After discussions and debates concerning the legalisation and regulation of online casinos in France, the government seems to have backtracked. Indeed, the bill providing for the regularisation of this activity will ultimately not be included in the 2025 budget. As a reminder, in our previous article Why the legalisation of online casinos is imminent (2024), we explored the initial motivations for this market opening. This decision marks a significant reversal and raises many questions about the future of the online gambling industry in France.
A step back for online casinos
According to Les Échos, the French government has finally decided to withdraw the amendment providing for the legalisation of online casinos from the 2025 budget plan. This withdrawal is motivated by the pressure from certain bodies which believe that prevention and regulation measures are not yet sufficient to ensure a secure environment for players. The preservation of public health seems to have taken precedence over the economic arguments put forward by the advocates of legalisation.
Le Parisien specifies that the government does not wish to legislate immediately, preferring to wait for additional guarantees, particularly regarding the prevention of addictive behaviours and the protection of vulnerable populations. For now, the amendment is thus withdrawn, and no precise date has been set for a new regulation attempt.
The reasons for this reversal
The government's reversal seems primarily motivated by concerns about public health and addiction prevention. Although the legalisation of online casinos was presented as an opportunity to generate significant tax revenues, critics highlighted the risks associated with a hasty market opening, without a sufficiently robust regulatory framework.
The decision to withdraw this amendment also occurs in a context where the government is trying to maintain its image with addiction-fighting and consumer protection associations. The Finance Minister explained that additional studies were necessary to assess the impact of legalisation on the population before proceeding with this project.
What's next for industry players?
For players in the online gaming industry, this decision is a disappointment. Many hoped that legalisation would provide a clear legal framework for an activity that already exists but under often unclear and unregulated conditions. This withdrawal of the amendment leaves uncertainty over the future of online casinos in France and postpones the prospect of official recognition of the sector.
Foreign platforms will therefore continue to attract French players, without the State being able to benefit from tax revenues or implement extensive protective measures. For the players, this also means the absence of guarantees on the security and transparency of the sites on which they play.
Is legalisation still possible?
Although the government has chosen to withdraw the amendment for the time being, this does not mean that the issue of online casino legalisation is completely abandoned. According to France Info, the government might revisit the matter once the conditions are deemed favourable, with a stronger framework to regulate the sector.
It is therefore possible that the legalisation of online casinos is merely postponed. Meanwhile, the industry remains in anticipation, hoping that discussions will resume in the future, with sufficient guarantees to convince all stakeholders.
Conclusion
The withdrawal of the amendment providing for the legalisation of online casinos marks a setback for the sector in France. Concerns related to addiction prevention and player safety have taken precedence over economic arguments. However, the debate is not closed, and the issue of legalisation could very well return to the table once the regulatory framework has been strengthened.
At 8Fortuna, we remain attentive to developments in this matter and will keep you informed of the next steps. For now, the situation remains pending, but the opportunities for the online gaming industry in France are not extinguished.
After discussions and debates concerning the legalisation and regulation of online casinos in France, the government seems to have backtracked. Indeed, the bill providing for the regularisation of this activity will ultimately not be included in the 2025 budget. As a reminder, in our previous article Why the legalisation of online casinos is imminent (2024), we explored the initial motivations for this market opening. This decision marks a significant reversal and raises many questions about the future of the online gambling industry in France.
A step back for online casinos
According to Les Échos, the French government has finally decided to withdraw the amendment providing for the legalisation of online casinos from the 2025 budget plan. This withdrawal is motivated by the pressure from certain bodies which believe that prevention and regulation measures are not yet sufficient to ensure a secure environment for players. The preservation of public health seems to have taken precedence over the economic arguments put forward by the advocates of legalisation.
Le Parisien specifies that the government does not wish to legislate immediately, preferring to wait for additional guarantees, particularly regarding the prevention of addictive behaviours and the protection of vulnerable populations. For now, the amendment is thus withdrawn, and no precise date has been set for a new regulation attempt.
The reasons for this reversal
The government's reversal seems primarily motivated by concerns about public health and addiction prevention. Although the legalisation of online casinos was presented as an opportunity to generate significant tax revenues, critics highlighted the risks associated with a hasty market opening, without a sufficiently robust regulatory framework.
The decision to withdraw this amendment also occurs in a context where the government is trying to maintain its image with addiction-fighting and consumer protection associations. The Finance Minister explained that additional studies were necessary to assess the impact of legalisation on the population before proceeding with this project.
What's next for industry players?
For players in the online gaming industry, this decision is a disappointment. Many hoped that legalisation would provide a clear legal framework for an activity that already exists but under often unclear and unregulated conditions. This withdrawal of the amendment leaves uncertainty over the future of online casinos in France and postpones the prospect of official recognition of the sector.
Foreign platforms will therefore continue to attract French players, without the State being able to benefit from tax revenues or implement extensive protective measures. For the players, this also means the absence of guarantees on the security and transparency of the sites on which they play.
Is legalisation still possible?
Although the government has chosen to withdraw the amendment for the time being, this does not mean that the issue of online casino legalisation is completely abandoned. According to France Info, the government might revisit the matter once the conditions are deemed favourable, with a stronger framework to regulate the sector.
It is therefore possible that the legalisation of online casinos is merely postponed. Meanwhile, the industry remains in anticipation, hoping that discussions will resume in the future, with sufficient guarantees to convince all stakeholders.
Conclusion
The withdrawal of the amendment providing for the legalisation of online casinos marks a setback for the sector in France. Concerns related to addiction prevention and player safety have taken precedence over economic arguments. However, the debate is not closed, and the issue of legalisation could very well return to the table once the regulatory framework has been strengthened.
At 8Fortuna, we remain attentive to developments in this matter and will keep you informed of the next steps. For now, the situation remains pending, but the opportunities for the online gaming industry in France are not extinguished.
