Casinos de France, which represents land-based casinos in the country, has called on the French government to firmly reject any moves towards legalizing online casinos. The association warns that such a decision could result in over €500 million ($576 million) being siphoned from public funds annually.
The association has also dismissed claims put forward by the online gambling association AFJEL, which argued that France is losing up to €1.2 billion to illegal online casino activities. As the debate over the legal status of online gambling intensifies, the current legal framework in France only allows internet sports betting, horse race betting, and poker, while online casinos remain prohibited.
Casinos de France, in a recent statement, labeled the claims of lost revenue as a “hoax.” They argue that legalizing online casinos would not only fail to generate the expected revenues but would also lead to a net annual loss of €546 million for public finances. This figure considers both direct and indirect effects, including those related to public health and employment.
Grégory Rabuel, president of Casinos de France and CEO of Barrière Group, expressed strong opposition to AFJEL’s claims. The purported €1.2 billion lost to illegal operators, Rabuel insisted, “does not exist.” He emphasized that online casino legalization would precipitate a series of detrimental effects: the erosion of local employment, diminished municipal budgets, and a decline in cultural vibrancy in communities. “I’m not even mentioning the impact on the mental health of the French, which would amount to hundreds of millions in additional costs for social security,” he added.
The association cautions that a legal iGaming market could lead to substantial job losses, shutter numerous businesses, and deplete resources for local authorities throughout France. They argue that such legalization would weaken the fabric of social and economic connections within the country.
Presently, the land-based gaming segment in France consists of 203 casinos and seven gaming clubs in Paris, collectively employing over 31,000 individuals. The sector brings in €1.6 billion in tax and social security contributions and provides more than €600 million annually to local municipalities. Casinos de France contends that introducing legal online casinos would negatively impact these contributions and the employment landscape they support.
While acknowledging that many larger European nations have embraced some form of online casino legalization, the association warns of the adverse consequences experienced by land-based venues in these countries. They point to the closure of all land-based casinos in Sweden following its decision to legalize online casinos, with Casino Cosmopol, operated by Svenska Spel, closing its doors in April this year. Despite regulation, nearly 40% of bets in Sweden are placed on illegal platforms, according to Casinos de France.
This concern is mirrored in Switzerland, where mirror sites frequently resurface shortly after being blocked by the country’s regulator. Casinos de France highlights that “Everywhere, the promise of new revenue has turned into a net loss for local communities: decreased economic activity, job losses, a surge in risky behavior, and the persistence of a thriving black market.”
“The mechanism is relentless. When digital takes hold, it captures existing customers without creating new players. The market does not expand, it shifts, and illegal activity latches on,” the statement continued.
The association also champions the safety of land-based casinos, which they describe as offering a more controlled and secure environment for gamblers. They claim that their model is “social, humane and profoundly responsible,” contrasting it with the online sector, which they argue fails to offer the same level of security for players.
“In a physically supervised gaming environment, casinos are the only places where every player is screened before even entering, where minors are systematically excluded and where risky behaviors are identified and addressed by trained staff,” the statement elaborated. “Supervision is real, immediate and humane. Casinos directly ensure addiction prevention and support concrete responsible gaming programs. They are places of community and social connection, where gambling is never an incentive but a controlled, monitored activity, integrated into the local economy.”
Nonetheless, proponents of online gambling suggest that a regulated online casino market could potentially curb the revenue loss to illegal sites by providing a legal avenue for players seeking the convenience of digital platforms. They argue that with proper regulation, consumer protection can be strengthened and illegal operators marginalized.
Despite these counterarguments, Casinos de France maintains that the risks outweigh the potential benefits. They urge the government to consider the broader implications of legalization and to protect the existing jobs and economic contributions provided by the land-based sector.
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