Best Online Casinos in France for August 2025
The world of online gambling in France is highly specific and often misunderstood. Unlike many other European nations, France maintains a clear distinction between what is legal and what is not. While online poker, sports betting, and horse racing are all regulated and licensed by the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), online casinos are still explicitly prohibited. This guide provides essential information for French players considering online casino sites, detailing the legal landscape and highlighting the associated risks, as well as the available support services.
Key Facts About Online Gambling in France
Online casinos are illegal in France.
Only poker, sports betting, and horse racing are legal.
The ANJ regulates all legal online gambling activities.
Even reliable offshore casinos cannot be legally licensed to operate in France.
Players at offshore casino sites lack legal protection.
The ANJ actively blocks unlicensed gambling sites.
Land-based casinos are legal and regulated by the ANJ.
Online Gambling Regulation in France
Online gambling in France is a complex issue. According to the French Gambling Act of 2010, certain forms of online gambling, including sports betting, horse racing betting, and online poker games, are legal with specific restrictions. However, online casino gaming is strictly illegal. However, land-based casinos in the country are legal, as they are regulated.
According to the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), the gambling regulator in France, and other stakeholders, online casinos are not legalised due to concerns about addiction. Nonetheless, many French players play at offshore casino sites that are legal in other jurisdictions, and there have been no reported cases of players being prosecuted for doing so.
In late 2024, the French government attempted to legalise online casinos to better protect players and properly regulate the market. This was presented as a proposed amendment to the 2025 budget but was quickly withdrawn after facing opposition from stakeholders. Therefore, online casinos remain illegal in the country, but the government has indicated a willingness to revisit the issue. That said, numerous top offshore France online casinos are available for players in the region to choose from and enjoy playing online games.
How We Rate the Best Online Casinos in France
We are fully aware of the legal situation of online casino gaming in France, so we put in a lot of work to ensure that our recommended casinos for players in the country are safe and top-class. Before recommending any French online casino, our experts thoroughly review and test various aspects based on our strict criteria, which also includes ensuring that the local language is supported. Here is the four-step approach we follow to find the best casino sites:
Review Licensing, Security, and Trustworthiness
Although ANJ does not issue licences for online casinos, we ensure that any offshore French casino on our recommended list holds a licence with a relevant regulatory body, such as the MGA. Our experts also verify the platform’s security, review the T&Cs for fairness, and examine player reviews to understand the operator’s reputation. The best French online casinos use SSL to secure their platforms and have a very low number of negative reviews.
Examine the Game Selection and Providers
As part of our ranking criteria, we review the casino’s lobby to ensure that players have access to a diverse range of games. Top operators feature thousands of games across various categories, including online slot machines, blackjack, roulette, poker, and live casino games. Additionally, we verify the list of providers to ensure that the top and reputable providers are featured.
Explore the Bonuses and Promotions
Before listing an online casino, our experts review the available bonuses and ongoing promotions to ensure they are suitable for French players. We check the bonus types and amounts to determine if they are reasonable, and also examine their terms and conditions to understand their true value. Whenever possible, we also create an account with the casino and claim these bonuses to test how they work. Apart from the bonuses, we also check the tournaments, VIP programme, etc.
Review the Payment Options and Speeds
Top gambling sites offer multiple secure payment options that are easy for players in France to use, including credit/debit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, and cryptocurrencies. We examine the limitations of each available option and their respective speeds. Our recommended online gambling sites in France process deposits instantly, and their withdrawals are also fast. They offer reasonable limits to accommodate different player types.
Pros & Cons of Playing at Online Casinos in France
Despite the current legal status, playing at online casino sites is still possible in France. However, note that any online casino currently offering gaming services to players in the country exists in a regulatory grey area. Moreover, ensure you are fully aware of the concept of risks and rewards that come with online gambling. That said, it is vital to understand the pros and cons of playing at online casinos in France:
Top Online Casinos Open to France — Our Expert Picks
Many online casinos target France, but not all of them are a good choice. There are various unlicensed and scam casino sites looking to rip players off their money. As a previous online casino, Maneki knows what truly makes a gambling site stand out. Our experts, with years of experience in the industry, have dug into the web to test and review various online casinos open to French players. Here are five of the top online casinos in France, as determined by our research.
