License Name
French Licence for Online Gambling & Sports Betting (Autorité Nationale des Jeux, ANJ)
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Issuing Country/Region
France
Regulatory Body
Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ)
Types of Regulated Games
Sports betting, horse racing betting, online poker
Market Coverage
Local (France)
Regulator's Reputation
Excellent
Legal Entity Requirements
Must be established in an EU/EEA country with a fraud/tax convention with France
Minimum Share Capital
No explicit minimum share capital for SARL/SAS; €37,000 for SA legal form if chosen
Directors and Shareholders Requirements
No local shareholder requirement; local compliance officer mandatory
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Requirements
Strict AML, CTF, and fraud procedures, annual AML action plan with review, enhanced due diligence for high-risk clients
Data Protection Requirements
GDPR compliance mandatory
Reporting Requirements
Regular operational, financial, and AML reporting; advertising and marketing plans submitted biannually
Audit Requirements
Annual certification of systems; regular internal and external audits required
Software Certification Requirements
All gaming software must be certified and approved by ANJ
RNG Certification
RNG must be certified as part of gaming software approval
Payment System Requirements
Certified and secure payment providers required
Server Location Requirements
Gaming servers must be hosted in France
Domain Name Requirements
No mandatory .fr domain, but must comply with transparency and jurisdictional oversight for easier action by ANJ
Language Support Requirements
French language required for player interface and customer support
Currency Support Requirements
EUR mandatory; other currencies must be approved
Legal Compliance Costs
No initial application fee; legal and compliance services cost varies
Background Checks
Extensive background checks for key personnel and directors
License Scope Restrictions
Only allows online betting on sports, horse racing, and poker; online casino not authorized (expected change pending legislative approval)
Jurisdictional Tax Compliance
Must comply with French gaming and corporate taxes
Player Data Storage Requirements
Data must be stored on local servers within France
Cross-Border Operations
Cross-border services only allowed within the EEA/EU, subject to restrictions
License Application Transparency
ANJ maintains a public list of licensees; full disclosure required during review
Regulatory Contact Point
Designated compliance officer (local representative) is required
Compliance Officer Requirement
Mandatory, based in France, responsible for ongoing regulatory contact
Local Partnership Requirements
Not required except for tax representation if company not domiciled in France
Legal Dispute Resolution
Consumer disputes follow French consumer protection law; operators must not restrict user's right to legal recourse
License Transferability
Not transferable; change of control requires ANJ approval
Sub-Licensing Rules
Sub-licensing not permitted
License Cost
No application fee (abolished 2018); legal and certification costs vary by provider
Annual Fees
Annual fixed fee plus a levy on GGR (rate and amount depend on vertical, see taxes)
Income Taxes
Corporate income tax (national rate); gambling levies on GGR for each product (sports betting levy increasing to 59.3% from July 2025)
Player Winnings Taxes
Players taxed on winnings at source in some cases according to French tax law
Financial Guarantees
Mandatory financial guarantees or proof of solvency required during application
Liquidity Requirements
Must demonstrate sufficient liquidity to cover liabilities
Financial Reporting Requirements
Periodic (usually monthly/annual) reporting to ANJ per vertical and requirement
Application Processing Time
Up to four months from complete dossier submission
Required Documents
Business registration, compliance documentation, financial statements, technical system descriptions, AML/KYC policies, marketing policies, certification of software
Business Plan Requirements
Mandatory submission of business plan outlining sustainability and compliance
Internal Policy Requirements
Written policies for AML, responsible gaming, data protection mandatory
Testing Requirements
Technical testing and system certification prior to go-live
Certification Requirements
Software and equipment must be certified and renewed regularly
Staff Qualifications
No explicit minimum qualifications mandated; key staff subject to vetting
Physical Office Requirements
No physical office required if local compliance officer is designated
Local Representative Requirements
Appointment of a local agent/compliance officer mandatory
Marketing Restrictions
Advertising cannot target minors, must display responsible gambling messages, and follow strict rules on bonus and inducement
Responsible Gaming Measures
Ongoing contribution to responsible gaming; must provide tools for self-exclusion, deposit limits, information, and protection of vulnerable users
Self-Exclusion System
Participation in national self-exclusion register is mandatory
Age Verification Procedures
Mandatory identity and age checks at account opening
KYC Procedures
Enhanced KYC as part of AML; ongoing due diligence
Customer Support Standards
French customer support required
Complaint Handling Procedures
Operators must have transparent and accessible complaint procedures
Player Funds Protection
Player funds must be segregated; robust payout and fund management
Payout Timelines
Must process payouts promptly per ANJ guidelines
Bonus and Promotion Regulations
Must be clear, fair, and not encourage excessive gambling; restrictions apply
Permitted Games List
