dealer), and equality (the value of his card is equal to that of the dealer). Once this is done, the dealer hands the player a card and places one in front of them. Each protagonist then turns over his card and the one with the highest value wins the game.
To find the origins of poker, you have to go back 1,000 years, to the game of dominoes practiced by the ancient Chinese in the 10th century. Other thoughts consider poker to be the successor to the Persian game ʺAs Nasʺ or Poque, played by the French in the 17th century. Still, someone knew how to evolve this game and give us this version so beautiful and so captivating that it has been erected into a tournament and international competition. The French are not insensitive to it, which is why they play it a lot in casino operators.
Faro is played with 52 cards. At the start of the game, the dealer turns over two cards simultaneously, which are respectively the losing bet and the winning bet. If a French player succeeds in betting on a dealt card 4 times (a dead bet) and the dealer or a player notices this bet, then he wins.
Casinos offer two game modes on their platforms: free or demo and real money. They operate on opposite principles. Indeed, the first mode aims to give you pleasure without spending anything in terms of money, but also to allow you to learn the rules, strategies, and tricks of the different games available. In general, it is accessible without the obligation to register or download any application, but this is not the case in real money mode.
Once this step is over and the players have deemed they have the necessary level to try to win money, they turn to the real money mode which can obviously lead to nice jackpots, but also more or less significant financial losses, depending on the stakes. It should also be kept in mind that these two modes are not available in all casinos; hence the importance of making the right choice.
As in other countries, online casinos are very popular in France. While it is true that many games are in demand, the French have a particular preference for those that have been mentioned in this article. They have several points in common such as the simplicity of their rules and their great attractiveness.
Online casino games that people in France can play are mostly and largely based on chance – certainly, it is obviously important to know the rules of the game and the different strategies, but these are not the only ways to increase your chances. Other elements come into play: the choice of game, software publisher, or online casino are also taken into account by seasoned players. And there, it will be a question of performance: the amount of the jackpot, especially if it is progressive, the volatility rate of the slot machines, the variance, and finally, the redistribution rate.
Some will speak of redistribution rate, others of payout rate, or rate of return to the player (RTP) – three different ways of designating the same concept. The payout rate is the ratio between players’ bets and the payments made in the form of winnings to players by the French casino over a given period. The higher the percentage, the greater the probability of winning.
To fully understand, let’s take the example of a slot machine, whose rate of redistribution (or payout) would be 95% over a period of 24 hours. This means that over a period of 24 hours, for bets made by French players with a total value of 100, the payments in the form of winnings to players will be 95.
If we take the side of the casino, this also means that the margin of the online casino in France on slot machine games is in this example 5. Small precision is important, and comes is an average. So, if you are lucky, you can bet little and win a lot, or sometimes bet and win nothing. Let’s not forget that this is a game of chance. The payout rate is important information that you should normally find on the site of the gaming establishment in France or that of the software publisher of online casino games.
The payout rate for online games in France must be certified and verified by the supervisory and regulatory authority that granted the license. The law sets a minimum rate of redistribution which must absolutely be respected by the French establishments.
For example, it is set for casinos at 88% for table games, 85% for slot machine games. Compliance with these rates is verified every 100 days by audits by market regulatory authorities. In fact, there are two reflexes to adopt before playing at the casino: the first is to make sure that the gaming establishment has a license and the second is to check the redistribution rate of the game.
As you have understood, the payout rate distributed by the casino also determines its margin. The operating costs of online casinos are lower than those of land-based casinos (staff costs, maintenance of premises, etc.). Therefore, online casinos in France can afford a lower margin to cover their operating costs and therefore offer a better payout rate to their players.
So, yes, there is a difference between the payout rates of brick-and-mortar casinos and online casinos – online casinos being significantly more advantageous. And among these online casinos in France, some are even more so, such as new casinos, to make themselves known and attract new players. So it’s data to check on gaming sites – the payout rate, when indicated, can be a significant selection criterion. We still give you a little benchmark: the minimum legal redistribution rate is set at 85% and most online casinos in France offer at least an RTP rate of 95%, some even reach 98%. For example, the payout rate is generally higher for slot machines than for blackjack.
The theoretical payout rate is, as the name suggests, the theoretical percentage of a machine’s maximum payout possibilities. It is calculated on the basis of the exit frequency of all combinations of figures (whether winning or not). This calculation is made over a given period.
