France’s Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) has warned consumers that betting on esports competitions remains prohibited in France, as Paris hosts the Esports World Cup from 6 July to 23 August.
The event features 25 tournaments across 24 games and a prize pool of more than $75m, making it one of the largest esports events staged in the country. Its scale creates a visible betting opportunity for offshore operators, even though French law does not allow betting to be attached to video game competitions.
The ANJ said the prohibition comes from the Law for a Digital Republic of 7 October 2016, which amended Article L.321-8 of the Internal Security Code. That framework recognised esports competitions in France but excluded betting from their organisation.
The regulator linked the ban to integrity concerns, particularly around competitions not organised in France under the domestic legal framework. It said sites offering esports betting to users in France should be treated as illegal gambling sites.
The warning also reflects the age profile of the esports audience. The ANJ said France has more than 12 million players, with a particularly young community, increasing concerns around exposure to illegal gambling products during high-profile tournaments.
Players using illegal sites face risks including financial losses, theft of personal and banking data, malware installation and addiction. The ANJ said these sites do not provide the dispute protections, age checks or responsible gambling mechanisms required of licensed operators in France.
The reminder follows a wider regulatory focus on illegal gambling and player protection during major sporting events. In 2025, the ANJ blocked access to 1,290 illegal gambling websites or adverts for those sites.
Earlier this week, Global Gaming Insider reported that Pascal Chevremont had officially taken over as ANJ President, with illegal gambling and the protection of minors identified among his main regulatory priorities.
The ANJ allows consumers to report suspected illegal gambling offers directly to the regulator
