In a bold move to address its budgetary challenges, France has proposed an amendment to legalize online casino games as part of the 2025 draft budget. The National Assembly examined this proposal on October 23, 2024. If approved, online casino games would be taxed at a substantial 55.6% of turnover, which the government hopes will generate significant tax revenue while combating illegal gambling operations [cb49b8c9].
Currently, France is one of the few European Union countries that completely outlaws online casinos, leading to a thriving underground market. A study by the National Gaming Authority (ANJ) estimated that illegal gambling revenue ranged between €748 million and €1.5 billion in early 2023, highlighting the scale of the issue [cb49b8c9].
However, the introduction of online casinos is not without its critics. Grégory Rabuel from Casinos de France has warned that the legalization could lead to a 20-30% revenue drop for land-based casinos, with predictions of up to 30% of these establishments potentially closing down as a result [cb49b8c9]. Additionally, Elsa Trochet-Macé from ANJ has raised concerns about the addictive nature of online casinos, emphasizing the need for responsible gambling measures to protect vulnerable players [cb49b8c9].
The urgency of this proposal is underscored by France's public deficit, which reached 5.5% of GDP last year and is projected to exceed 6% this year. Legalizing online casinos could provide a much-needed financial boost to the government while also addressing the rampant illegal gambling that has flourished in the absence of regulated online options [cb49b8c9].