France’s Online Casino Legalisation Debate
A 2024 budget amendment, a consultation, and no legal online casino
Last verified: 2026-10-05
In autumn 2024 the Government withdrew a budget amendment that would have legalised online casinos and opened a consultation on 6 November 2024; online casino games and slot machines remain unauthorised in France.
France’s online casino legalisation debate
Overview
Online casino games and slot machines are not authorised in France, a point the ANJ states on its description of the market. In autumn 2024 the Government tabled, then withdrew, an amendment to the 2025 finance bill that would have authorised and taxed online casinos, and on 6 November 2024 the budget minister convened a consultation with stakeholders.
During the 2024 debate, news media reported opposition from land-based casino interests and other stakeholders. These reported reactions are not treated here as independently verified regulatory facts. The Government opened a consultation on the possible legalisation of online casinos on 6 November 2024, but this record does not state a later consultation timetable or outcome unless supported by an official source. As of 5 October 2026, online casino games remain outside the authorised French market.
The Ministry press note on the withdrawn amendment and the consultation. [1]
The ANJ’s statement that online casino games are not authorised. [2]
Key facts
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Verified
In autumn 2024 the Government withdrew a budget amendment that would have legalised online casinos and, on 6 November 2024, the budget minister opened a consultation with stakeholders; the ANJ’s own description of the market still states that casino games, and online slot machines in particular, are not authorised in France.
Ministère de l’Économie (communiqué de presse), Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ), Banque des Territoires (Localtis)
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Unverified
Gambling trade press reports that the online-casino consultation stopped when the Barnier government fell in December 2024, that the ANJ confirmed in spring 2026 it had no timetable to resume it, and that no bill is scheduled; none of this was confirmed on a government or ANJ page.
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Unverified
During the 2024 debate, land-based casinos warned of “catastrophic consequences” for jobs and activity and the president of the Association des maires de France asked for the amendment to be suspended; reported by news media, not confirmed against a primary document.
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Verified
Online, France authorises only sports betting, horse-race betting and poker (“jeux de cercle”) offered by operators approved by the ANJ, plus lottery games under the FDJ exclusive right; casino games, and online slot machines in particular, are not authorised on the French market. Land-based casino games are offered in 202 gaming establishments and eight Paris gaming clubs.
Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ), Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ)
Sources
- Ministère de l’Économie (communiqué de presse)Primary source — Tour d’images pour la concertation sur l’opportunité de la légalisation des casinos en ligne (5 novembre 2024) — https://presse.economie.gouv.fr/ip-tour-dimages-pour-la-concertation-sur-lopportunite-de-la-legalisation-des-casinos-en-ligne/
- Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ)Primary source — Offre de jeux et canaux de distribution — https://anj.fr/offre-de-jeu-et-marche/categories-de-jeux-et-canaux-de-distribution