France is in the western continent of Europe, neighbours include Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco Spain and Andorra. In the historical events, the Fifth Republic was formed in the year 1958. Betting can be traced back from the first lottos; starting from the 16th century to the current online betting in France. The current blog post is devoted to the information about the betting sites in France, its history, the question of the legal resolution, sports betting platform, and the operators which have appeared in France.
Table of Contents
Summary of Key Events
The Facts About French Gambling Laws
The French gambling history can be divided into three broad eras: The first one began in the 16th century with the introduction of lotteries. The French government has at one time or the other in the past made changes on the laws regarding gambling.
- 1933: It was the French National Lottery and its main aim was to provide for the needs of the war veterans.
- 1987: The gambling age was reduced from twenty one years to eighteen years.
- 1988: Gambling especially slot machines were prohibited for a long time but they were allowed back.
- 2010: Online gambling was legalized and the regulation of the activity was taken over by ARJEL (Regulatory Authority for Online Games).
Regulator of Betting Sites in France
France, as mentioned earlier has several bodies that regulate the gambling business. The two main agencies that are involved are.
- PMU (Pari Mutuel Urbain): It is in charge of overseeing the betting of horse races.
- FDJ (Française des Jeux): Supervises in the area of lottery games and sports betting.
Both of them are state-owned, meaning that every gambling activity carried out by the two agencies is done in a proper manner and in the right way.
Prohibited and Permitted Bets
Not all types of bets are available in France and are prohibited. Here’s a quick rundown.
Permitted:
- Sports Betting which can be divided into live betting, pool betting and fixed odds betting.
- Horse Race Betting is another form of betting that is done through the bookmaker mostly referred to as pool betting.
- Poker Games (Texas Hold’em and Omaha)
Prohibited:
- Online casino games
- Gaming machines
Acquiring of Gambling License in France
Lely, the gambling business must attain a permit from the state in order to run legally. The types of licenses and their costs differ.
- Online Sports Betting License: Il includes sports betting activities.
- Horse Racing Betting License: More so on horse race betting.
- Poker Gaming License: For the online poker games.
Due to this, the operators are required to pay high licensing fees as well as taxes from their earnings.
Gambling Taxes in France
The taxation of gambling in France is some of the highest across the European region. Here’s a breakdown.
- Casino Tax:
- To the first round of revenue, 28% was realized.
- Graduated scales for the generation of more revenue, which can go as high as 83. 5%
- Online Poker Tax:
- 40. This is to be paid on the gross gaming revenue of the company.
- Sports Betting Tax:
- 44. 5% on the gross gaming revenue.
- Lottery Tax:
- 54. Five percent of the gross gaming revenue
Best Betting Sites in France
Many betting sites have gained the attention of the French citizens due to the variety of services and the ease of use. Here they are. Some of the best.
Betmaster:
Up To £1000 + £10 Free Bets
Mr. play:
Up To £100
MrGreen:
Up To £100
Historical events in French sports
France has been blessed to have hosted many important sports events that have attracted people from all over the world.
- 1938 & 1998: UEFA Champions League
- 2007: Rugby World Cup
- Tour de France: The most popular and important bicycle race.
Celebrating French Sports Stars
French athletes have carved their names in the annals of the world of sports. Some notable figures include.
- Zinedine Zidane: Romania international and Barcelona midfielder, voted as FIFA World Player of the Year three times.
- Michel Platini: Three time winner of the best football player of the year award also known as the Ballon d’Or.
- Yannick Noah: First Frenchman to win a Grand Slam in 37 years.
Gambling Legislation in Neighboring Countries
France’s neighboring countries also have distinct laws concerning gambling.
Belgium:
- Belgian Gaming Commission controls it.
- It also permits the two kinds of gambling: those that are done online and those that are done in traditional establishments.
Germany:
- Gambling is prohibited at the federal level but each state can authorise gambling activities.
- Newly legalized forms of casino games that can be played online.
Italy:
- Operated by the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli.
- Permits sports betting, casino games and lotteries.
Conclusion
To grasp the environment of betting sites in France it is essential to gain an understanding of the current state of affairs in the country. Due to the strong laws, high taxes, and cultural background of gambling, France is a special country for gambling business. This will be vital for both the experienced bettor and the new one, since knowing such information will let you make a wiser decision.
Q&A Guide on Betting Sites in France
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