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Best Sports Betting Sites in France

Top 3 Bookies in France
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Tim E
France has a rich and long gambling history, developed throughout the years to create a stable and inviting online betting world. This article takes a closer look at it and answers the key points anyone who wants to bet in France should know:
  1. Where to find the best betting sites in France?
  2. What can you bet on in France?
  3. What are interesting facts about France and the French online betting scene?

Full List of the Best France Betting Sites

France has a stringent online betting law, which requires any operator to pass through many checks to obtain the licence. Although France has regulated its online betting scene, the strict regulations have made it hard for various sportsbooks to offer their service to the locals.

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Still, many French betting companies operate in the country with licenses, and many more sportsbooks that French bettors can access with a VPN. Although the latter option is not recommended, it's nice to know that there are options if you decide to bet in France.

In this article, we will take a closer look at which France betting sites are available in the country, which is the best, and how you should approach picking the right French bookies. Or you can skip all that and select between the best bookmakers in France, presented on our list below.

Best Betting Bonuses & Offers for French Bettors

Betting bonuses and promotions are integral to any sportsbook, and all French betting companies offer them. Admittedly some do a better job with their bonus offers than others, but all French bookies will have at least some promotions ready for their users.

The most common bonus offer is the welcome bonus, which is available for all new website customers. The welcome bonus comes in many shapes and sizes, including free bets or matched deposit bonuses, which give you free wagering cash with your first deposit after signing up for the account with a bookmaker.

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Besides the welcome bonus, accumulator boosts, odds boosts, reload bonuses, and special promotions during significant events. Those also include unique fantasy games, usually available on Bet 365 during essential competitions such as the World Cup.

Even though there are many versions of promotions and bonuses sportsbooks offer, they're easy to obtain. Deposit bonuses are awarded to any customer who makes a minimum qualifying deposit, whereas others require you to log in to the website and claim them.

France Sports Betting Market Overview

⚖️ Is betting legal: Yes
📅 Sports Betting Legal Since: 1907
🏢 Regulatory Body: ANJ
🧾 Taxation: 12% on winnings over 1,500 €
⚽ Favorite Sports to Bet on: Horse racing, gootball, cycling, tennis, rugby, basketball
🎰 Other Popular Gambling Markets: Casinos, lotteries, bingo, poker
⭐ Most Popular Sportsbooks: Wazamba, Betway, Mr Sloty
🔞 Legal gambling age: 18

Bet of the Day for France

France might have strict laws regarding which betting operators can obtain a license and become French bookmakers, but there seem to be no restrictions when it comes to the offer of betting markets and options. On betting sites in France, you can bet on any sport and competition you desire, including all local contests.

WHAT IS THE BEST BET FOR TODAY?

It's worth noting that French bookmakers typically do a much better job of covering local events and competitions. So you are free to bet on the French Ligue 1 and all of its lower divisions, which usually isn't the case when betting from other countries. Moreover, French betting companies regularly offer special bets on local teams and athletes, expanding your betting options.

Bet on Sports

France betting sites cover sports, including the country's most popular sport, football, and any other sport imaginable. Since there are no limitations on which sports bookmakers can offer betting markets, France has a prosperous offer of betting options. While there is a clear preference for a handful of sports, you won't be deprived of opportunities even if you decide to bet on niche sports.

Horse Racing

Horse racing is one of France's most popular sports, so it shouldn't come off as a shock that most French bettors bet on horse races. Not only is France home to some of the most prestigious horse racing competitions, but all bet sites in France also offer betting options on the sport.

As far as horse race betting is concerned – France is the place to be. The only country that could compare with France in horse race betting is England, which says a lot. No matter which betting site in France you use, be it Premier Bet, Bet Winner, Bet365, or William Hill, you can rest assured that you'll be able to bet on horse races.

Football

Football is a big sport in France, so it makes sense that all in France, football betting is offered by all bookmakers. From being able to bet on all major football competitions to the international championships, and all levels of the football system, France's football betting is as good as it can get.