The real return rate corresponds to the reality of the payments in the form of winnings that the game has redistributed. Over a fixed period, it can sometimes be greater than 100% depending on the number of jackpots that have fallen. The reverse is also true, it may be lower than the theoretical payout rate if the machine has not been used optimally by the player.
An example will allow us to better understand this difference. Each slot machine has its own return to player rate. This rate of redistribution of winnings to players is calculated both on the assumption of a high number of moves (1 to 2 million moves) and on the assumption of a maximum bet. So, for a player who makes a minimum bet, the actual redistribution will be less than the theoretical redistribution.
Game Average Payout Rate at Online Casinos in France
An indicative table of payout rates for different games in land-based casinos (for France, according to a Senate report) is shown below.
As we have already mentioned above, online casinos in France have higher return rates to players, 95% for the most part, with some displaying audited rates of 98%.
Loose slot or tight slot? The first is a “loose” slot machine that releases the winnings more generously, whose rate of return is high, unlike the second, tight, and therefore more mean-spirited, which with its low redistribution rate, does not give us lots of chances to win. Certainly, online casinos in France often offer free spins that allow you to play for free at the casino, but most of the time these free bonuses are not that much since they are subject to real money wagering requirements to withdraw the winnings generated by these free spins. This element, however, does not take into account the frequency of winnings and their volume, since this data depends on the volatility of the slot machines.
Among the most profitable slot machines in France: Goldilocks and the Wild Bears from publisher Quickspin has a rate of 97.8%, Rage to Riches from Play N’ Go has 97.1%, and The SlotFather II from Betsoft has 96, 6%.
In conclusion, you now have the tools to get an idea of the potential profitability of an online game in France thanks to the payout rate. So don’t save it and take a few minutes before you start to check this information. Chance does things well when you know how to prepare for it!
Many, if not all, online casino sites in France will provide various bonuses and promotions to both new and existing players. These are always great to claim as they provide more gambling and in most cases for free. Players in France can use them to earn real money while investing little or nothing at all. But it’s not that simple.
Before claiming any bonus, you must understand that each offer has some terms and conditions you must abide by. After all, no matter how good they are, the online casinos in France won’t simply provide free funds that you can use whomever you please.
So, after deciding that a particular bonus interests you, you must carefully analyze all the available information. Usually, you can find everything you need in the official casino’s bonus section. But the conditions of most offers are pretty much identical, so let’s separate them into types.
Most of the online casino sites in France will provide you with a significant bonus you can only claim as a new user. These offers will usually at least double your initial deposit and even provide you with a bunch of free spins on top of that.
The matched deposit offers share the same mechanics as the joining bonuses, with the only difference being that they aren’t all that generous. For example, claiming a welcome bonus from a French casino could mean thousands in bonus funds. In contrast, the standard matched deposit bonuses will still double your deposit most of the time, but the amounts you can receive are significantly tinier.
These offers are the most popular among players in France. It’s all because a bonus like this won’t require you to make any deposit, and you can try out the particular casino entirely for free. The no-deposit bonuses in French casinos can be claimed through bonus funds or free spins.
In the online gambling world, free spins are among the most common promotions you can come across. However, this is different from the situation in France. Only the best gaming platforms in the country offer some free spins, and it’s widely known they usually come with sets of different rules and limits. For example, almost every free spins bonus in French casinos is limited to a group or a few slot games.
All means are good to be able to take advantage of additional real money in order to have the possibility of playing and especially of winning real money on the site of your choice! Bonuses are therefore an essential criterion to take into account when you select your next gambling platform.
Cashback bonuses are a way for the best French casinos to repay their customers by giving them back some of the losses they have made in a certain period. Although cashback is usually found in the loyalty programs of casinos, it can also be spotted as a different promotional offer. The standard cashback amount in the best French casinos is between 5% and 30%.
The free time play bonus is a new and exciting casino offer that the best French casinos perfectly implement. As its name suggests, this bonus will give you one hour and a few thousand possible bets so that you explore each section of the particular online casino thoroughly. But aside from testing the various games and features on the platform, you will be making real money in the process.
There is a multitude of payment options in France for online casinos. In these, four major categories emerge.
Many French players do not trust online casinos because their payment options are too difficult to understand when you don’t know much about them. Therefore, bank transfers are the most famous casino payment methods in the country due to their simplicity and no intermediaries. But new online payment methods offer much more. The following are the most common ones in France.
