Difference between ANJ and offshore casinos in France: Legality, risks and market realities

In France, the National Gaming Authority (ANJ) does not license any online casino offering slot machines or roulette. Offshore sites fill this legal vacuum by operating under foreign licenses, but they expose players to increased financial risk, a total lack of local legal recourse, and aggressive commercial practices, unlike the strict protection offered by regulated operators for sports betting and poker.

The legal framework: Why there is no ANJ online casino

The distinction between the legal offering and international platforms is based on an explicit prohibition: the National Gaming Authority does not issue any licenses for online games of pure chance. No French site is authorized to offer this type of entertainment. The legal offering is strictly limited to sports betting, horse racing betting, and poker.

The legacy of the Law of May 12, 2010 and the role of the ANJ

Law No. 2010-476 of May 12, 2010 opened the French digital market while deliberately excluding online casinos to protect players from addiction to pure games of chance. This legislation formally prohibits slots and roulette for private operators. This political choice remains in place today despite recurring debates on a potential "mirror model". The National Gaming Authority, which succeeded ARJEL in 2020, strictly enforces this ban by blocking non-compliant sites through Internet service providers. Law No. 2010-476 remains the legal lock preventing the emergence of an approved ANJ online casino, inevitably pushing a portion of traffic towards the gray market.

This blocking is based on the Internal Security Code. It grants the administration the power to order the administrative blocking of illegal sites without systematically requiring a prior court decision. This reinforces the State's responsiveness in dealing with unauthorized offers.

ANJ vs ARJEL: What is the difference for the player?

ARJEL (Online Games Regulatory Authority) was the historical body responsible for regulating the sector before its merger into the National Gaming Authority. If an ANJ online casino existed, it would offer guarantees similar to those advocated by the former ARJEL: payment security, prohibition of minors, and prevention tools. The ANJ now has expanded sanctioning powers, such as the massive de-indexing of illegal offers. It strengthens the protection of vulnerable players where ARJEL focused primarily on initial approval.

The only authorized games: Poker, Sports Betting and Horse Racing

Only three segments are legal: sports betting, horse racing betting, and poker. Major operators like Winamax or Française des Jeux (via Parions Sport) hold valid ANJ licenses for these specific activities. Française des Jeux illustrates this partial monopoly, operating legally without ever offering "slots" type casino games. For the player, any platform displaying a catalog of slot machines while claiming to be an "ANJ casino" is operating illegally.

Offshore Casinos: International licenses and gray area

The gap between the legal offering and offshore casinos is widening in terms of legal protection. While the National Gaming Authority imposes a strict framework, an offshore casino operates under foreign jurisdictions like the Malta Gaming Authority or Curaçao. This distinction creates a gray area where technical accessibility takes precedence over French regulatory security. Users are exposed to increased financial risks in the event of a dispute.

MGA and Curaçao: Less restrictive regulators than the ANJ

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), established in 2001, represents the high end of European licenses with moderate supervision including RNG audits and the segregation of player funds. In contrast, Curacao eGaming (CEG), active since 1996, issues flexible and low-cost licenses. It offers player protection deemed weak by international comparisons. An offshore casino licensed by CEG allows operators a commercial room for maneuver that is impossible in France, such as offering bonuses without strict deposit limits. This freedom is accompanied by higher financial risk, as recourse in the event of non-payment is complex outside European territory.

Why do offshore casinos target the French market?

Sites like MyStake Casino exploit this regulatory loophole to offer games prohibited by the ANJ, such as slot machines and roulette. They attract French players thanks to huge catalogs and wagering conditions that are often opaque, unlike the transparency required locally. The Curaçao license thus covers a significant portion of the French-speaking market. It allows operators to ignore the mandatory betting limits imposed by French regulation.

Comparison with the UKGC and Gibraltar

The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GGC), created in 2005, positions itself between British rigor and Caribbean flexibility. Although strict on operator compliance, the GGC is less proactive in resolving individual disputes than the UKGC. It holds a notable portion of traffic, offering an alternative for players seeking balance, but remains inaccessible for direct protection through French mechanisms. Playing on these platforms implies a lack of access to the file of banned players, increasing the dangers associated with addiction.

Financial risks and security: The reality of gaming outside the ANJ

Beyond the legal aspect, gaming outside the ANJ exposes players to concrete financial dangers. On unregulated sites, the absence of a French mediator means that in the event of a dispute, your funds are blocked with no possible recourse. This precariousness is accompanied by direct exposure to money laundering and cybercrime. These platforms escape the strict standards of player protection and voluntary self-exclusion imposed by the National Gaming Authority.

