Online Casinos Flourish in France Despite Legal Ban, Fueling Addiction and Financial Risks

Despite being illegal in France, online casinos are attracting millions of players, prompting warnings from the national gambling authority about the associated risks.

Key Takeaways:

• Online casinos are illegal in France.
• Over three million French players regularly gamble on these sites.
• The National Gaming Authority (ANJ) is raising awareness about the dangers.

Online casinos, easily accessible with a few clicks, are drawing an estimated three to four million players in France. This figure surpasses the 3.6 million users of legally authorized gambling sites, according to a 2023 study by PwC. The National Gaming Authority (ANJ), responsible for regulating sports betting and gambling, has launched a public awareness campaign to combat these platforms.

A recent report highlighted the ease with which individuals can access illegal online gambling sites. A bank card and proof of identity are often the only requirements to verify a player’s age. One 16-year-old student explained how easy it is to create an account, even using fake identification. This is despite the fact that gambling, even on legal platforms, is prohibited for minors.

“Basiquement, ça me demande juste de créer un compte. Après, il y a vraiment plein de jeux. Il suffit de bidouiller une fausse carte ou un truc comme ça et ça passe. Ils demandent une photo aussi du visage. Mais il y a juste à faire un peu plus âgé.”

Since 2010, only horse race betting, sports betting, and poker have been legally authorized in France. However, online casinos have proliferated. Gaëlle Palermo-Chevillard, who coordinates the fight against illegal gambling at the ANJ, warns of the dangers, including addiction, debt, identity theft, and credit card fraud. She emphasizes that players often cannot withdraw their winnings and have no legal recourse against the sites. In 2023, approximately one billion euros were spent on these illegal platforms.

Since 2022, the ANJ has blocked access to 2,365 websites. Law enforcement agencies are also tracking down the hosting providers, often located abroad. Stéphane Piallat, head of the central service for racing and gaming at the central directorate of the judicial police, explains that online casinos almost exclusively originate from abroad, often hosted in tax havens and linked to criminal activity.