| Casino | Licence | Welcome Offer |
|---|---|---|
| RichRoyal | Costa Rica | 275% up to €7,500 + 225 Free Spins 1 Bonus Crab |
| Ybets | PAGCOR | 500% up to $8000 + 400 Free Spins |
| NovaDreams | Costa Rica | 275% up to €6000 + 300 Free Spins |
| WinMega | Anjouan | 300% up to €1,000 + 150 Free Spins |
| Betista | Curacao | 370% up to €3700 + 100 Free Spins |
| Turbo Wins | Anjouan, Curacao | 200% up to €5000 + 50 Free Spins |
Signing Up at an Online Casino from France
Gamblers can easily create an account with the best French casinos. These casino sites have a straightforward registration process, requiring only basic details. Although the actual steps may vary from one operator to another, they typically follow a similar approach. Here are four simple steps involved in registering an account:
Choose an Online Casino Open in France
Browse through our list of the best online casinos in France that have been properly vetted and tested by experts. Choose a casino from the list that suits your preference and read our comprehensive review to know what it offers.
Visit the French Online Casino Website
Once your preferred casino is selected, visit its official website by clicking the buttons on our page. This helps to avoid entering a clone or scam site.
Complete the Registration Form
On the casino site, click the Register/Sign Up button to load the registration form. Provide the required details on the form, including your email address, name, date of birth, and other relevant information. Some operators offer quick sign-ups through social options, which can be used too.
Accept the T&Cs and Verify Account
After completing the registration form, read and accept the terms and conditions. Some casinos will require a verification link to verify the new account, which will be sent to the provided email address. Once verification is complete, make a deposit and start playing real-money games.
Casino Bonuses for French Players
French players can claim bonuses and take part in ongoing promotions to boost their bankrolls and enjoy more gaming time. The bench casinos offer multiple lucrative bonuses that are not available to enjoy at local land-based casinos in the country. They often have a dedicated page where they list their regulation promotions and instructions on how to claim them.
Some operators even offer a special reward program with outstanding perks that enhance players’ gaming experience. That said, note that wagering requirements and other terms and conditions apply to these bonuses. Here are some of the most common ones.
No-Deposit Bonuses
This is a bonus category that refers to any bonus that can be claimed without making a deposit. No-deposit bonuses are less popular than deposit bonuses due to their free nature. Nevertheless, they are always great to claim since no money commitment is involved. They can take different forms, but their amounts are usually low, such as receiving 100 free spins or a 10€ bonus cash, and the wagering requirement is also high. Some top French online casinos offer no-deposit bonuses as a registration bonus to newly registered players.
Welcome Bonuses
Many online casinos that accept French players offer a generous welcome bonus, typically as a bonus package or a first-deposit bonus. These bonuses are specifically designed for new players, boosting their bankrolls and enabling them to settle in comfortably with the casino. They usually come as a deposit match bonus and free spins that can be claimed upon making an eligible deposit. Some operators may require a promo code for their offer. Still, like every bonus, wagering requirements and other terms and conditions apply.
Free Spins
This type of offer can be found in the regular promotions of many French online casinos. By claiming free spins, players can spin the reels of an online slot game without wagering their money. If offered as a deposit bonus, players must make the required minimum deposit to get the offer. That said, each free spin has a value, depending on the casino and promotion, typically ranging from €0.02 to €1. Moreover, casinos may limit the bonus to specific slot titles only.
Match Deposit Bonuses
Also known as a claimable reload bonus, a match deposit bonus provides players with a percentage of their deposited amount as bonus money. For example, a casino may offer a 100% bonus of up to €1,000 in one of its promotions. If a player deposits €1,000 to claim the promotion, they will get an extra €1,000 as bonus money to play with. Nevertheless, be aware that, like other deposit bonus types, French casinos offering match deposit bonuses have minimum deposit requirements and caps on their bonus offers.
Cashback Bonuses
This bonus type offers players a percentage of their losses within a specific duration as bonus money. The idea behind the offer is to give players a second chance at winning. Some of the best French online casinos offer daily, weekly, and monthly cashback bonuses. For example, an operator can allow claiming a cashback promotion of 10% up to €500 on live casino games losses. What’s interesting about this offer is that it often comes with only a 1x wagering requirement.
VIP or Loyalty Bonuses
Apart from regular bonuses, many leading casinos that accept French players have a highly rewarding loyalty program. These are known as VIP casinos, and through these programs, they offer perks to loyal players, such as personalised bonuses, increased withdrawal limits, dedicated account managers, faster payouts, and more. Depending on the gambling site, the reward programs can be either strictly invitation-only or multi-level, and some of the top VIP casinos even invite their customers to special events, holiday trips, and prizes.
