Online Poker in France

Is Poker Legal in France?

Yes, you can sit down at a virtual card table without breaking the law in France. This country was one of the first in the European Union to regulate real money online poker, and subsequently organised a department known as the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ). This regulatory body ensures that all online gambling activities, including poker, adhere to strict standards of fairness and security. All French players are only allowed to operate on locally regulated sites with a licence, but French sites are open to visitors from all over Europe.

Laws and Rules in France

All the related issues and relations arising in the online gambling industry in France are based on the legal document number 2010-476 officially dated May 2010, which is widely known to the community as the French Gambling Act. Until this day, this government law sets the standards for licensing requirements, taxation, age restrictions and consequently a fair and secure playing environment for gamblers.

Recommended French Online Poker Rooms

Since the list of officially authorised online poker rooms is limited due to strict state laws and licensing policies, players may encounter difficulties while choosing a gambling platform for themselves. A brief review of a few concrete examples will help to understand the gaming market landscape in France.

PokerStars

PokerStars is a premier online poker platform, known for its extensive game variety and robust tournament schedule. French players can enjoy popular play table variants like Texas Hold’em and Omaha, along with special events like the Sunday Million and WCOOP. The site boasts a user-friendly interface, advanced security measures, and strong responsible gaming control tools. PokerStars also features innovative tools like hand replayer and advanced statistics, making it a top choice for both casual and professional players looking for a comprehensive user experience.

PokerStars

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T&Cs Apply | Play Responsibly | GambleAware

18+ | T&Cs Apply | Play Responsibly | GambleAware

Partypoker

Partypoker is a well-established poker site offering a comprehensive range of card games and tournaments for French players. It is celebrated for its user-friendly platform, frequent promotions, and a strong focus on player security. Partypoker supports various poker formats, including cash games, Sit & Go’s, and multi-table tournaments. The site also features advanced in-game functions, such as a hand history review and table customization options, ensuring a diverse and exciting gaming experience for all levels of players.

Partypoker

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T&Cs Apply | Play Responsibly | GambleAware

18+ | T&Cs Apply | Play Responsibly | GambleAware

French Poker Sites Bonuses

High competition among poker rooms drives companies to offer enticing bonuses to attract players. Promotions often include deposit matches, freeroll tickets, cashback, or cash rewards. Here are some top welcome bonuses on the French market:

• Winamax offers new customers a 100% bonus on their first deposit up to €250, released in instalments for active play. No promo code is needed; the bonus is applied immediately after the deposit.
• PokerStars provides a no-deposit bonus of 10 free poker tickets. Additionally, first-time depositors receive a 100% bonus up to €100, granted through percentage accruals for specific actions on the platform.
• Partypoker can please newcomers with a €10 giveaway, usable on tournaments or Sit & Go’s, and a first deposit bonus up to €490, distributed in parts for consistent active play.

These offers help you choose the best terms from online poker services to suit your preferences.

Popular Poker Games Offered to French Players

French players enjoy a variety of popular poker games offered by online poker sites. The most widely played game is Texas Hold’em, known for its simple rules and strategic depth. Omaha is another favourite, offering more action with four hole cards instead of two. Stud Poker, including Seven-Card Stud, also attracts players who enjoy a classic style of poker. Additionally, Sit & Go tournaments are popular due to their fast-paced nature and quick turnaround.
These games are accessible across major French online platforms like Winamax, PokerStars, Partypoker and iPoker ensuring that players can always find a game that suits their preferences and skill levels.

Mobile Poker Apps in French

Almost all top French poker operators like PokerStars, Winamax, Partypoker, have released a mobile poker app. Good optimisation and user-friendly combined interface allow you to fully immerse yourself in the virtual world of card games.
The real money poker application can be installed on the Android operating system and can be found in the App Store on your iPhone or iPad. All installation instructions and system requirements can be found on the official website of poker games manufacturers.

With the mobile application you will always have full access to the best poker site regardless of location, you only need a stable internet connection. There is no need to worry about the protection of your data and the security of your financial transactions, as it will be ensured by strict platform licensing rules and the use of advanced encryption methods.

How We Rate French Poker Sites

When it comes to rating French poker sites, we follow a detailed and objective review process. Our goal is to help players find platforms that offer not only a great gaming experience but also reliability, fairness, and value. Here’s what we look at:

• Software Quality. We test each site’s software for stability, speed, design, and mobile compatibility. A seamless and bug-free interface ensures players can focus on the game, not technical issues.
• Player Traffic and Game Variety. High traffic means more active tables and a wider range of games and stakes. We favor sites that cater to both beginners and high-stakes players, offering everything from Texas Hold’em to Omaha and tournaments.
• Bonuses and Promotions. We analyze welcome bonuses, reload offers, loyalty programs, and freerolls. A good bonus structure should provide real value without hidden terms.
• Security and Fair Play. All recommended sites are fully licensed and regulated. We also ensure they use modern encryption technology and offer fair RNG (Random Number Generator) practices to protect players and ensure game integrity.
• Banking and Payout Speed. We assess the variety and reliability of deposit and withdrawal methods. Fast, secure transactions with low fees are essential for a positive user experience.
• Customer Support. Prompt, multilingual customer service is crucial—especially for players in France. We favor sites with responsive live chat and helpful support agents.

By evaluating these core areas, we ensure our recommendations reflect the best poker sites for players in France—whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned pro.

Banking Options for French Poker Players

As for the financial side of the subject of online French poker sites, it is presented in a broad outline and cooperates with the main payment systems widely used in the daily life of the entire population of France. Following is the table of available options for depositing game balance and withdrawing winnings:

Payment Method	Deposit	Withdrawal
Mastercard	Available	No
Maestro	Available	No
Visa	Available	No
Paypal	Available	No
Neteller	Available	Available
Skrill	Available	Available
Neosurf	Available	No
Paysafecard	Available	No
Apple-pay	Available	No
Google-pay	Available	No
Cryptocurrencies	Available	Available
Direct-bank-transfer	No	Available

The provision of banking services described in the table above can be considered common to all online places providing online tables for card games. It is worth mentioning that all methods have a high reliability and the degree of protection of user financial details, which has earned its good reputation. Limit values for each transfer vary depending on the conditions of the online gambling platform.

France and Poker-Related Taxes

It is worth noting that in France, taxes on all winnings received during poker gaming sessions reach sizable amounts compared to the average values among neighbouring European countries. The legislation does not require contributions on winnings from the player personally. On top of the standard two per cent fee on each table, players face associated charges that total up to 7%, while the rate in other countries does not exceed 3-5%.

These regulations were introduced in order to limit gambling problems among the population. To some extent, though, this has exacerbated the problem by forcing players to chase to cover losses.

The high interest rate is due to the fact that state legislation has imposed high fees for companies offering online poker services as high as 34%, in turn poker rooms do not intend to lose either customers or their own finances. In this regard, they are forced to keep everything at a level favourable to both parties: players and producers.