France is reimposing questionable sports betting ban rules as the Esports World Cup enters its second week
Since i Esports World Cup in Paris entering its second week, the French gambling regulator, the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), reiterated that betting on platforms is illegal everywhere in France, on all platforms.
The regulator issued a reminder in the first week of the Esports World Cup tournament, stressing that its ban on sports betting is because the legislature wants to “protect the new society from the dangers of gambling (addiction, isolation, family and financial problems, etc.).”
This is in conflict (pardon the pun) with a large number of regulatory laws, where sports markets are licensed and regulated like any other game the bettor wishes to bet on.
The government continues to emphasize its efforts in sports, bringing major events to the country. But the position of the gambling regulator is strange and makes no sense considering this pressure.
Why is sports betting illegal in France?
The French online gambling law of 2010 (Articles 10-14) limits legal betting to sports catalogs approved by the ANJ, and esports does not make that list.
A law passed in 2016 created a new legal category for “compétitions de jeux vidéo” in the Code de la sécurité intérieure (Articles L.321-8 to L.321-11). It specifically states, in the text of the law, that organizing a tournament under this chapter does not include organizing betting on it.
The law that allowed esports and competitive games also prohibited betting on the same category.
A quick reminder that esports betting is illegal is followed by warnings against using sites that offer esports betting. According to ANJ, any site offering esports markets is prohibited under French law.
Lists specific risks posed by unregulated operators, including: lack of responsible gambling equipment; insecure information and identity theft; integrated gaming software; lack of payment guarantee; and unfair trade practices.
But are these threats real? Or is this another case of “playing Grand Theft Auto makes kids steal cars and shoot guns” with government officials out of touch?
The current law does not protect anyone
ANJ’s classification of sports as something very different from the perspective of sports is common to the administrator who does not understand exactly what they are regulating.
Currently, an 18-year-old esports fan can bet on the FIFA World Cup, but not on the Esports World Cup. They can bet on France versus Spain, but when it comes to Vitality versus Karmine Esports, there is no way to do that.
The current law and the wording in the announcement probably mean that watching esports is more addictive than watching traditional sports. Both are entertainment products, and a best-of-five esports final can last longer than a regular sports convention.
So banning sports betting “how does it protect the new community from the dangers inherent in gambling (addiction, isolation, family and financial problems, etc)?”
The answer is, yes this is not the case. A person of legal gambling age can still bet on football, horses, and anything else deemed fair by the ANJ.
Two years ago, Lamine Yamal was 17 when he helped the Spanish national team win the European Championship. People watch, compete and bet on football. It almost sounds silly yet to explain that there is actually very little difference between the two betting products.
This is not the current situation
The complete global regulatory frenzy surrounding lootboxes, crypto, and any digital product shows that those in power aren’t really sure how to approach anything new at all.
Esports is another tab in the sportsbook. By classifying esports as a “sanctioned sport” or simply treating it like any other field of competition, customers (and small bettors) are therefore protected by the domestic regulatory regime.
In the UK, those who wish to bet on esports can. They must be over 18 years of age (and prove it); use a platform affiliated with GamStop; not betting with a credit card; and meet plenty of other gambling license racing requirements. The same applies to those licensed under the Maltese Gaming Authority (MGA).
The point is, nothing specific is needed – it just fits seamlessly into the sports book. In the US, Kalshi offers esports everywhere, and while the prediction market debate continues, most US citizens can now trade esports with a click.
You want to be protected, but you do the opposite
Sports audiences aren’t deceptively small, but the legal age for gambling is set for a reason. By allowing sports betting, you are not opening the floodgates to a host of small gamblers.
In fact, by banning sports betting, you are kicking those who wish to bet on esports because they enjoy watching it and like to bet to use skin betting, or overseas operators – the very people ANJ devotes most of its posts to highlighting their risks.
The very population that ANJ claims to be trying to protect is now being driven into the least secure environment available, which is not good policy design.
The French regulator does not have to create a new regulatory system; it just needs to allow mainstream online sportsbooks to include a feed of esports headline issues. Then people who are old enough and already bet on football or horses can bet on their favorite esports, too.
At the moment, they offer any betting on French sports in the market that they clearly warn about but cannot be fully policed.
