Online casinos seem to be cropping up and becoming readily available in every country. One country not classically associated with this growing trend, however, is France. Why is that? Do the French population want to gamble online and are online casinos growing in popularity there?
The legal forms of online gambling in France
As of January 2024, the French government has strict rules on what online gambling is permitted. While online gambling has been allowed since 2010, sports betting, horse racing betting and online poker are the only forms permitted to operate in France. Companies wanting to offer these services must comply with extensive regulations set out by the government.
Legal developments for online casinos in France
Back in May 2023, Philippe Latombe of the Democratic Movement party proposed legislation to allow online casinos to operate in the country, mimicking the offerings that live casinos already execute. The French government decided the idea was worth pursuing and has been accepted for further discussion. One of the primary pillars of this bill would be to iron out the legal definitions of online gambling and casinos and to trial legal online casinos for five years.
Why is poker allowed but not other casino games?
Poker is the only ‘casino game’ to be allowed by French online casinos. The reasoning is that the government believes that chance-led games will lead to problem gambling and addiction. Poker has been given a pass on the definition of being chance-led, as players have to use their prowess and skill to win. However, games like slot machines, blackjack, and roulette are much more dependent on chance and, therefore, are not allowed. Sportsbook and horse betting are permitted as these markets are believed to be an exercise of knowledge.
Is there a demand from the French market?
The online gambling space generally saw an upturn in popularity during COVID-19, and France was no exception. With limited activities during that time, French citizens logged on to online casinos. In 2021, there was a count of at least 4.5 million people who had tried online gambling. However, these stats have led statisticians to believe that the French online gambling space will continue to grow in the next four years, rather modestly by 1%. This indicates that, albeit very slowly, more people are becoming interested in the pastime.
Gambling in its present form doesn’t attract a particular negative stigma as the three approved methods were legalised in 2010. Some older generations may consider betting taboo, but this is a cultural norm from their prime. However, younger sports-centric audiences in France welcome gambling and see it as a fun way to potentially make some money by betting on their favorite sports teams.
How does it compare to offline gambling?
France bucks the trend regarding consistency in its stance on gambling. For the most part, national or state governments completely outlaw or permit gambling in both live and online settings. It is rare for a government to permit one version but not the other, given that it is an identical practice. France, however, does that as it sees no issue with live casinos, with over 200 of them in the country.
French gamblers could be just using offshore casinos
There will be a collective of people in France who want to gamble their hard-earned money but don’t wish to do so in the three ways that are currently legal. Rather than simply giving up their ambitions to gamble online, they’ll find a way. This will most likely come in the form of an offshore casino or accessing online casinos intended for other countries via a VPN connection.
However, France does not govern such websites. Therefore, French authorities have little power to stop or assist with issues stemming from them. This is one of the reasons why the government could legalize online casinos to prevent players from falling prey to nefarious websites. Failing that, French gamblers could just emigrate to the UK, Spain, and Monaco – all of which are nearby countries with much less strict laws on online casinos.
Juxtaposition with Monaco
Those with an astute understanding of French geography will appreciate that Monaco is a principality found within the land borders of France. While many recognise it as its own country, it still shares many values and attributes with France. However, Monaco loves gambling in all of its forms – including online, creating a disparity with the country that surrounds the borders on one side of the Trav. Monte Cristo (a road in both France and Monaco), it is legal to gamble online, while on the other, it is not.
Featured image credit: Dylan Clifton / Unsplash
