REGULATION IN FRANCE
Regulating gambling in France in the digital age: from casinos to Web3 DIANE MULLENEX, & ANNABELLE RICHARD FIND A GROWING MARKET THAT IS LOOKING FOR REGULATORY SOLUTIONS TO BLACK MARKET AND OTHER CHALLENGES
T he French gambling market reached an unprecedented level of activity in 2025, with gross gaming revenue approaching €14,1 billion according to the most recent market reviews published by the French National Gaming Authority (“Autorité nationale des jeux”, “ANJ”) 1 . This represented a 3 percent growth since 2024 and has been driven primarily by online gambling, lottery products operated under a monopoly, and land based casinos. This expansion takes place within a regulatory framework that remains distinctive at the European level. In 2022, the country hosted 202 land based casinos, half of which were independently operated 2 . According to the French Court of Auditors, these establishments accounted for approximately 32 percent of the entire European casino stock, reflecting a
historically dense and territorially embedded model 3 .
This exceptional footprint is closely linked to local economic development, employment, and tourism strategies, particularly in mid sized municipalities. The strong political influence of the land based casino sector helps explain France’s sustained reluctance to permit online casino gambling, even as most EU Member States have liberalized this segment under national licensing regimes. The difficult question of legalization of online casinos Against this background, the question of online casino legalization periodically resurfaces in French policy
1 ANJ in Bilan 2025 du marché des jeux d’argent : une progression portée par le marché en ligne, la loterie et les casinos | ANJ 2 French Court of Auditors (Cour des comptes) in Rapport public thématique, Les jeux d’argent et de hasard : un secteur en mutation, des enjeux de régulation, 21 september 2023 3 Ibid
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IMGL MAGAZINE | JUNE 2026
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