France Set to Legalize Online Casinos in 2025 Amid Rising Illegal Gaming Concerns

The French government is gearing up to legalize online casinos in 2025, a move that could mark a turning point in the country’s gambling regulations. Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s administration recently introduced a proposed amendment to the 2025 budget, which includes plans to legalize and regulate online casinos in line with other European Union (EU) countries. This development is notable in France, a country known for its over 200 traditional land-based casinos, as the online legalization plan has surprised some in the industry.안전놀이터

The Push for Legal Online Casinos to Curb Illegal Activity

Currently, France and Cyprus are the only EU countries where online casinos remain prohibited. While online sports betting is already legal in France, online casino games have been banned over concerns about gambling addiction. Only online poker has been allowed, as it relies significantly on player skill rather than pure luck, distinguishing it from other forms of online casino games.

However, the ban on online casinos has led to a surge in illegal online casino platforms across France. According to estimates, the French government loses up to €1.5 billion (approximately $1.6 billion USD) annually due to the underground online casino market, equating to around 5-11% of the country’s total casino industry revenue. The National Gambling Authority (Autorité Nationale des Jeux, ANJ) has identified that, as of 2023, unlicensed online casino operators generated between €748 million and €1.5 billion in revenue. In fact, the illegal online casino sector represents nearly 50% of the online gambling market in France, with a staggering 79% of all online casino revenue coming from unauthorized platforms.

Estimates from ANJ suggest that between 1.4 million and 2.4 million accounts are registered on these unlicensed platforms, though the number of unique users is believed to be closer to 500,000. If the French online casino sector were legally integrated, it would rival the size of the legal online sports betting and poker markets combined and would comprise around 80% of France’s €2.5 billion land-based casino industry.

ANJ’s Efforts to Combat Illegal Online Casinos

The ANJ has made the elimination of illegal online casinos a top priority in its 2024-2026 strategic plan. In 2022, the ANJ was granted new authority to block access to unauthorized domains and has since issued administrative orders to block 506 illegal websites, resulting in over 2,365 domains being blocked. These measures indicate the scale of illegal operations within France; the number of blocked sites surpasses all judicial domain blocks over the previous 12 years.

However, while domain blocking can deter some illegal activity, it has not fully stopped these platforms from resurfacing by replicating their sites under new domains. To address the continued challenges, ANJ has launched awareness campaigns warning of the risks associated with illegal online casinos, including non-payment of winnings and manipulated game outcomes.안전놀이터

Challenges and Industry Response

Despite the government’s efforts, legalizing online casinos has sparked concerns among land-based casino operators. Many fear that online legalization could lead to a drop in their revenue and job losses across the sector. France’s traditional casinos, a prominent feature of its entertainment landscape, worry about potential economic impacts, especially as they have long relied on in-person gaming revenue.

For France, the shift toward online casino legalization reflects a broader movement within Europe to integrate online platforms into regulated frameworks, potentially generating new tax revenue and curbing illegal activity. By aligning its policies with other EU nations, France aims to build a more secure gambling environment that balances growth in the digital sector with responsible gaming initiatives.

As the government moves forward, the French gambling landscape could see a substantial transformation. Legalizing online casinos not only addresses the illegal market but could provide new entertainment options for French citizens under a regulated framework designed to protect players.