The second most populous country in Europe also has a legalized gambling market and online casinos in France have plenty to offer.
In this guide, we analyze the online gambling landscape in this country and suggest the best online poker and casino games you can find at the top online casinos in France.
Keep reading to learn about the casino industry and make your actual money gambling sessions more productive.
Is online casino legal in France? and what is the online gambling tax in France? These are just a few of the questions we’ll be answering in the paragraphs below.
- 1How online gambling started in France
- 2Terms and conditions to gamble at casino sites in France
- 3Online gambling laws in France
- 4Taxes levied by the French state for online casinos
- 5How the best French online casinos are selected by our team
- 6Create an account and play for real money
- 7Tips and Tricks to help you win at French online casinos
- 8Special casino bonuses for players from France
- 9Best payment methods available for online casino in France
- 10Most popular casino games among French players
- 11Live gambling and mobile experience at online casinos
- 12Perspectives of online gambling in France
- 13Advantages and disadvantages of online casinos in France
- 14Frequently asked questions about gambling sites in France
Top 10 online casinos for gamblers in France (2023)
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How online gambling started in France
Looking at the large number of casino gambling options that players from France have in 2022 you might assume that this pastime has always been legal. The initial steps toward the legalization of online gambling began in 2005, under the pressure of the European Commission.
At the time, it was easy to find an online casino in Germany or United Kingdom and there were plenty of options for those seeking a legal online casino in Europe. France was lagging but was compelled to make meaningful change.
Gambling was legalized in France back in 2010 and since then, many forms of gaming were made available to French people. Online casinos became mainstream and punters were able to play online games and claim free spins, just like their counterparts from other European nations.
Locals can now find online gambling sites and legal online casinos that also offer poker games, sports betting, and horse racing. Lawmakers decided not to license some casino games they considered to be too addictive but punters can still find top-rated online casinos that have headquarters elsewhere and accept French gamblers.
Land-based casinos are also immensely popular in this country but the online gambling market is growing at a faster pace. The French government regulates all forms of gambling online and offline so it’s easy to find brick-and-mortar operators that are subject to the French gambling legislation.
The Monte Carlo Casino on La Riviera is famous for its style, but also the fact that you can enjoy the top game casino list at the location. Punters also have the option of live casino online and circumvent casino software by competing against real dealers at table games such as online roulette, blackjack, or baccarat.
Terms and conditions to gamble at casino sites in France
The online gambling laws apply to the most popular forms of gambling, such as sports betting, horse racing, and poker. It is easy to find a safe online casino if you focus on those that have acquired a license needed for gambling in France.
The French Gambling Act also imposes some restrictions on online gambling activities. For instance, slot machines are not licensed, even though these are some of the most popular regular and high roller casino games.
The reasoning behind not licensing online slots is that the local regulators consider them to be highly addictive. By comparison, you can find the best video slots at online casinos in Norway and online casinos in Italy, as well as many other European gambling operators.
Established and new online casinos operating in the French market must offer their services in French, regardless of where they are headquartered. This helps when interacting with customer support and understanding the wagering requirements for bonuses.
Online gambling laws in France 👨🏻⚖️⚖️
The history of gambling in France started many centuries ago, but it was only recently properly regulated. There were some important milestones to remember when we look at the long history of gambling games in this country and meaningful change was made at the end of the 20th century.
The minimum gambling age was lowered to 18 in 1987 and slots were legalized one year later. This represented an important milestone for people who consider slots to be the best casino game to make money.
2010 represented another important milestone for the online casino in France, as online gambling operators had their business legalized. ARJEL is the regulatory authority in charge of regulating the virtual online casino industry and the games it offers.
The best live casinos catering to players from this country have applied and were granted a license, alongside overseas online casinos accepting French players. Those who consider opening an account should read a review and choose a well-known operator, or at least one of the popular online no-verification casino sites.
Taxes levied by the French state for online casinos
Online casinos in France are subject to taxes, just like all the other gambling operators in this country. Online poker games are taxed and a flat rate of 4.1%, which is the lowest of all card games and comparable to what international casinos have to pay in other countries.
If you spin the roulette wheel or play other games of chance outside poker rooms such as online bingo, will have to pay taxes in a different quota. The licensed online casino France will pay the taxes for the duration of the license.
Players are also subject to taxes on their profits, but only if they cross a certain threshold. For instance, any winnings made from the online play that is below €1500, are not subject to any fees. These include winnings that result from casino bonuses such as the casino registration bonus or ongoing promotions like the casino reload bonus.
On the other hand, profits that cross the threshold are taxed at 12%, which is significantly more than what punters pay in other European countries.