The wide offer of football betting options also makes a lot of sense, knowing that football is the most popular sport in France and bookmakers in France do everything they can to meet the ever-growing demand for football betting.

Cycling

Cycling is by no means as big of a sport as football, but it has a large following in France, mainly due to the success of French cyclists in some of the world's biggest races. Understandably, cycling is a trendy sport among spectators and a big hit in the online betting world. That has to do with the fact that France has a lot of great cyclists and because many of the professional cycling races take place in the country.

Consequently, all betting sites in France have cycling betting markets for Grand Tours and UCI World Tour, especially the world-renowned Paris–Rouen

Cricket

Even though cricket is not particularly popular in Europe, it has a sizable following in France, both among the fans of the sport and bettors. So even though cricket betting options are more limited than football, cycling, or horse racing betting markets, you can still bet on cricket on all of France's betting sites.

Bet on Competitions

Since bookmakers in France consist mainly of the world's biggest and most reputable betting companies, it should make sense that French bettors aren't limited in betting options that are available to them. If you're using a big-brand bookmaker, you can rest assured that you'll have solid coverage of all popular competitions, from NHL to NBA, MLS, Premier League, Olympic Games, and anything in between.

French sports competitions and events are mainly well covered, with some French betting companies offering more betting markets on local events and special promotions. So if you're a fan of Ligue 1, then you can't go wrong betting on it from bookmakers in France.

Esports

Esports has been gaining popularity over the last decade, particularly in Europe, where some of the world's best Esports teams reside. France has a vibrant Esports scene and is home to significant esports brands such as Team Vitality. Moreover, esports is very popular among the locals, who watch and bet on competitive video games.

The League of Legends LFL league is particularly popular in France as one of the best European regional leagues. With the recent developments in the European LoL scene, its popularity is bound to grow.

How to Choose the Best Bookmakers in France

There aren't many French bookies that own a license in the country, but there are still enough to confuse you about which one to pick. Luckily, there is a simple process of choosing the best French bookmakers, starting with safety.

  • The most important thing you should look for in a betting site is whether it's safe, legal, or holds a license. Even though all French bookies have to own a betting license to operate legally, locals can easily access other non-licensed betting sites, which is far from optimal. So when picking between betting sites in France, it's wise to register on a licensed bookie.
  • Besides ensuring that the French bookies you intend to register on are licensed, you should also check the quality of betting odds and betting markets they offer. You should prioritize bet sites in France with the best odds and enough betting markets to bet on whatever you like. In this case, you can't go wrong with reputable French betting companies such as Bet365 or William Hill,
  • You should also ensure that the French bookies you want to register on have the payment options you desire. That's not that big of a problem nowadays since betting sites generally offer the most popular payment methods, but if you want to gamble with PayPal, you should do some research and find online betting sites that take PayPal.
  • Lastly, check for other features any good free betting sites in France should have, namely in-play betting, live streams, and the availability of a mobile betting app. Betting apps in France are generally available to most bookmakers, but some won't have it, so keep that in mind.

Which French Bookmaker Has the Best Odds?

Every bettor should strive to bet with the best available odds, so it's fair to ask which betting sites in France have the best odds. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to that question, as there is no single French bookie with the best odds.

Instead, it would help if you focused on registering for an account with multiple French bookies, as only this way can you ensure that you'll always have the best odds available. The betting markets are highly volatile, so the only way to bet with the best price is to compare the offer of several bookmakers and bet on whichever has the best odds on the selected game.

In short, the only way to ensure that you'll be able to bet with the best odds is to have accounts with multiple bookmakers and price shops, i.e., look around, find which betting site has the best odds, and place bets with it.

Payment Methods at French Sportsbooks

France has stringent measures regarding allowing bookmakers to operate, but the available payment options are still vast. Local bettors in France can use credit or debit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets (ecoPayz, Skrill), or even PayPal as their preferred method.

Notably, the available payment options will vary from bookmaker to bookmaker, so if you intend to use ecoPayz, you'll first have to find bookmakers that accept ecoPayz, since not all will. A similar situation occurs with crypto deposits – generally available but not on all betting sites.