Withdrawal scams and lack of legal recourse

What happens if an offshore casino refuses to pay your winnings? Unlike approved operators, no national mediator can intervene to resolve the situation. The classic scenario involves withholding funds under the pretext of identity verification (KYC). After a win, the site requests documents already provided or imposes unjustified delays to encourage the player to wager their winnings again. This practice, common on the gray market, turns financial risk into a total loss. The player is playing on an illegal site where the games can be rigged and winnings unpaid. Furthermore, these opaque structures are often linked to criminal activities such as money laundering, placing the user in a zone of legal and economic danger.

Data protection and cybercrime risks

Are your banking details safe on a site not regulated by the ANJ? The answer is no: the lack of supervision directly exposes you to cybercrime and personal data theft. Since offshore casinos are not subject to the ANJ's guidelines on personal data protection best practices, they do not guarantee the encryption or confidentiality of transactions. By playing on these platforms, you provide your banking details to entities that can resell them or use them fraudulently. This significantly increases financial risk beyond the mere stakes of the game.

Addiction and missing prevention tools

Why is voluntary gaming self-exclusion ineffective on offshore sites? Because these operators are not connected to the national self-exclusion register (FIJ) and do not apply the player protection measures mandatory in France. Where the ANJ imposes strict deposit limits and monitoring of addictions, foreign sites offer complete freedom. They often use it to trap vulnerable players through aggressive bonuses. The absence of these institutional safeguards encourages pathological gambling. There is no automatic mechanism to limit wagers or exclude the player from the entire French legal network. Organizations like the Player Assistance Service (Joueurs Info Service) cannot intervene effectively if the player uses non-registered platforms that do not cooperate with French authorities.

Promotional offers, Wagering and payment methods

Financial opacity marks another major distinction between regulated operators and offshore sites. While the National Gaming Authority imposes strict transparency, international platforms use complex wagering requirements and cryptocurrencies to mask the retention of funds. The player is exposed to risks of total loss without legal recourse.

Aggressive bonuses and misleading wagering conditions

Why are offshore bonuses often impossible to withdraw? Wagering, or the wagering requirement, represents the number of times the bonus must be played through before any withdrawal. On unregulated sites, wagering requirements are often high and complex, making it difficult to withdraw winnings. This opacity contrasts with French regulations, which outright ban online casinos to protect players from these predatory mechanisms. Our tests reveal that these conditions serve less to reward than to trap the player's capital in an infinite loop of play.

Cryptocurrency payments and anonymity

Do cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin or USDT, allow bank blocks to be bypassed? Yes, they offer a high level of anonymity and facilitate fast withdrawals, bypassing traditional intermediaries. However, this freedom comes with a major risk: the lack of protection against money laundering and fraud. Unlike traced bank transfers, crypto transactions are irreversible. If an offshore casino refuses a payment, no financial mediator can intervene. The player is left alone with their financial loss.

Bypassing the ANJ blacklist with a VPN

Is it technically possible to access sites blocked by the Ministry of the Interior? A VPN (Virtual Private Network) effectively allows you to mask your IP address and bypass the ANJ blacklist. However, this practice is dangerous. The ANJ is currently strengthening its powers to issue injunctions to VPN providers. In addition, the administrative blocking of sites imposed on ISPs remains the legal norm. If VPN usage is detected, offshore casinos often confiscate winnings. They cite a violation of their terms and conditions, without the player being able to dispute this decision.

About this article - Writing & responsibility

Author: Sarah Weber - Casino tester & bonus analyst

Verified by: Dr. Markus Hoffmann - iGaming Compliance Senior Analyst

Last updated: 2026-08-06.

This article on “difference between ANJ and offshore casino France” was written by Sarah Weber and proofread by Dr. Markus Hoffmann. Both update the content regularly to reflect regulatory changes, licensing, and bonus conditions. All references to licenses, authorities, or legal frameworks refer to public sources (ANJ (National Gaming Authority), Law of May 12, 2010 on the opening of online gambling).

About the author

8+ years of casino testing, 200+ platforms personally tested in the EU and internationally. Former member of the eCOGRA Player Advocacy Program (2018-2022). Specialization: wagering requirements, withdrawal processes, customer support evaluation.

About the reviewer

12+ years in the iGaming industry, including 5 years in compliance consulting for licensed operators under the French ANJ framework. PhD in economic mathematics. Fields: bonus mathematics, wagering analysis, player protection measures.

Responsible gambling

Gambling can become addictive. If you feel you are losing control, contact Joueurs Info Service, SOS Joueurs, or use the national self-exclusion register (file of banned players (FIJ)). Set deposit and loss limits before playing for real money. Breaks and cooldown tools are key to sustainable enjoyment.

Legal disclaimer

The information in this article is provided for editorial and comparative purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Players remain responsible for complying with local regulations.