France has about 35 online casinos and around 200 physical casinos. The French gaming industry is legal.The Autorite de Regulation des Jeux en Ligne (ARJEL) grants licenses for online games, casinos and slot machines.The government has the sole right to regulate gambling, horse racing, and lotteries.Partouche, Barriere and JOA are the four major operators. Tranchant is not included in this list. Most (29) work in online betting, horse racing, and poker. The Security Code law, which was in force on May 1, 2012, regulates the French gaming industry.
The ARJEL, which issues licenses to online gambling operators in France, regulates online gambling. Online gambling is allowed in France, but only poker and sports betting are permitted. An online operator might only offer services in France. This point means that gambling websites are only available to French residents.ARJEL must license the software. ARJEL must sign the license.
You can get online licenses for three types of games of chance: Poker and horse racing. Each type of game is granted different permission. The operator may have more than one gaming platform on which licensed games can be offered. The operator must be in the European Union or the European Economic Area.
One, two, or three. License fees range from 5,000 EUR per permit (for one type of game) to 8,000 EUR for two tickets and 10,000 EUR for three. A contribution is required for each license, ranging from 20,000 to 40,000 EUR, depending on how many there are. Online games licenses are granted for five years, with the possibility to renew.
Most Popular Slots
Among France’s most popular slot machines are Super Lucky Reels by iSoftBet and Jungle Jim from Microgaming. Scrolls of Ra are also available from iSoftBet. Vikings Go Wild (Yggdrasil) and Gladiator (BetSoft) are some of the other top-rated slots.
iSoftBet Super Lucky Reels slot machine has five lines, three central reels, and two additional reels. Playing this game, you can win instant bonuses, different coefficients, and respins.
Microgaming’s Jungle Jim is a 5-reel, 25-payline slot machine. You can win up to 92,000 coins by playing the game and getting free spins. Cascade bonuses reward winning sequences with coefficients.
Scrolls of Ra by iSoftBet is a 5-reel, 20-payline slot machine that offers two bonus rounds and a chance of winning up to 10,000 coins.
Yggdrasil Vikings go Wild is a video slot machine with twenty-five fixed lines. Wild symbols are available for free spins. The treasure chest can find additional free spins, coefficients, and Wild symbols.
BetSoft’s Gladiator slot machine has thirty fixed pay lines. Three bonus rounds include additional Wild symbols, multipliers, and a pick me the game. You can organize a gladiator fight in the fourth game.
Gambling Legislation
France considers bets and games of chance to be contracts related to randomness. They also include the insurance industry in this category. This feature is because it calculates the probability of the service, while other agreements pay less likely.
Recent changes to French gaming legislation led to the regulation of “skill games.”The Security Code regulates a large portion of France’s gaming industry. Other laws govern the rest. Online Gaming Law regulates horse racing, sports betting, and club gaming (poker only).
The Security Code regulates and allows casinos to operate in maritime waters, on cruise vessels under the country’s flag, and in resorts and other well-known tourist destinations. The Ministry of the Interior has designated the following games in casinos and club games.
Casinos are generally managed with great care. They must present the games as well as the entertainment and catering. They can only offer the games they have licensed. La Francaise des Jeux holds the lottery monopoly according to Article136 of Finance Law 1933. Pari-Mutuel Urbain has the monopoly over horse racing, according to Decree 97-456, dated May 5, 1997. Games of chance are not open to minors except for charity lotteries, lotteries held at fairs, or Bingo.
France’s Gambling Regulator
The Ministry of the Interior is accountable for regulating the traditional gaming industry. It also acts as the only gaming regulator in the country. Depending on the operator’s level, prefects, national commissions, or Federations may also deal with gambling-related matters. The Ministry of the Interior is the superior one that can grant all conventional licenses. The Autorite de Regulation des Jeux en Ligne (ARJEL) is responsible for online gambling. It was established in 2010 when the French online market began.
game licenses
Casino permits can only be issued to a particular establishment or site. A person or organization may have multiple locations. A nonprofit organization must manage the gaming club. These games can be offered at charitable, cultural, and social events.
The prefecture must be notified of creating a nonprofit organization with similar goals. The notification is published in Official Journal after the prefecture checks that it conforms to the gaming legislation. The organization is then authorized to offer games of chance.
Everyone must have the appropriate gaming licenses regardless of the casino or club they are associated with. The Ministry of the Interior must approve most premises. Game licenses can be granted for up to 20-year periods. The club is granted permission for one year, with the possibility to renew. The city where the casino stay must sign an agreement. Sometimes, the Ministry of the Interior grants the permit.
Operators must be granted a general license to offer all public services through one platform. The permission must describe all types of games and services. The permit must also be given to suppliers and collaborators. The petition is considered denied if it is not answered within four months.
Gaming club licenses
Two copies of the permit belong to the club manager. The local prefect fills it. The prefect issues the Ministry of the Interior a permit. After receiving a response from the Commission Consultative des Jeux de Cercle et de Casino, the Ministry confirms that it has received the request.
The club manager must indicate compliance with the license presentation requirements. The premises will be independent of other restaurants, hotels, bars, and establishments in the same area.
Gaming club licenses can only be used at a particular gaming establishment. It is prohibited to transfer the ownership and use it for another establishment. This point includes any change in name, transfer to another location, or modification of the structure. These changes are considered to be the creation of a club by the law, and a new petition is required.
Different types of gaming licenses
France has different license types for games of chance, including poker, horse racing, and sports betting. There are six types of poker, ranging from Holdem and Omaha to three-handed. Casino games are also legal. The regulation of the game and holding of tournaments is governed by the clause “Order of May 14, 2007, regarding the regulation applicable to casino games”.
Roulette la boule, Blackjack, and Roulette are all casino games. There are three types of club games: Ecarte, Poker, and Bridge.
The Security Code prohibits the importation or production of slot machines. There are exceptions. If more than one casino game is offered alongside the slot machines, casinos may offer them to their customers. The same law states that the return on investment (ROI) should not be lower than 85%. There is also the highest amount of credits that can be wagered on the slot machine.
Although lotteries are generally forbidden, there are exceptions. Several types of charitable lotteries can be used to finance art and nonprofit sporting events. These include Bingo, lotteries at fairs or on radio or television, national lottery, and promotional lotteries.
Game development in France
France’s gaming industry is known for its successful game development. French slot machines and casino game developers are not well-known, but they have well-developed casinos. Interestingly, in addition to the gaming machines, the premises are required to provide other services, including charitable ones.