Key Moments:
- The Association Française du Jeu en Ligne (AFJEL) has renewed its advocacy for online casino regulation, meeting strong opposition from Casinos de France (CdF).
- AFJEL’s latest study reported a 35% rise in French users of unlicensed gambling sites over the past two years, now totaling 5.4 million players.
- CdF maintains that online casino regulation would harm local economies, reduce tax revenues, and threaten jobs, disputing AFJEL’s projection of €1.2 billion in additional annual tax revenue.
Pressure to Overhaul Online Gambling Laws
France’s two main gambling sectors are increasingly at odds as AFJEL intensifies its calls for a regulated online casino market. The debate grew louder after AFJEL’s annual general meeting in Paris, where the group urged the government to tackle illegal gambling more effectively.
AFJEL President Nicolas Béraud, who also chairs Banijay Gaming, highlighted a sharp migration of consumers to unlicensed sites. AFJEL’s research shows a 35% jump in players on illegal platforms over the past two years—now reaching 5.4 million. Much of that growth comes from online casino games and a surge in esports betting.
Debate Over Taxes and Sports Sponsorships
Béraud argued that licensed operators need stronger competitive advantages to counter the illegal market. At the same time, he criticized the 15% levy on operators’ marketing and media spending, introduced in July, calling it counterproductive. Furthermore, he stated, “One cannot tell that sports bodies must find private money to compensate for cuts in public funding and, on the other hand, threaten their new partners with taxation because of their support for sport,” and questioned the fairness of applying this tax solely to online gaming firms.
He added, “Why should only online gaming companies pay this sponsorship tax? Other sponsors—airlines, supermarkets, and consumer brands—aren’t treated the same. If everything discourages us from supporting sport, how can the system work? This isn’t a complaint, it’s a call for coherence.”
Land-Based Operators Raise Alarm
Casinos de France, representing the country’s land-based venues, has strongly rejected AFJEL’s claim that online casino regulation could generate €1.2 billion in annual tax revenue. The group warns such reforms would devastate regions dependent on casino jobs and tax flows, possibly forcing closures and harming community life.
CdF stated that regulation of iCasinos “would lead to massive job losses, the disappearance of dozens of establishments, a reduction in the means of action available to local authorities, and a weakening of social and economic ties.”
CdF President and Groupe Barrière CEO Grégory Rabuel added, “The €1.2bn ‘shortfall’ cited by AFJEL does not exist. It’s a mirage—and worse, a loss for the State: destruction of local jobs, reduced municipal budgets, a drying up of cultural life. Not to mention mental health costs that would burden Social Security by hundreds of millions.”
In response, AFJEL’s Isabelle Djian-Lignon said, “If anything, [the figures] are underestimated as there are now more players in the illegal market than on the legal market; it’s endemic.”
Ongoing Policy Disputes
The divide between AFJEL and CdF highlights deep disagreement over the pace of modernization. AFJEL supports reforms that steer players toward licensed sites through fairer taxes and balanced rules. CdF, however, warns that rapid liberalization could destabilize the established casino industry and regional economies.
Attendees at AFJEL’s meeting also urged greater coordination at the European Union level to harmonize rules, taxes, and protections for legal operators.
The French government must now weigh potential reforms against the need to preserve a traditional casino landscape considered vital to tourism and local employment.
| Stakeholder | Position | Key Concerns / Projections |
|---|---|---|
| AFJEL | Supports iCasino regulation | Sees 35% increase in unlicensed gambling, forecasts €1.2 billion in new tax revenue |
| CdF | Opposes iCasino regulation | Warns of “massive job losses,” regional economic harm, and local tax shortfalls |
- Author
Daniel Williams
