The French government plans to legalize online casinos next year.
Currently, France allows online betting but does not permit online casino games. Like Cyprus, France is currently the only EU member state that does not allow online casinos.
This amendment is part of the French 2025 budget draft, and the government may hope to help national finances by legalizing online casino games and collecting taxes. The proposal includes a 55.6% tax on the turnover of online casino games.
The French government also stated that this move would not only generate tax revenue but also help combat illegal gambling, thereby helping to limit the public health risks posed to individuals with problematic gambling habits.
It is worth noting that in December last year, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) called for the regulation of online casinos in France, citing a study that found that the annual revenue from black market betting could be as high as 1.5 billion euros (approximately 1.6 billion USD).
However, not everyone supports this move. Brick-and-mortar casinos emphasize their opposition because it could affect their industry's turnover and employment.
Grégory Labrousse, president of the French Casino Union, stated in an interview with the French media "Les Echos," "According to our calculations, opening up online casino competition will lead to a decrease in total gaming revenue for physical casinos by about 20% to 30%, and 30% of venues might close."
Regarding the topic of online casinos, Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, president of the National Gambling Authority (ANJ), previously appeared on Huddle discussing the potential regulation of online casinos in France.
