France Resists Online Casino Regulation Amid Illegal Market Growth
Best Casinos 2025
Key Takeaways:
- French online gaming trade body AFJEL highlighted a 35% rise in players using illegal sites, reaching 5.4 million over two years.
- Calls intensify for regulated online casino offerings to combat unregulated operators targeting French players.
- Tax pressures and regulatory enforcement dominated 2025, delaying potential i Casino reform once again.
France's online casino sector faced mounting pressure in 2025 as the illegal online casino market continued to expand despite aggressive enforcement efforts. The Association Française du Jeu En Ligne (AFJEL) released an updated study in November showing that 5.4 million French consumers now access unlicensed sites—a 35% increase in just two years. This surge underscores the limitations of the current monopoly model, which restricts online casino games while permitting poker and limited other verticals through state-controlled operators like La Française des Jeux (FDJ) and PMU.
The report renewed demands for regulated online casino introduction, arguing that channelization to licensed online casino platforms would enhance player protection, generate tax revenue, and curb black-market growth. Unregulated operators, including many platforms that accept crypto payment methods, have exploited the gap, generating substantial undeclared revenues from French players. Enforcement actions by the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) have intensified, with blocking campaigns and penalties, yet the illegal segment persists due to demand for slots and table games unavailable legally.
This stagnation in reform comes amid broader challenges for France's regulated operators. Tax increases impacted performance, contributing to restructuring needs at FDJ (post its Kindred acquisition) and PMU. The year also saw shocking incidents linked to unregulated streaming platforms affiliated with crypto gambling sites, highlighting risks in the grey market.
For the wider European online casino industry, France's experience serves as a cautionary example of how prohibitive policies can drive players offshore, reducing oversight and revenue. As neighbouring markets like Italy and Spain maintain licensed casino regimes with strong channelization, pressure mounts on French policymakers to reconsider ahead of potential 2026 debates. Without change, the illegal market's momentum risks further eroding the regulated ecosystem's viability.
