On this page
PayPal in French Casinos
On this page
This page is for players in France who want to use PayPal, a global eWallet, to deposit and withdraw in euros at online casinos. France licenses online sports betting, horse-race betting and poker through the ANJ, but it has no licensed market for online casino games, so you should understand the legal position before you play. Below we explain France's rules, how PayPal works, and the steps for setting it up and using it.
Online Gambling Regulation in France
France has a long tradition of land-based gambling, legal since 1907, with many casinos, especially on the Côte d'Azur. However, even though it is an EU member country, France has kept online casino games out of its legal framework.
You see, the EU has well-established gambling laws and rules that all member countries must follow. The Union is all about liberalizing the online gambling markets within its area, and all about fair trade, and that’s why monopolized markets are usually criticized and asked to open their gates to operators from other EU countries. Now, despite the fact that France is a well-respected EU member, and has been all about safety in gambling since the day it legalized land-based gambling, when the time came to express its opinion and stance over online gambling regulation, it took a step back.
The country was sure that online gambling would bring nothing but extra problems, especially with player protection, and that's why it decided to stick with land-based gambling. Around the same time online gambling started picking up all across the world, however, more and more French players started frequenting offshore online casinos. The authorities noticed that and started going after operators who were illegally targeting French players. In 2007, the country said that all bets were off and enough was enough, so it started threatening illegal operators with extreme fines should they continue accepting French players. Many operators immediately closed their operations in France.
Realizing that it might lose the battle against illegal online gambling, France changed its mind regarding regulation and actually legalized some online verticals in 2009. With ARJEL in charge of licensing, the country started granting licenses for online sports betting, bingo, poker, and horse racing but left online casinos out of its Law 2010-476. And even though all of this happened in 2010, to this day, online casinos are not legal in France. News spread at the beginning of 2025 that France was considering legalization to address illegal operations, but nothing really happened. Not even after the EU put pressure on it; the country refuses to put online casinos in its laws.
The regulator, ANJ (Autorité nationale des jeux), took over from ARJEL in 2020 and supervises the licensed online verticals only: sports betting, horse-race betting and poker. Online casino games such as slots, roulette and blackjack are outside that framework, so no casino site holds a French online casino licence. If you choose to play at a casino aimed at French players, it will not be supervised by the ANJ, which means the player protections that come with a French licence do not apply. Look for a licence from a reputable regulator elsewhere, and check the rules that apply to you.
Unlicensed casinos that accept French players usually offer live casino titles, themed and progressive slots and table games, from suppliers such as Evolution, Games Global, Yggdrasil and Big Time Gaming. A large game library says nothing about whether a site pays out or treats players fairly, so check the licence and the reviews before you deposit.
Next, decide which payment method to use. PayPal is a digital wallet that has been around since 1998 and was one of the first alternative payment methods used at online casinos.
PayPal accounts in France work in euros, but the currency of a casino payment is set by the casino. Below we guide you through getting started and using it.
Using PayPal Across French Online Casinos
PayPal is easy to use and widely known, but it is not accepted everywhere. PayPal requires gambling merchants to be pre-approved and to operate only where gambling is permitted, so many casinos do not offer it, and we have not confirmed PayPal's policy for French players at unlicensed casinos. Always check the cashier first.
In short, the advantages are these. It is widely known, and some casinos aimed at French players offer it. It is a long-established e-wallet with buyer-protection and security features, although it is up to each merchant whether to accept it, and some operators decline it. It is simple to set up. PayPal also offers cryptocurrency services in some countries, but check whether they are available in France, and check PayPal's current terms before relying on it for gambling payments.
If that’s the case, you decided to try it out, just press the Ouvrir un compte button on its official website, and then select Personnel as the type of account you want to create. Select France as your country of residence and enter your email address in the appointed field. Enter your phone number and then you’ll be instructed to attach a copy of an ID document to verify your identity. Any government-issued document should do.
The next step is, of course, topping up your eWallet account with funds. For this purpose, you can use a bank transfer or a standard debit/credit card. When the funds arrive in your eWallet account, you can start using them at online casinos that accept PayPal. Keep on reading to figure out how.
PayPal is popular in these countries
Casinos for Players from France that Offer PayPal
Filter
More filters
If we have jumped the gun, you can remove that filter by clicking here.
Deposits and Withdrawals with PayPal
Not every casino offers PayPal, and for casinos aimed at French players we cannot confirm how common it is. Browse the casinos listed here at WoO and check the cashier of each one for PayPal before you register.
Assuming you have found it, to register an account with the casino, you will need to disclose some basic personal details. After you do that, to fund your account with PayPal, go through these easy steps:
Naturally, the eWallet is an option for withdrawals, too. With it, you can both send and receive funds, as there’s an account to send/receive funds from/to.
If the casino offers PayPal for withdrawals, find the Withdrawals section, select PayPal and set the amount to cash out. The operator reviews the request first; how long that takes, and how long the money then takes to reach PayPal, depends on the casino, so check its stated payout times.
Conclusion
PayPal is a well-known e-wallet, but online casino games are not licensed in France and PayPal only works at casinos it has approved. If you still choose to play, check that PayPal is offered for both deposits and withdrawals, keep to a budget you can afford, and understand that no French licence protects you.
FAQs
Are online casinos legal in France?
France licenses online sports betting, horse-race betting and poker through the ANJ, but there is no licensed market for online casino games such as slots, roulette and blackjack.
Can I use PayPal at casinos that accept French players?
Only at casinos that PayPal has approved. PayPal requires gambling merchants to be pre-approved and to operate only where gambling is legal, so many casinos do not offer it. We could not verify PayPal's specific policy for France.
Can I withdraw to PayPal?
Only if the casino offers PayPal as a withdrawal method. Check the Withdrawals section before you deposit.
Does the ANJ protect me if I play at a casino that accepts PayPal?
No. The ANJ supervises only the licensed online verticals (sports betting, horse-race betting and poker), so it does not oversee online casino sites.
Other ways to pay in France
We also review these payment methods for players in France: Bitcoin, CASHlib, AstroPay Card and Tether.
Related Banking Comparison
