Official language: French
Population: 65,073,482
Currency: Euro (EUR)

Current Exchange Rate
1 GBP = 1.0681 EUR
1 USD = 0.6754 EUR

Sports Betting in France
Gambling in France is a popular pastime, and gambling on sport events is perhaps the most popular form of gambling. Sports betting is fully legal throughout France, though it is strictly regulated at the current time. The most popular form of bets on sports in France revolves around horse racing. There are over 200 tracks across the country, and wagers can be placed on-course or off-course and certain kiosks and even cafes.

Today, Le Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU) and its affiliate Le Pari Mutuel Hippodrome (PMH) control a complete monopoly over legal spots betting in France, covering both horse races and football matches. The government appreciates the monopoly since it helps keep sports betting under control; however, they are having trouble keeping this monopoly alive due to underground spotsbooks and to internet betting in France.

Online Sports Betting in France
While French punters can place bets at authorized PMU and PMH websites, they cannot use other French online spotsbooks hosted in France, because they are illegal. Instead, players in France who wish to place wagers at other online bookmakers must use international sites that accept French players.

The French government wants to prevent French citizens from placing bets at internet sportsbooks not located in France, but it is nearly impossible to accomplish. Furthermore, the EU has been putting pressure on the French government regarding the current monopoly on French online sports betting, and there will be changes soon that allow other French online sportsbooks to emerge. Until then, players in France must use international online sportsbooks that offer their services in French language.