✅ Credit and debit cards – In order to play games at a web casino, you must have funds in your account. For this, it is necessary to make a transfer. The most popular option to do this is by using a bank card. This can be Visa or MasterCard. The advantage of this type of card is its great flexibility compared to other cards such as the essential American Express or Diners Club.
✅ PayPal – PayPal is the main alternative to credit cards. The advantages of this payment option are numerous. The two major strengths of this solution for an online PayPal casino are its ease of use and flawless exchange security. Offered in France, this payment solution has the particularity of not being offered everywhere.
✅ Skrill – Sign up for free on this wallet! It is a completely safe, secure, and confidential payment option for making deposits and withdrawals of money on the web in France. The exchanges, apart from the first transaction where verifications are carried out, turn out to be very fast. However, take into account that there may be charges levied.
✅ Paysafecard – It is also possible to play online in a completely safe and anonymous way thanks to Paysafecard. This is an ideal payment option for playing online. To use this solution, you must enter the digits of the prepaid coupon code. You will have purchased the latter beforehand. Once done, your funds will be put into the account. However, it is not possible to make withdrawals with this payment option.
✅ Webmoney – This is a virtual portfolio proposing multiple functions and offering the possibility of making payments on the web. Nevertheless, this portal is not only dedicated to that. Indeed, users in France can benefit from a multitude of financial services. In terms of Internet transactions, be aware that this option offers different electronic portfolios, usable in many currencies.
✅ Neosurf – Neosurf is a lower cost, simple to use option. It allows you to pay, send and withdraw money online instantly. The main strengths of this payment option with casino sites in France are flexibility and speed. Thus, this virtual card is particularly ideal in relation to online games.
Each online casino in France has its own deposit and withdrawal policy. Thus, not all establishments offer the same payment options. This is why we recommend that you check the payment options offered before playing since you will not be able to fund your account with all the existing payment solutions on the market!
| Types of methods | Main operators | Deposit limit | Withdrawal limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Classic Bank and Interac | 50 € | 100 € |
| Electronic wallet | Paypal, Paylib, Skrill, Neteller, ClickandBuy, Ecopayz, Entropay and MuchBetter | 10 € | 20 € |
| Bank cards | Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Bancontact, etc. | 10 € | 20 € |
| Prepaid ticket | Neosurf, Paysafecard and Cashlib | 10 € | / |
| Cryptocurrency | Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Ripple, etc. | Depends on cryptocurrency | Depends on the cryptocurrency |
What Is the Best Payment Option for French Players?
When gambling at casino sites in France, it is most common to use credit cards due to ease of use and good limits. On the other hand, those who wish to try their luck outside of France should definitely go for eWallets as they offer complete anonymity and safety. Cryptocurrencies are also great as well, although many don’t want to gamble with them as their value is skyrocketing.
Gambling is legal in France, although with certain limitations. As the laws and regulations are prone to changes, it is recommended to find out the latest laws regarding gambling before the option to gamble online.
Legal and licensed casinos are incredibly safe. All casino sites approved by the state are safe, even foreign ones that have licenses and certifications.
Sports betting is legal in France and therefore safe when done at proper casinos or betting sites.
French gamblers don’t have specific deposit limits required by the state. There is a campaign regarding Safe Gambling where players can set their own limits. If not, the limits will depend only on the casino site and banking options.
Gambling is taxable and should be reported always. All earnings above 1500 Euros are taxable.
This will depend solely on the casino and banking option of choice. Some casinos offer instant payouts, some need at least 24 hours. The fastest banking options are eWallets, which are usually instant, while credit cards are close behind in speed.
While there are some great casinos in France, it is impossible to select one as the best. Instead, what players should go for are reliability and a great selection of games, banking options, and high payouts.
Many games of luck are illegal in France and only those of skill (such as sports betting, card games, etc.) are legal. Therefore, those are most commonly found at French casino sites. Luckily, if players can register at foreign casino sites, the selection will be limitless.
Due to high accessibility, poker is arguably the most popular game in France. Since roulette was invented in France, it comes close behind.
Some casino sites in France will offer free spins as part of bonuses and promotions, although these are not that common.
Some casinos will require the first deposit. Others will require special codes. But the best ones are claimed for free immediately upon registration.
The FDJ website has made an Internet page available to users who have questions. It is also possible to contact Joueurs info service on 09 74 75 13 13. Available 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., this number (cost of a non-surcharged local call) allows you to be put in touch with professionals trained in the difficulties encountered by the practice of excessive gambling. Do not hesitate to call whether you are concerned directly or indirectly.
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