France Casinos
You could have a tough time online gambling in France. Officially, online gambling is illegal but clearly goes against EU rules. However, France doesn’t prosecute its citizens for visiting offshore casinos. With many sites licensed in the EU to choose from, French players aren’t exactly stuck for somewhere to play.
Despite this, finding a top place to play can be something of a minefield. With that in mind, you may seek a little assistance finding a safe, secure casino. Our team is here to help. Check out our array of top casinos, and we’re sure that you’ll be satisfied with the results. Below, we’ll introduce you to a few French casinos worth exploring (even if they are offshore), and we’ll look at how you gamble legally in France.
Best Real Money Online Casinos for French Players
Online Gambling Laws in France
At present, France has not licensed any online betting sites, save for a few state-monopoly options. Is online casino gambling legal in France, then? Theoretically, no. However, just because there are no official, legal gambling sites in France doesn’t mean that you can’t bet online. Legit French online casinos tend to be those based offshore.
France is likely to adopt a similar framework (regarding online gambling) as Germany recently did in 2021. This will effectively see the market open for operators. France may choose to only issue licenses to French companies (which would be against be against EU law), or they may open their market to other EU licensed sites.
At present, if you want to bet at online casinos in France, you need to head to offshore sites. We’ve already introduced you to a few of those above. Now, let us look at each specific type of gambling site and see what is available for French players…
Online Casino
Online casino gambling is currently illegal in France. However, there are signs that legit French online casinos will go online over the coming months or next year. In the meantime, you must visit an offshore, international casino to gamble. France does not prosecute citizens for doing this, even if it is illegal.
Online Poker
Poker games can be played online in France (which is bizarre), but you can only do so at legit poker rooms that have obtained a license from the French gambling authorities (FDJ). Naturally, there aren’t many of these around.
Online Sports Betting
Sports betting is one of the minimal areas where France does permit online betting. Sportsbooks are licensed at a national level, so you don’t need to head to offshore sites. However, the limited array of bookmakers online in France sees many French bettors head to those international sites anywhere, where they can often get better odds.
Online Lottery
Like many European countries, France has a state-run lottery that is effectively a monopoly. You can play this lotto online and can join in the Euro Millions lotto, too.
Online Bingo
Again, bingo is a part of the state monopoly (Française des Jeux), so you can only legally play at bingo rooms run by the FDJ. Offshore sites are illegal, but there are no penalties in place for choosing to play at them.
How to Choose the Best Online Casino?
Our team has thoroughly explored all licensed gambling sites in France and regularly keeps tabs on them. We also take a close look at offshore sites, many of which are amongst the most trusted online casinos for French players. Our safe online casinos for France all have our seal of approval, offer fair bonuses, carry great games, and you won’t be punished for playing at them. Check out our online gambling reviews for France-based players to find your ideal casino today.
- Casino Bonuses. Any casino bonuses you can claim at French casinos need to be in euros. Moreover, our team checks that they have fair terms and conditions, such as wagering requirements, and that players in France can claim them.
- Games and Software. Most major game providers are licensed in Europe, so French players should expect to see a wealth of top titles at online casinos that accept them.
- The Reputation of the Casino. The reputation of any casino that accepts French players is examined by our team. Only if it is fully licensed, regulated and has relevant player protections does it get our seal of approval.
- Casino Customer Support. Naturally, we check to ensure that all our casinos offer customer support via live chat and e-mail, and in French, no less.
- Payment Methods. French payment methods predominantly involve the same options as other European casinos, but we double-check to make sure that they are accessible by players in France.
Online Casino Games Available for French Players
Any of the best online casinos that accept French players should easily be able to offer a decent mix of poker, slot, and table games. New online casino games should readily appear in France-friendly casinos, and those games should offer you a fair chance of winning and be RNG (random number generator) certified. Any games that aren’t available to French players should be blocked at casinos to make things easier. Lastly, a top mix of new, old, legendary, and the best online casino games should be available for players in France.
- Online Slots. You can find online slots aplenty in our France-friendly casinos, coupled with the very best major jackpot slot machines in France.
- Online Blackjack. Playing blackjack online for real money in France should be a doddle when you choose our recommended casinos.
- Online Roulette. When you play with our casinos, you’ll wind up at the best online roulette gambling sites in France, bar none.
- Live Dealer Games. Some of the best baccarat, blackjack and roulette titles can be played at live casinos online in France.
- Other Online Casino Games. Bingo and lotto games may be a part of the state monopoly, but you can still find instant win and scratch card games at French casinos.
Most Popular Casino Software in France
You can play at both Microgaming casinos in France and at the very best NetEnt casinos in France, assuming you join an offshore casino. These top international sites also support games from:
Banking Information for French Players
Choosing to play at a French online casino with PayPal is going to be tricky. PayPal is only available to players in countries where gambling is fully legal. However, making an online casino deposit in France using VISA and the following options is possible:
- MasterCard
- Bancontact
You should expect all payment methods to accept the euro, to not charge you added fees, and our casinos also provide speedy transaction times for French players.
Cryptocurrencies
Given that betting at casinos is technically illegal anyway, why not give yourself a bit of added anonymity? Why not enjoy faster transaction times? There are both things you can expect when you deposit at French casinos using Bitcoin, Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies.
France’s Online Casino Bonuses & Promo Codes
As touched on, it is imperative that you look out for wagering requirements and other terms and conditions if you want to play with the best bonuses at online casinos in France. These should be available to claim in euros, have low minimum deposit limits, high win caps, and be usable on a variety of games.
In some cases, you may need to enter French online casino bonus codes to trigger deals or opt-in. Our team will provide you with all the info you need to claim top bonuses when you read our French casino reviews.
- No Deposit Bonuses. Any of the no deposit casinos for France-based players we cover have no deposit offers with fair terms and conditions. New French no deposit casinos are added all the time, so check back regularly.
- Deposit Match. Claiming a first deposit bonus at a casino in France allows you to at least double your money and possibly play with free spins. Check our reviews to get the lowdown on all the best deposit offers from French online casinos with low deposit terms.
- Free Spins. Some of the French casinos we support offer free spin bonuses. It is not uncommon to find an online casino offering a free sign-up bonus with no deposit required if you live in France.
- Reload Bonuses. If any of our recommended French casinos also provide reload bonuses, you can rest assured that we’ve explored the Ts and Cs and explained them clearly in our reviews.