How the best French online casinos are selected by our team
The search for the best French online casino must factor in some of the key elements, to make the right choice. We have put together a list of criteria we use when trying to find reliable online casinos in France that are worth recommending to our readers. These are the top five criteria to keep in mind:
Create an account and play for real money
Before you can play at the best online casino France has to offer, you need to sign up for an account. There are a few things to do to have an account up and running but all these steps can be completed in a few minutes. Find an operator that abides by the online gambling laws in France and sign up like this:
Tips and Tricks to help you win at French online casinos 🤑
Once you find a gambling operator that abides by the France online casino laws, you can proceed with pursuing your hobby. These are the tips and tricks you should remember if you want to maximize your chances to win. They apply to classic and mobile live casino operators for real money games.
Tip
✅ Play high-paying games: Focus on the average return to the player and minimize the house edge.
✅ Make the most of bonuses: Learn how to make money from online casino bonuses.
✅ Keep gaming sessions short: Don’t spend too much time playing to avoid fatigue.
Special casino bonuses for players from France ✨
One of the online casino myths is that veteran gambling operators don’t offer worthy bonuses because they lack the incentive. Truth be told, you can find special casino bonuses for French players at some of the most respected gambling operators in this country. At the same time, a new online casino in France could be more generous, as they try to expand their customer base with casino online France bonuses.
The regular bonuses include first deposit offers and reload deals, which are available at pretty much any French online casino site. For special offers, you need to look for casinos that focus on specific software developers or payment methods.
You could get an exclusive bonus if you play at a Visa casino or if you play live table games powered by Evolution Gaming. There are also special bonuses for mobile players who choose an Android casino or iPhone casino and fulfill gaming aspirations on handheld gadgets.
Best payment methods available for online casino in France
To enjoy the real money experience as an online casino French, you need to load your account. There are many payment methods at your disposal and all of them have advantages and shortcomings.
These are the most popular solutions and a brief explanation of how you should use them to deposit. Just keep in mind that casinos will require you to use the same payment method to deposit and withdraw winnings. This is required to mitigate the risks of fraud and money laundering which are serious threats.
Credit, debit and prepaid cards
Visa and MasterCard are the main suppliers of this payment method and they can be used in France. You can use them at most casinos and they also have practical applicability in everyday life, which is their main advantage.
Electronic wallets
Are the fastest and least expensive payment methods for conservative punters who want to deposit and withdraw quickly. Skrill, Neteller, and PayPal are the most popular solutions for e-wallet users and are accepted at most online casinos
Bank transfers
These used to be the most common way to deposit and cash out winnings, but have lost preference in recent years. They are better for transferring larger amounts, but the minimum limits are higher and punters can also be subject to additional fees.
Cryptocurrencies
The advent of digital money also affected the France online casino landscape and many casinos accept this payment method. They offer a higher degree of anonymity, better security, and privacy, which are all important qualities for real money depositors.
Most popular casino games among French players
There’s a long list of games you can find at an online casino real money France and dozens of strategies that can be used. If you want to narrow down the search and focus on the most popular titles in the France online casino gaming industry, these are arguably the ones you should be focusing on:
Live gambling and mobile experience at online casinos
The advancements in technology can be credited for the surging popularity of online casinos at the expense of land-based counterparts. Having said this, convenience continues to rank high in the preferences of French players who overwhelmingly choose mobile gaming.
A significant percentage of new players gamble exclusively on mobile devices and only a fraction are stuck to computers. Android and iOS phones represent the vast majority of the devices used for online gambling in France.
One of the few shortcomings online casinos had compared to their land-based counterparts was the absence of socialization. Live gambling has paved the road to players interacting with their peers and croupiers at live dealer tables.
French casinos offer roulette, blackjack, baccarat, as well as specialty games against real dealers. These are only accessible to those who have made a deposit, but the stakes are flexible and anyone can afford to gamble.
Perspectives of online gambling in France 🔮
The future looks bright for French players, with more casinos opening shops and accepting players from this country. The fact that some games continue to be unlicensed due to the risk of addiction is the biggest drawback.
We expect this to change in the foreseeable future and players should have access to more games in the year to come. For the time being, slots are the only ones affected by this lack of vision, but as public sentiment improves, the laws will surely follow the course.
Advantages and disadvantages of online casinos in France
- Regulated gambling market
- Many casinos accept French players
- A great diversity of games, poker included
- Mainstream and exclusive bonuses for French players
- Slots are not licensed as regulators perceive a high risk of addiction
Frequently asked questions about gambling sites in France
Gamble the French way at the best online casinos 🗼
The French gambling landscape has changed for the better in recent years and now you can play at top operators who are licensed and regulated. Find bonuses available exclusively for players from France and take advantage of generous promotions unavailable elsewhere.
Spin the reels of slots or try the excitement of live dealer table games in a secure environment for free or real money. Pick up your mobile devices or stick to your trustworthy computer and put your luck to the test alongside equally passionate individuals.