Popular Casino Games in France
Although French law has yet to legalise online casinos, players in the country enjoy playing various casino games, even at licensed land-based casinos. These come from top-tier providers, including NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, and Pragmatic Play, amongst other popular choices. Apart from slot machines, blackjack is particularly demanded by French gamblers, as there are numerous variations of the game in France, even in online versions at top casino sites. These include European Blackjack and American Blackjack,
Still in the table game section, French players also enjoy playing roulette wheel games, and poker is another popular card-based game in the region, with variations like the Texas Hold’em and Caribbean Poker being players’ favourites. All of these are available as non-live RNG games, but also as live dealer games at the best live casinos.
As for slot games, they are the most popular casino games, and French casinos are no exception. They have an extensive gaming library with thousands of slots across different types, ranging from old-school classics to fast-paced games featuring free spins and bonus rounds that lead to substantial winnings.
Mobile Casinos & Apps in France
With a high mobile penetration rate, many casino players in the country have turned to playing games on their mobile devices. Leading French online casinos design their websites to be mobile-friendly, using the convenience and mobility to attract players accessing them from their smartphones and tablets. Some of them also have dedicated casino apps for Android and iOS devices, delivering the full mobile gaming experience.
Apart from most modern casinos in France being mobile-friendly, they also have visually impressive user interfaces that are easy to navigate. These operators allow players to easily deposit money into their casino accounts on mobile, play games on the go, and claim various lucrative bonuses. The table below highlights some of the best mobile casinos and apps open to French players.
| Casino | Mobile Compatibility |
|---|---|
| NovaDreams | Mobile web |
| WinMega | Mobile web |
| Betista | Mobile web |
| RichRoyal | Mobile web |
Best Payment Methods for France Casino Players
Top online casino sites in France support a wide range of secure payment methods for topping up casino accounts and withdrawing winnings. This is particularly important, given that all operational online casinos in the country are offshore platforms. Additionally, players should have access to fast payment methods with little to no applicable fees that they can use for online gambling.
Credit/Debit Cards
Connected to users’ bank accounts or credit accounts, this option is available at many French casinos as they offer high-end security and instant deposit processing. The local Cartes Bancaires card is a popular option in the country, but players can also resort to play in Visa casinos, as well as Mastercard ones. They are eligible for bonuses, and most casinos do not charge fees on credit/debit card transactions. However, these may be unable to withdraw winnings, and when available, the processing time takes a couple of days.
E-wallets
French players have a variety of options as e-wallets, as they can play in PayPal casinos, Skrill, and NETELLER. These methods offer robust security features and are particularly gambling-friendly. These options enable secure transactions as users can deposit and withdraw funds without disclosing their bank details. Additionally, transfers can be made with e-wallets at online casinos at fast processing speeds. Deposits are processed instantly, while withdrawals usually take within 24 hours. However, NETELLER and Skrill deposits are sometimes ineligible for welcome bonuses.
Bank Transfer
Available mostly as a payout option at many online casinos in France, bank transfers are one of the most secure payment methods. They offer higher limits and eliminate the need for any intermediary, as payouts are processed directly into users’ bank accounts. Nonetheless, some casinos accept bank transfers as a deposit method, but the processing may take a bit longer. The same goes for withdrawals, as it can take between three and seven days. Moreover, some casinos may charge players a small fee to process bank transfer transactions.
Mobile Payments
French casino enthusiasts can also use various mobile payment methods to top up their casino accounts. These include options such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. They offer a convenient transaction process, allowing top-ups via dedicated mobile apps boasting biometrics or PIN codes. However, note that a payment card must have been added to the Apple Pay or Google Pay wallet to use this option. Mobile payments are also well-suited for players who prefer low deposits and wagers. However, they are typically unavailable for withdrawals.
Cryptocurrencies
Just like in many other other countries, top crypto casinos are available in France as many offshore casinos support a wide range of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Tether, and Litecoin. These options offer secure crypto transactions and often allow higher transfer limits. They also provide greater anonymity, allowing players to gamble without exposing their personal details. However, it also has its cons, such as the high volatility of currencies, but crypto gambling enthusiasts can use this option for deposits and instant crypto withdrawals.