On the other side, if you want to make deposits with credit/debit cards or bank transfers, you won't have to look far to find French bookies that accept it since those payment options are typically available on all betting sites.

There are plenty of options when selecting a payment method on betting sites in France, and there is no best option. Still, e-wallets are the most popular due to their anonymity and fast transactions.

Mobile Betting Sites & Betting Apps in France

Mobile betting has become a growing trend in the online betting scene. Due to the increasing demand for people to bet from their phones, bookmakers have started offering that option by either providing a mobile website or a mobile betting app. So if you want to use French bookies to bet from your phone, you can do so easily.

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Betting apps in France are generally available on all of the best French bookmakers, so you should be set as long as you pick your bookmaker carefully. But if you're a mobile bettor, looking for betting sites that offer a mobile betting app is advantageous. And there are many advantages of using a mobile app over a mobile website.

Apps are far stabler than a mobile website, tend to run smoother, and are better designed for ease of use. Moreover, some bookmakers also offer special promotions exclusive to mobile apps, which is another reason you might want to find a bookmaker that provides it.

French Live Betting & Streaming

Like a betting app, live streaming options and live betting are essential features any great betting site should have. And it just so happens that most, and all of the best French bookmakers, have in-play betting markets, accept live bets, and offer live streaming.

Even though live betting is still a niche approach to sports betting, and it's not something everyone should do, it is exciting. And if done correctly, it can be highly profitable. The main idea of live betting is to test your knowledge of the sport by trying to predict what will happen next in the game by watching it and understanding the teams and players.

That takes a lot of knowledge, but if you know what you're doing, live betting can offer plenty of excellent opportunities. Moreover, bookmakers tend to be inefficient when setting in-play odds, so it's easy to find value bets if you know where to look.

So even if you don't plan to live bet from the get-go, you should sign up with French bookies with live betting and live streaming options. It never hurts to have the opportunity to live bet if you decide to do so.

Customer Support at France Sports Betting Sites

Customer support is essential to any good betting site, so you can be sure that France's best sports betting sites will have a solid customer support department. Furthermore, even though French online betting sites operate mainly in French, customer support will be available in various languages – especially because most of the sportsbooks in France are also international bookies; hence they have to cover many languages.

All free betting sites in France will have at least a few ways to reach customer support – mainly via email and live chat features. Some sportsbooks will also have a ticket system, an extensive FAQ that will help you find the answers you need, a phone number, and even ways to contact customer support agents via social media such as Twitter.

Sports betting in France is entirely legal and has been for decades. Notably, France hasn't regulated the online sector until 2010 with the French Gambling Act, which set a legal framework to legalize betting online in France.

Notably, the law does not cover online gambling but only sports, horse race betting, and poker. So any French online betting website offering online casino games can't obtain a license. That is because lawmakers characterized online casino games as highly addictive.

Even though France opened the market to foreign sportsbooks, there are only so many French bookies due to the strict laws and hard-to-obtain licenses. The biggest names in the online sports betting scene are Bet365, William Hill, 1xbet, Pinnacle bet, Bet-at-home, Unibet, Sky Bet, and GG.bet are still allowed to operate, but the offer is relatively small overall.

Interestingly, despite all that, you can bet in France using bookmakers that don't own a license since they decide to offer their services despite the fines they might face. So whether you want to bet on bet First, Loot.bet, Net Bet, 10Bet, Napoleon Bet, or any other bookmaker, you can easily access it with a VPN service.

Responsible Gambling Organisations in France

Several companies and organizations are ready to help in case you are struggling against gambling problems in France.

  • SOS Joueurs
  • Adictel Prevention Addiction
  • GambleAware
  • GamCare
  • Gambling Therapy
  • Gamblers Anonymous

A Short History of Sports Betting in France

Gambling is a big part of France's history and has seen some developments over the last century. In 1987, France lowered the minimum gambling age from 21 to 18, and a year later, the country also legalized previously illegal slot machines.

