France is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, gambling is legal in France and the gambling industry in France is well organized. In this article, the author explores the specifics of France bookmakers and sports betting legislation with the focus on the historical background, the main regulatory authorities and legislation governing the gambling industry. If you are an interested person or a part of the gambling sphere, this guide will be useful as it describes the legal aspects of bookmakers in France.
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Table of Contents
Summary of Key Events
History of Gambling Law French Bookmakers
Gambling in France has been a popular past time as far back as the 16th century. The legal frame work has also been dynamic to reflect the changing culture and also the advancement in technology.
Early Beginnings and Evolution
- 16th Century: It was introduced as a form of entertainment for the citizens and to also support the war veterans.
- 1933: Creation of the French National Lottery through the Finance Law as per Article 136.
- 1987: New rule is that gambling age lowered from 21 to 18.
- 1988: The permitting of slot machines.
Modern Developments
- 2010: ARJEL (the French Regulatory Authority for Online Games) is in charge of the regulation of online gambling legalized in France.
- 2019: PACTE Act as the tool of the FDJ privatization.
- 2020: ARJEL is now changed to L’Autorité nationale des Jeux (ANJ) for overseeing the online gambling in France.
The Bodies that Control France Bookmakers
The gambling business in France is controlled by several authorities that control various segments of the industry.
Key Regulatory Agencies
- PMU (Pari Mutuel Urbain): It is in charge of Horseracing Betting.
- FDJ (Française des Jeux): Responsible for the lottery games and betting games.
- ANJ: The main organisation for supervising the provision of online gambling services, it was established in 2020 to replace ARJEL.
The Forms of Gambling Licenses in France
France has three principal types of online gambling licenses, which are suitable for various types of betting activities.
Licensed Activities
- Horserace Betting
- Sports Betting
- Club Games: These are real money games; both the cash games and the tournaments that are available to play online.
France Bookmakers and Sports Betting: Legal Profile and Provisions
In this regard, there is clear legal regulation of bookmakers and sports betting in France, which includes different aspects of its work.
Permissible Bets and Activities
The National Gaming Authority (ANJ) together with the sports federations establishes the list of the sporting events and its phases for accepting bets. The following are the guidelines for online betting; only horse races sanctioned by the Ministry of Agriculture are allowed.
Prohibited Activities
Online casino games and the gaming machines are not allowed in the newly partially regulated online gambling in France. However, to this date, online lottery sales are still limited under the state monopoly of the FDJ.
Licensing Fees and Procedures
The steps and the costs of getting a gambling license in France are outlined below.
License Types and Fees
- Horserace Betting License
- Sports Betting License
- Club Games License (mostly for the online poker)
The fees and the specific conditions of each license make it possible to regulate the activity and allow only those who meet the requirements to work within the industry.
Taxation on Gambling Activities
France is known to have some of the highest taxes on gambling for both the operators and the players.
Tax Rates
- Casino Tax: Taxes on the basis of annual gross gaming revenue with the rates of tax increasing progressively.
- Sports Betting Tax: 44. 5% of the gross gambling revenue is to be paid as taxes.
- Online Sports Betting Tax: Etc. On gross gambling revenue it is 2%.
- Lottery Tax: 54. 5% of the gross gambling yield.
For the players, any sum earned from gambling that is more than €1500 is taxable at a rate of 13. 7%, to be subtracted from their earnings by the licensed operators as a compulsory fee.
France Sports Betting Overview
France sports betting forms a large percentage of the gambling industry in France, giving the betters many choices to place their bets.
Types of Sports Betting
- Live Betting
- Pool Betting
- Fixed Odds Betting
Regulatory Framework
This way, everyone is protected, and the sports betting is as clean as possible, with the ANJ and other regulatory authorities on the lookout for violators.
Sporting Event Glory Milestones
France is one of the countries that have successfully held and performed well in a variety of sports. Here are some key milestones:
- 1938: The FIFA world cup is held in France.
- 1998: France takes the championship of FIFA World Cup on their home ground.
- 2007: It is the Rugby World Cup held in France.
- 2010: The regulation of online gambling in France.
- 2019: The PACTE Act as a way of Privatization of FDJ.
Conclusion
All in all, it is possible to conclude that France has a highly developed gambling business, with a long history and a number of legal acts regulating the activity. Thus, this paper aims to shed some light on certain aspects of the French bookmakers and sports betting legislation and regulations so as to assist the stakeholders in the given industry to be in a better position to harness the potential of the sector.
FAQ: France Bookmakers
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