Bet types and games defined by ANJ, online sports, horse racing, and poker only; online casino games currently prohibited
Betting Limits
Mandatory player-defined weekly deposit and betting limits
RTP Requirements
RTP minimum or disclosure mandated per game type (sports betting limit rules; poker rules set by ANJ)
Jackpot Regulations
Not publicly specified for sports and poker (no online slot/casino vertical yet)
Live Game Requirements
Live betting regulated; live casino not yet authorized in France for online
Mobile App Compliance
Subject to same rules as web-based platforms
Affiliate Program Rules
Regulated; must comply with ANJ advertising standards; operators responsible for affiliate actions
Security Standards
Operators must implement robust technical and security measures; guided by ANJ security matrices and documentation
Encryption Requirements
SSL/TLS encryption required for all player communications and transactions
Backup Requirements
Regular electronic backups, disaster recovery measures mandatory
Monitoring Systems
Comprehensive systems for real-time monitoring and reporting of gambling activity
Operation Logging
Ongoing logging of all gambling operations with secure audit trails
Anti-Fraud Systems
Mandatory systems for fraud, AML, player monitoring, and transaction analysis
API Integration Standards
APIs must be secure and certified by ANJ
Hosting Requirements
Gaming data and transactions must be hosted in France
CDN Usage
Permitted if compliant with data localization
Scalability Requirements
Operators must demonstrate technical resilience and scalability
Uptime Requirements
No explicit uptime percentage; reliable service delivery expected
Technical Support Availability
24/7 technical support for both operator platform and player-facing services
License Duration
5 years, renewable
Renewal Procedure
Submit request to ANJ before expiry; must provide evidence of compliance and updated certifications
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Fines, license suspension or revocation, public sanctions
Ownership Change Rules
All significant changes require ANJ disclosure and approval
Mergers and Acquisitions Rules
Regulatory notification and approval required for M&A affecting licensee
Subcontractor Regulations
Third-party suppliers (e.g., software, payments) must be certified and approved by ANJ
Branding Requirements
Use of trademarks and logos must not mislead; clear identification of licensed operator required
Intellectual Property Protection
All software and systems must respect intellectual property and licensing requirements
Dispute Arbitration
Must not restrict customers’ right to French legal recourse
Insurance Requirements
No explicit insurance requirement published
Charity Contributions
No mandatory contribution required
Staff Training Requirements
Regular compliance and responsible gaming training encouraged, with e-learning available
Innovation Support
ANJ participates in modernization (e.g., possible expansion to new verticals)
Sustainability Initiatives
Not explicitly required
Accessibility Standards
Platform must be accessible to all users including those with disabilities
Multilingual Support
French mandatory; other languages permitted if French is primary
Cryptocurrency Support
Not authorized for gambling payment/settlement
Esports Betting Regulations
Permitted if covered under sports betting license
Fantasy Sports Regulations
Regulated as a separate betting vertical; must obtain specific ANJ license
Official Address
Autorité Nationale des Jeux, 99-101 Rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France
Postal Address
99-101 Rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France
Online Application Portal
https://anj.fr/english
Work Hours
Monday to Friday, 9:00–18:00 (subject to change)
Technical Support
Contact via [email protected] or through official portal
Media Contact
[email protected] (Director of Communication)
Facebook URL
https://www.facebook.com/anj.fr
Twitter/X URL
https://twitter.com/ANJ_FR
YouTube URL
https://www.youtube.com/@autoritenationaledesjeux
Departments
Direction juridique; Direction de la prévention du jeux excessif et protection des joueurs; Direction de l'expertise technologique et des systèmes d'information; Mission contrôle et enquête
FAQ Question 1
What is the French Licence for Online Gambling & Sports Betting?
FAQ Answer 1
The French Licence authorizes operators to legally offer online gambling and sports betting services in France, including casino games, poker, and betting on sports events. It ensures compliance with French laws focused on consumer protection, fairness, and responsible gambling.
FAQ Question 2
Which jurisdiction issues the French Licence for Online Gambling & Sports Betting?
FAQ Answer 2
This licence is issued by the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), the French national gambling authority responsible for regulating all gambling activities in France.
FAQ Question 3
What is the cost of obtaining the French Licence for Online Gambling & Sports Betting?
FAQ Answer 3
Application fees typically start at €30,000, with annual renewal fees based on the operator’s gross gaming revenue. Taxes on gambling revenue apply according to French tax laws. Additional costs include compliance audits and reporting requirements.
FAQ Question 4
What are the main requirements for the French Licence for Online Gambling & Sports Betting?
FAQ Answer 4
Key requirements include establishing a legal entity in France or the EU/EEA, passing comprehensive background checks on owners and key personnel, implementing certified gaming systems, complying with anti-money laundering and responsible gambling regulations, and submitting regular operational and financial reports to the ANJ.