The subsequent extensive development came in 2010, when France accepted law No 2010-476, or the “French Gambling Act,” which officially legalized the online sector and opened the market, leading to a growth of French betting sites and allowing foreign operators to obtain a license.

But according to the law, only three types of French betting companies are allowed to operate in the country – sports betting, poker games, and horse racing betting. Any other form of gambling is strictly illegal, and there is no way for any gambling site that offers anything but the three activities to obtain a license.

France Overview

Before we end our article, we'll discuss some interesting facts about betting in France and a country you might not know about but should.

  • Paris is France's capital and the biggest city, followed by Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Nice, Nantes, and Strasbourg.
  • French is the official and most used language in France by approximately 88% of the population. However, some minorities also speak German dialects.
  • Euro is France's official and most used currency, but some bettors also use crypto to deposit into their betting accounts.
  • French bookmakers' most popular payment options include credit and debit cards, bank transfers, crypto deposits, and E-wallets.
  • France's most popular legal online bookmakers are William Hill, MBet, Bet Winner, GG.bet, and 10Bet.
  • The most popular sports in France are football, horse racing, basketball, and cycling.
  • France's biggest and most popular sports competitions include Ligue 1, Tour de France, LNH Division 1, and the LNB Pro A.
  • France's most well-known teams are Paris Saint-Germain, LDLC ASVEL, and Montpellier.
  • French is home to many exceptional athletes, including Thierry Henry, Kylian Mbappé, Zinedine Yazid Zidane, Tony Parker, and Bernard Hinault.
  • France has appeared at the Olympics every year since 1896 and has hosted four Olympic Games (not including the 2024 Olympics).
  • France has won the most Olympics gold medals out of all countries in cycling, croquet, and handball, with 41, 3, and 4, respectively.

Bottom Line

That concludes our article, covering everything you need to know about France, its online betting experience, and French betting sites. Equipped with all that knowledge, you're ready to find the best betting sites in France.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is online sports betting legal in France?
    Yes, online betting in France is legal and regulated and has been since 2010, when the French Gambling Act was accepted. But France has a very strict process of issuing licences to bookmakers, making it hard for betting operators to legally offer their services in the country.
  • Are there any taxes for French bettors on their winnings?
    Although there are taxes on online betting in France, those don't apply to bettors. Betting operators have to pay 33.8% of their GGR and 10.7% social security payments, whereas bettors don't have to pay any money on their winnings.
  • How to choose the best online betting website in France?
    If you want to register with the best French betting site, you have to make sure that it's legal, has quality betting odds and enough markets, and has other features that will help you. Those include mainly mobile betting apps, live streams, and the availability of live betting.
  • Are there any betting restrictions for French players?
    No. There are no betting restrictions for French players, who can use any bookmaker they want. Locals can even access sportsbooks that don't own a license in France, granted that's not advisable as it can put you in a tough spot if you lose money.
  • What are the best betting sites in France?
    There is no best betting site in France; however, locals like to use William Hill, 10bet, GG.bet, and N1Bet as some of the most popular bookmakers in the country.
  • What are the most popular payment methods for online betting in France?
    The most popular payment methods for online betting in France are e-wallets such as ecoPayz, Skrill, and Neteller. Some people also use PayPal, whereas crypto has recently become popular.
  • Is the Euro accepted by betting sites in France?
    Yes. All licensed betting sites in France have to accept Euro as the country's official currency. Still, all bookmakers will accept way more coins, including crypto, which has emerged as one of the most popular payment methods among bettors.
  • Can you use Bet365 in France?
    Bet365 used to hold a license in France, but it doesn't anymore. So while locals can still access it, Bet365 only accepts French players to bet on its site.
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    Tim E
    Author
    Betting Guru

    Tim is our betting guru. Every gaming site needs one, and Tim’s our guy. He has plenty of experience in betting online and is quite successful at it. Tim’s favorite sports are hockey, baseball, and Esports. Tim believes the latter to be the future of betting.