On this page
Bitcoin in French Casinos
On this page
This page is for players in France who want to know how Bitcoin fits with online gambling. France licenses online poker, sports betting and horse-race betting, but not online casino games such as slots, roulette and blackjack, so the options for betting with Bitcoin are narrower than in many countries. Below we explain how crypto is regulated in France, what you can legally bet on, and how to buy Bitcoin and deposit it. Why choose to use Bitcoin across French online gambling sites?
Cryptocurrency Regulation in France
As a citizen of France, you can freely buy, sell, use, and trade Bitcoin. The activity is duly regulated in order to protect users and businesses who want to use cryptocurrencies for their transactions and overseen by the AMF (French Financial Markets Authority). Crypto exchanges willing to operate in the French market, must now be authorised by the AMF under the EU MiCA rules (the transitional regime for older registrations ended on 1 July 2026), therefore, before you choose an exchange platform to use, make sure you check whether it has the proper license to offer crypto trading.
France does not ban Bitcoin, but regulation is strict. Since 1 July 2026 only crypto-asset service providers authorised under the EU MiCA rules may serve French customers, and the AMF publishes warnings about unauthorised platforms. Authorisation covers the exchange, not the casino or betting site you send coins to, and the price of Bitcoin can rise or fall sharply, so treat regulation as a baseline, not a guarantee of safety.
Now, when it comes to online gambling in France there are a few obstacles you’ll come across. In 2010, after being put under pressure by the European Union, France made changes to its online gambling legislation, and a new French Gambling Act was established. With that, the regulatory body was introduced, Regulator l’autorité nationale de régulation des jeux en ligne (ARJEL), which was tasked to prevent fraudulent activities and ensure minors are fully protected. ARJEL was replaced in 2020 by the Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ), which now licenses and supervises online gambling in France.
| Product | Status in France | Regulator |
|---|---|---|
| Online poker | Licensed | ANJ |
| Online sports betting | Licensed | ANJ |
| Online horse-race betting | Licensed | ANJ |
| Online casino games (slots, roulette, blackjack) | Prohibited, not licensed | None |
| Online bingo | Not licensed | None |
Sources: ANJ; written answer in the French National Assembly on online casino games (Code de la sécurité intérieure, L.320-1 and L.320-6). Online bingo status as stated on this page.
France made online poker, online horse-race and sports betting legal under ANJ licences, but traditional online casino games like slots and table games are prohibited (articles L.320-1 and L.320-6 of the Code de la sécurité intérieure). Online bingo is not licensed in France either. A bill to legalise online casinos has been reported before the French National Assembly, but it has not changed the rule, so check the ANJ for the current position.
That leaves poker, horse-race betting and sports betting at ANJ-licensed sites as the products you can legally bet on online in France. Whether a licensed site accepts Bitcoin is the operator's choice, and we have not confirmed that any ANJ-licensed operator takes Bitcoin deposits, so check the cashier before you register. If you want to see how Bitcoin works with a site that accepts it, continue reading to find out how to get coins and send them safely.
Using Bitcoin Across Online Casinos
Even though the choice of online gambling verticals is limited in France, online casino players can still enjoy a few verticals they can place bets on legally within its borders. If a French player who would like to start placing bets on poker, horse-race or sports betting using BTC, the first thing you should do is obtain some coins.
To do that, as enforced by the French crypto laws, you have to choose a licensed crypto exchange platform. Before you buy, check the AMF’s register to confirm that the exchange you plan to use is authorised under MiCA, and avoid any platform that is not.
The actual purchasing process would be pretty simple. You'd have to create an account with the exchange, choose a payment method from the ones offered, and use the euro as your currency to purchase your coins. Different payment method choices are provided by all exchanges, but you can rest assured that popular cards and eWallets would be your option. Select the one that you have an account with and use it to complete the purchase.
From there, you can keep the coins on the exchange or move them to a crypto wallet that you control. A wallet gives you a public address, which you can share to receive coins, and a private key or recovery phrase, which you must never share with anyone, because whoever has it can take your coins and a lost one cannot be recovered. Hardware wallets such as Ledger and Trezor are one option, but any reputable wallet will do.
As said, you will find licensed sites in France, but these sites won't offer online casino games, but only poker, horse-race betting, and sports betting. Regardless, you'll find plenty of such licensed online gambling sites, so explore a few and decide on the one you'd want to join. Register your account with it and you'll be ready to start placing bets using BTC. To do that, you need to make your deposit first, and this is how to do it:
Bitcoin deposits are not instant: the site credits your balance once the network confirms the payment. Blocks arrive about every 10 minutes on average, so a low fee can mean a longer wait. Withdrawals work the other way round: the operator reviews and approves your request first, and the coins arrive when the network confirms the payment, so timing depends on both the operator and the network.
