New betting sites are certainly worth considering. This is because new betting platforms tend to adopt the latest trends and latest security technologies, offering enhanced entertainment and protection for players. New betting sites are also eager to get their name out there and will often promote attractive welcome offers to gain the attention of new players.
France
Here is a comprehensive, up-to-date list of the online bookmakers in France. Our site not only provides you with access to French bookmakers but also features reviews and ratings. This helps the bettors of France to find the crème de la crème of betting platforms and offers! So, whether you're just starting out or are a seasoned betting pro, betting.bet will help you navigate the exciting world of online betting in France!
Legal Online Betting in France
The French have been gambling since the 16th century. Interestingly, the French introduced the “Queen” to the standard poker deck. The roulette wheel is also derived from France, which was created by mathematician Blaise Pascal during the 1700s. The French influence on gambling has remained, with France boasting a long and storied history when it comes to casino and betting regulation. While there was a time when betting was banned in France, the early 2000s saw a turning point and in 2010 the French Gambling Act legalised all forms of sports gambling, betting on horses and poker games. This led to the formation of the French Autorité de régulation des jeux en ligne (ARJEL).
This was the first body to regulate a legal French online gambling industry. In 2020, this role was taken over by the L'Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), which opened the doors to online sports betting in France. French bettors now have a wonderful range of sports betting sites to choose from.
Popular Sports to Bet on in France
France’s online betting industry is wonderfully diverse. It is estimated that there are over 9 million active players in the country, with football, horse racing, tennis and cycling being the most popular sports to bet on. That said, as more French bookies join the industry, the list of betting markets is getting bigger by the day, meaning French bettors’ tastes are changing.
Football
Football is by far the most popular sport in France, and French betting sites reflect this. Whether you are looking at Betclic, Netbet or a new betting site in France, you will face an attractive range of football markets to compare. Popular markets include betting on a game’s winning team, result, top goal scorer, first goalscorer, corners, BTTS and much more. With the global prominence of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, as well as France’s involvement in international competitions such as the EUROs, it is safe to say that French football is on the main stage.
Horse racing
With France being home to races like the Grand Prix de Paris, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Prix Jacques Le Marois, the nation’s affiliation with the sport is undeniable. As well as following races taking place on French soil, French bettors also take a keen interest in races and festivals taking place outside of France. French bettors enjoy betting on events such as the Grand National, Royal Ascot and the highly anticipated Cheltenham Festival. Most French bookies will offer odds on horse racing events taking place across the world.
Basketball
The French Basketball Federation oversees close to 12 domestic basketball leagues. Naturally, betting on these leagues is extremely popular amongst the French, as is betting on international competitions, such as the NBA.
Cycling
The French hold a strong affiliation with cycling, given that it hosts The Tour de France. This is an annual men's multiple-stage bicycle race that is followed and bet on by millions. As well as betting on racing events taking place on French roads, France's cycling fans enjoy placing bets on the Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España and other high-profile racing events.
French Betting Sites V Betting Apps
The French betting community has wholly embraced mobile technology, with mobile devices being the preferred betting method for most. It is estimated that there are 55 million smartphone users in France, and this number is increasing each year. This has put pressure on French betting sites to offer mobile-friendly services. Now, the majority of French betting sites have accompanying apps. With the advanced use of technology, even the desktop versions are seamless to use on mobile. Whether it is best to use a betting site or app comes down to your personal preferences.
Bonuses and Betting Offers
Betting offers are what help betting sites to stand out, with lucrative offers effectively drawing in customers and keeping them interested. When exploring online betting sites, bettors should always put offers and promotions under the spotlight. Here are some of the most readily available betting promotions available in France:
- Free Bets: Free bets are the most sought after type of betting promotion, and it is easy to see why. Free bets, or betting bonuses as they are also called, give players free tokens to place sports betting predictions. These are most commonly available at the point of registration.
- Accumulator Insurance: Accumulators are popular bet types, not only in France but across Europe. Accumulators permit bettors to combine various selections into one single bet, enhancing the risk but significantly upping the potential gains. Due to the risky nature of Accumulator bets, many bettors value offers centred on accas, particularly Accumulator Insurance deals. These types of offers give players a comfort blanket if one of their acca selections is incorrect.
- VIP Schemes: French bookmakers will go above and beyond to encourage loyalty on their betting sites, finding new and exciting ways to keep players engaged and not looking for betting solutions elsewhere. A popular way is via a Loyalty/VIP scheme. These schemes give regular players perks such as bonuses, offers, gifts, prize draws and more!
- Friend Referral Bonuses: If you are an avid bettor, then it is likely that you have friends that are too. This is why many bookies give players ways to earn perks simply by recommending their betting site to their peers. These “Friend Referral” offers are free to claim and require no betting skill whatsoever, making them hugely popular!
- Odds Boosts: Odds boosts alter the price a bookie gives you for a specific betting selection, changing the odds more in favour of you should your selection prove on the money. These can make winning bets even more financially rewarding.
Tips for Choosing French Betting Sites
With such a great variety of bookmakers now accepting players from France, finding the right solution for you can feel like a complex task. Below, we have shared some tips and tricks that we use when comparing online betting sites - we hope they help!
Reputation and Licensing: At betting.bet, we always encourage bettors to partake in online betting activities with reputed, licensed bookmakers. This is due to the fact that in order to hold a gambling licence by the ARJEL, bookmakers will need to go through a stringent vetting process, providing that they are safe and reliable and exercise responsible gambling practices. Another tactic that will help you separate the good from the great bookmakers is reading player reviews. By reading reviews and feedback from fellow gamblers, you will get a true account of what an online betting site is like to play at.
Focus on Market Selection: While an obvious point, it is important to look at the betting markets a site carries before creating an account. You do not want to run the risk of signing up to find that you cannot place the bets you want to.
Review Safe Gambling Policies: When scanning a French betting site, you should; immediately see options to access information about safe gambling. The more information and tools available on the site, the better. We advise all bettors to review a betting site’s safe gambling policy before taking the time to register and bet.
Check Out The Betting Offers: Betting offers, such as free bets and boosted odds can not only help you profit from winning bets, but help you explore new markets that you may not usually pay attention to. When ranking betting sites, we look at the breadth and diversity of offers, ensuring all types of bettors are given ways to amplify their online betting sessions.
How to Remain in Control on French Betting Sites
Keeping disciplined when betting online is incredibly important. We always encourage our users to focus on the entertainment aspect of online betting, and not as an avenue to make money. Then, if a bet does prove successful, that’s just a bonus! Here are a few tips to take on board to ensure you always bet on the side of caution.
- Set a Budget: Just like any other form of social/entertainment pastime, having a betting budget is wise. This will ensure you only bet what you can afford to lose.
- Set Time Limits: The more time you spend placing bets, the more likely you are to make bad decisions and form bad habits. Most French betting sites will give users the option to put spending and time limits on their accounts. This is something we at betting.bet highly advise doing.
- Research Your Bets: Although there is an argument for the impact of luck when it comes to successful online betting tactics, the more informed your bets, the better. Researching the tournaments, teams and players that you are betting on can really pay off and ensure your bets are not too “out there”.
- Take Advantage of Betting Offers: Free bets, bonus reloads, acca insurance and loyalty rewards are just a few examples of betting offers that can help you manage your bankroll effectively.
- Do Not Bet When Stressed or Intoxicated: If you decide to place bets when stressed or intoxicated, you run the risk of making bad, uninformed choices that you may not have if betting with a clear mind.