Gambling in France

Casinos were kept out of Paris for a century. The capital has gaming clubs instead, and they became permanent in 2026.

France at a glance: the gambling age is 18. Winnings: Casino table winnings are generally untaxed for recreational players. Regulator: National, with casinos licensed by the interior ministry and a separate regime for Paris gaming clubs.
18Legal age
Casino table winnings are generally untaxed for recreational playersTax on winnings
NationalRegulator
August 2026Verified

Paris is a special case

French law long kept casinos away from the capital, which is why the famous French casinos are in Deauville, Enghien-les-Bains and along the Riviera rather than in Paris.

What Paris has is the club de jeux, a licensed gaming club under a separate legal regime introduced in 2018 to replace the scandal-prone cercles de jeux. Clubs may spread table games including poker, blackjack and punto banco, but slot machines are not permitted at all.

The regime ran as an experiment for eight years and was made permanent in early 2026. Seven clubs operate in the city.

Our Paris guide covers the individual clubs, their addresses and their hours.

Outside Paris

France has around two hundred casinos, concentrated in spa towns and coastal resorts, a distribution that follows the historic licensing rules rather than where people live.

The age is 18 and identification is checked properly. Casino table winnings are generally not taxed for recreational players, though professional gambling is treated differently and other products have their own rules. Take advice on a large result rather than assuming.

Cities covered

Before you play anywhere

Two numbers travel better than any local rule. Our house edge entry explains why games that look alike are priced very differently, and true odds is the comparison that prices any bet in seconds.

Set a budget before you sit down. Our responsible gaming page covers deposit limits and self-exclusion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the legal gambling age in France?
18.
Are gambling winnings taxed in France?
Casino table winnings are generally untaxed for recreational players.
Who regulates gambling in France?
National, with casinos licensed by the interior ministry and a separate regime for Paris gaming clubs.
When was this checked?
Against legal and regulatory sources in August 2026. Gambling law changes, so confirm before relying on it for anything significant.

Ages, tax treatment and regulators on this page were checked against legal and regulatory sources in August 2026. Gambling law changes and treatment differs between products and between recreational and professional players, so this is general information and not tax or legal advice. On a large result, take proper advice rather than a web page.