Sending Bitcoin Safely: Addresses, Networks and Fees
A Bitcoin payment cannot be undone once it is sent. Bitcoin's own guidance says only the recipient can refund a payment, so a mistake is yours to carry. Before you send anything:
- Copy the deposit address from the cashier. Do not type it by hand, and compare the first and last few characters after pasting.
- Pick Bitcoin in the cashier and check the network it names. An address for one network may not work on another.
- Send a small test amount first if the site allows it, and wait for it to appear before sending the rest.
- Check the network fee your wallet shows. Wallets set it automatically and it changes with demand. The site does not set it.
- Wait for confirmations. Blocks arrive about every 10 minutes on average, so a deposit is not always instant, and a low fee can delay the first confirmation.
For withdrawals, paste the address from your own wallet or exchange. A wrong address or network can mean the money is lost for good. Anyone who contacts you offering to recover lost crypto for a fee is a common scam.
Casino Sites That Are Not Licensed in France
Searches for "crypto casino France" mostly lead to sites that the ANJ has not licensed. The French Ministry of the Economy says online casino games are prohibited, that only licensed operators may offer online games, and that the ANJ can fine operators, withdraw licences and ask for illegal sites to be blocked. A licence from another country does not make a site authorised in France.
For you as a player, the practical risks are no French regulator to turn to, no independent check of the games, winnings that may not be paid, and exposure of your identity documents and payment details. Joueurs Info Service also warns that blocking a site or closing your account does not protect you from these risks. Bitcoin payments cannot be reversed, so coins sent to such a site are very hard to get back.
How to check a site
- Look for the operator on the list of authorised sites at anj.fr. That list is the reference. The ANJ also publishes a list of blocked sites, but it does not cover every illegal domain.
- Check what the site offers. A French-licensed site can offer poker, sports betting or horse-race betting, but not slots, roulette or blackjack.
- Check that the cashier lists Bitcoin and which network it uses, before you buy any coins.
Bitcoin is popular in these countries
Casinos for Players from France that Offer Bitcoin
Filter
More filters
If we have jumped the gun, you can remove that filter by clicking here.
Top 3 Methods Offering Bitcoin at Online Casinos
Some payment services let you buy or hold crypto inside an account you may already have. Crypto features differ by country and change over time, so check that they are available to French users, and that the site you want to use accepts them, before relying on them. These two are reviewed on this site:
-
NeroPay – NeroPay is an eWallet that handles both fiat and digital currencies. Check on NeroPay's own site that it is open to French users and which fees apply, and confirm that the site you plan to use accepts it before you rely on it.
PayPal – PayPal was launched in California, the USA, over twenty years ago, and is one of the longest-running eWallets. Its crypto features differ from country to country, and we have not confirmed that French users can send Bitcoin from PayPal to a betting site. Check PayPal's help pages and the site's cashier before relying on it.
Conclusion
Bitcoin is legal to buy and use in France, but France licenses only poker, horse-race betting and sports betting online, and online casino games and bingo are not licensed. Before you send any coins, check that the site is authorised by the ANJ and that its cashier accepts Bitcoin. Deposits are credited after network confirmations, which takes minutes rather than seconds, and withdrawals also depend on the operator's approval.
FAQs
Are online casinos legal in France?
No. France licenses online poker, sports betting and horse-race betting through the ANJ, but online casino games such as slots, roulette and blackjack are prohibited. Sites without an ANJ licence are illegal in France, even if they hold a licence from another country.
Can I use Bitcoin at a French betting or poker site?
Buying Bitcoin is legal, but whether an ANJ-licensed site accepts it is the operator's choice. We have not confirmed that any ANJ-licensed operator accepts Bitcoin deposits, so check the site's cashier before you register.
How do I check that a gambling site is licensed in France?
Look for the operator on the ANJ's list of authorised sites at anj.fr. The ANJ also publishes a list of blocked sites, but it is not complete, so absence from it does not mean a site is legal.
Is it legal to buy Bitcoin in France?
Yes. Since 1 July 2026 only crypto-asset service providers authorised under the EU MiCA rules may serve French customers, so check that your exchange is authorised before you buy.
How long does a Bitcoin deposit take?
It depends on the network, not the site. Bitcoin blocks arrive about every 10 minutes on average, and a low fee can delay the first confirmation.
Where can I get help with gambling problems in France?
Joueurs Info Service offers free, anonymous help on 09 74 75 13 13. You can also ask the ANJ to ban you from gambling sites at interdictiondejeux.anj.fr.
Other ways to pay in France
We also review these payment methods for players in France: PayPal, CASHlib, AstroPay Card and Tether.