Fast Payout Online Casinos for French Players
Casino customers want to receive their winnings quickly, and there are a few options for French players that allow just that. The best fast payout casinos process withdrawals instantly, while others may take a few minutes to up to 24 hours. At Maneki, our experts have searched online and reviewed various instant payout casinos.
| Casino | Accepted Payments | Withdrawal Time |
|---|---|---|
| Nova Dreams | Mastercard, Visa, Skrill, NETELLER, Tether, Bitcoin, Bank Transfer | 1 - 5 Days |
| Turbo Wins | Mastercard, Visa, Tether, Bitcoin, Skrill, NETELLER, Bank Transfer | 1 - 5 Days |
| Rich Royal | Mastercard, Visa, Skrill, NETELLER, Tether, Bitcoin, Bank Transfer | 1 - 5 Days |
| Ybets | Mastercard, Visa, Tether, Bitcoin, Bank Transfer, Skrill, NETELLER | 1 - 5 Days |
| WinMega | Mastercard, Visa, Tether, Bitcoin, Skrill, NETELLER, Bank Transfer | 1 - 5 Days |
France’s online gambling laws are very specific: poker, sports, and horse racing betting are legal and regulated, but online casinos are not. This means playing at an offshore casino site comes with significant risks. These sites operate without a French licence, offering no consumer protection and no legal recourse should a payment issue or a dispute be faced. We urge you to exercise caution and consider the potential dangers before engaging.
Is It Safe to Play at Online Casinos from France?
Online casinos are yet to be legalised in France, but players can still play online games at safe gambling sites that have been properly vetted. These are casinos that operate under licences from regulatory bodies in different regions, such as the Malta Gaming Authority and Curacao eGaming, among others. It is essential to select a licensed casino and thoroughly review its offerings, terms, and conditions before registering an account. After all, unless you’re playing at a no KYC crypto casino, this means providing personal details to the site, on top of your own funds.
In addition to operating with valid licences, French casinos also use SSL, firewalls, and other high-end security technologies to encrypt their platforms and protect players. Many of these platforms work with independent audit labs like eCOGRA and iTechLabs to constantly audit the RNG of their games to ensure fairness.
Responsible Gambling Resources in France
Gambling can be a great way to pass time, but if care is not taken, it can quickly spiral out of control. One of the main reasons why French authorities are yet to legalise online casino gaming is precisely due addiction problems. So, if you are considering playing casino games at offshore casino sites, use responsible gambling tools and resources to keep yourself in check.
Some operators allow players to set session, deposit, and loss limits, while also enabling them to self-exclude from gambling for a specified duration. If you need help with battling gambling addiction or staying in control of your gambling, here are some helpful resources:
- Joueurs Info Service (Gambling Info Service)
- SOS Joueurs
- GamCare
- Gambling Therapy
Local Restrictions You Should Know
Due to the legal situation around online casinos in France, and there are local restrictions that gamblers should be aware of. Firstly, the government has recently passed new bills that grant national agencies the legal power to block gambling websites. This means that players residing in France may be unable to access some casino websites directly without using a VPN. Moreover, banks and financial institutions may block payments from or to offshore gambling websites. In such cases, you may want to consider alternative options, such as e-wallets and mobile payment methods.
Since there are no laws that legalise online casino gaming in France, offshore operators cannot run adverts in France. The ANJ has a strict stance on this, and any operator that violates this rule can face a fine of up to €100,000.
Final Thoughts: Finding the Right Online Casinos in France
While online casinos remain unregulated in France, it’s clear that many players still seek out these platforms. The risks associated with offshore sites are real and should not be underestimated. However, for those who choose to play, it’s essential to be as informed and protected as possible. Our curated list of recommended online casinos for French players prioritises key factors like security, game variety, and user experience. You can explore our expert-vetted selection to find a site that meets your needs while being mindful of the risks.
FAQs — Online Casinos in France
Are Online Casinos Legal in France?
No, they’re not. French law explicitly prohibits online casinos. Only online poker, sports betting, and horse racing are legal and are strictly regulated by the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ).
Is It Safe to Play at Offshore Casinos in France?
No, it is not safe. Offshore casinos lack a French licence, meaning they operate without the benefit of consumer protection laws. Players face risks such as payment issues, data security concerns, and limited legal recourse in the event of a dispute with the casino.
What Does the ANJ Do?
The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) is France’s independent gambling regulator. It oversees all legal gambling activities (such as land-based casinos), enforces regulations, and actively fights against illegal websites to protect players and prevent addiction and fraud.
Can I Be Taxed on Winnings from Online Casinos?
The tax situation is complex. While legal winnings from authorised sites (poker, sports betting) are generally exempt, winnings from illegal offshore casinos are a grey area. The government has the right to tax any income, including these winnings.