The French government has paused its recent efforts to legalise online casino gaming, following backlash from physical casino operators, local officials, and addiction advocacy groups. This unexpected decision was announced on 27 October by Budget Minister Laurent Saint-Martin on the radio.
The amendment, initially introduced on 19 October 2024, is designed to legalise online casino gaming, including popular games like roulette, by executive order. Currently, France is one of only two European Union nations, alongside Cyprus, that forbids online casinos. This restrictive position has allegedly led to a booming illegal market, with the French National Gambling Authority estimating that in 2023, the black-market revenue generated from illegal gambling ranged between €748 million and €1.5 billion, accounting for approximately 5-11 percent of the total gambling market. Online casinos represent half of this illicit revenue, with nearly 79 percent of it coming from users engaged in risky gambling practices.
The legalisation and taxation of online casinos could have brought substantial financial benefits to the French government. Initial estimates projected that a tax rate of 27.8 percent on gross gaming revenue would yield approximately €1 billion annually for the public treasury. When combined with a similar tax allocation in the 2025 Social Security Finance Bill, this would bring the effective tax rate on online casino games to 55.6 percent, aligning with the tax rates for online lottery games.
Advocates argued that legalising online casinos would integrate France with other European nations where online gambling is already regulated, addressing both revenue losses and the unchecked expansion of illegal platforms.
However, the proposal quickly encountered fierce opposition from France’s physical casino sector, which operates around 200 establishments nationwide. Casino owners, supported by municipal leaders from towns that rely heavily on casino-driven tourism, warned of the potential financial damage legalisation could cause. A coalition of over 100 mayors signed a petition urging the government to reverse the measure, warning of “catastrophic consequences” for local economies and employment.
The coalition estimated that if online casinos were legalised, one-third of the country’s physical casinos could shut down within the first year, placing 15,000 jobs at immediate risk. The president of the Casinos de France syndicate, Grégory Rabuel, commented on the government’s reversal, stating, “We are relieved that the government heard our concerns.” He added that casino professionals “will remain vigilant, ensuring that any future legislative or regulatory developments adhere to a framework of consultation and constructive dialogue.”
Online casino legalisation also raised public health concerns due to the addictive nature of these games, which involve frequent bets, fast outcomes, and high-risk behaviours. According to the Federation Addiction, which represents addiction treatment professionals in France, online casinos are “among the most addictive forms of gambling.”
Catherine Delorme, President of the Federation Addiction, voiced concern over the lack of consultation with addiction experts, highlighting the potential risks to public health. “Legalising online casinos by a simple amendment is not an acceptable process given the stakes,” she stated, emphasising that online casinos “carry all the hallmarks of addiction: high-frequency betting, rapid results, solitary and continuous risk-taking.” The Federation calls for a transparent public discussion on online gambling regulation, noting that any reform should consider health and social impacts and allocate resources to addiction prevention and treatment.
Facing mounting pressure, Minister Saint-Martin acknowledged that the issue requires further consultation with relevant stakeholders, including industry representatives and public health officials. “We need to sit down at the table with all ministers involved,” he said, adding, “We must proceed cautiously to avoid impacting existing stakeholders, particularly physical casinos.” While the immediate proposal was withdrawn, Saint-Martin left the door open for future discussions on online casino legalisation, indicating the possibility of revisiting the issue in the coming year: “We’ll see,” he remarked when asked about the amendment’s potential reintroduction.
This decision marks a moment of reprieve for France’s traditional casino industry but leaves the issue of illegal online gambling unresolved. Despite administrative measures, such as the 2022 authority granted to the National Gambling Authority (ANJ) to block unlicensed websites, the proliferation of “mirror sites” has allowed unauthorised operators to persist. ANJ reported that 506 administrative orders resulted in the blocking of 2,365 URLs over the past two and a half years. However, illegal operators continue to evade these efforts by cloning their sites under new URLs, making enforcement challenging.
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