Esports is here to stay, and the young French people seem well aware of that. With some of the highest percentages of market penetration in Europe, it is clear that French people really enjoy the esports world.
The same can be said about esports betting since France is a huge betting market, and video games are still only a small but essential part of it.
If you are wondering what the state of esports betting is in France and who the top bookmakers in the country are, you have found the right article. We will answer these and many other questions regarding this famous European nation.
Full List Of The Best French Esports Betting Sites
As in most of the European Union, running an online sports betting website in France is not very easy, mainly because it is hard to obtain a license, and the high taxation makes it hard for smaller online bookmakers to penetrate the French market.
Nevertheless, that is not to say that French players will be disappointed by the variety of esports betting sites. On the contrary, a lot of reputable platforms like Pinnacle, Unibet, and Betway operate in France, and their coverage of esports events is excellent.
Even these older online sports betting sites have realized the potential of esports and focused a lot of their resources on providing a solid esports betting experience.
Online Esports Betting In France
More than 67 million people live in France, and it cannot be denied that a lot of French people have tested the waters when it comes to esports. Between the ages of 16-65, more than 55% of the people have heard of the term esports, and 35% have watched matches online.
France has more than four and a half million online bettors, with the numbers rising almost exponentially. Of course, Esports bettors don’t make up a big percentage of the total amount, but they make up a significant portion that is constantly increasing.
According to the studies, 30% of esports gamblers bet less than $30 per quarter, 20% bet between $30 and $100, and 22% between $100 and $300. So it seems that even though the earnings of esports betting sites are increasing, it is thanks to a small part of the punters placing big bets. To be exact, only 1% of all the bettors account for 34% of the sums bets.
Most French people prefer to do their esports gambling on already famous sportsbooks, even if they don’t offer the best experience. For example, Unibet is extremely popular amongst esports bettors, even if it is not known for its betting features on video games. At least it is a tested website with a proven track record of treating its customers fairly.
The Most Popular Esports In France
Amongst the many esports titles that French people enjoy, there are a few that have become mainstream. As with many European countries, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is the most popular esports.
Of course, even if CS:GO is sitting comfortably on the top, there are many other popular titles that are looking to steal the spotlight. Some of the most popular esports in France are League of Legends, Fortnite, Rocket League, FIFA, Rainbow Six Siege, and the timeless StarCraft II. Many of these games have successful French teams and gamers that have written history.
One of the teams that had its first steps in France but have evolved into an international sensation is Team Vitality, which has its hands on any popular esports with extremely successful rosters for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Rocket League. In recent years, the CS:GO team has won several S-Tier tournaments, like the Intel Extreme Masters XVI – Winter, while its Rocket League division won the RLCS Season X – European Championship.
Moreover, France has fostered some of the top esports players in the world, including Alexandre “Kaydop” Courant, Dan “apEX” Madesclaire, Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, and Kenny “kennyS” Schrub.
Last but not least, we have to mention Sébastien “Ceb” Debs, a legend in the Dota 2 esports community. The two-time The international champion is not only at the top of esports earnings in France, but he is one of the most famous esports players in the world. Anyone who has played Dota 2 has heard of his name being screamed by the commentators in the TI8 finals.
Is It Legal To Bet On Esports In France?
Yes, it is legal to bet on esports in France. Even though the legality of esports was questionable until 2016, thanks to the amendment French Gambling Act that year, esports and gambling were finally defined as two separate activities.
The problem of online betting, though, remains since, technically, it is not allowed for online betting sites to be created in France. That means that even the best French betting sites are not really French but rather sportsbooks offering their services to France.
But even doing so is very difficult since the only way for online gambling sites to operate in France is by acquiring a betting license issued by the French government. These licenses have very strict criteria, and only a handful of bookmakers have managed to get one. The licenses are valid for five years, after which a renewal is required.
Any sportsbook that wants to join the French esports betting markets has to go through long bureaucratic procedures. And even after getting the gambling license, they have to go through constant audits by the independent authority, Regulatory Authority for Online Games (ARJEL), to make sure that everything is running according to the gambling laws.
Future of Esports Betting In France
The future of esports betting in France is undoubtedly bright since the industry is growing. More and more people are enjoying esports tournaments, and the younger generations are starting to get the income they can spend on esports betting.
Multiple studies show that the revenue from esports is expected to grow in the coming years, and with it, esports betting will skyrocket. In France, online betting accounts have been increasing drastically, with the number of active accounts more than doubling since 2017.
How To Choose The Best Esports Betting Sites In France?
With all the French betting sites available, it can be difficult to choose the best one. The older and more trustworthy websites are a no-brainer choice when it comes to traditional sports, casino games, and horse race betting, but for esports, the decision is not that easy.
There are some basic things you should look for before deciding on a sportsbook.
First of all, to make sure that the website accepts players from France, which might sound obvious, but since there aren’t that many esports betting sites operating in this country, you have to check before you start thinking about creating an account. Although theoretically, you shouldn’t be able to access unlicensed bookmakers, you will be surprised how often this happens.
To choose the best esports betting website, you have to check which betting features the site offers. Live betting and live streaming are necessary for an exciting experience, but mobile compatibility is also a must. The best esports bookmakers should either have a mobile betting application or a website that works smoothly.
The last thing you can do to make sure you are choosing the best esports betting site is contact its customer support. Not only can you get all the necessary information about how the website operates, but you can also test how helpful their client services are. If you are getting indifferent and slow answers, you should avoid this bookie.
How To Sign Up At A French Esports Betting Site
Signing up on a French esports betting website is your first step toward an endless world of entertainment. After you have found a quality sportsbook, you can have your account ready for betting. Keep in mind that you can change the website’s language to French to make the process easier for you.
Follow these four steps, and you can create an account in no time.
- Navigate to the homepage of the betting site you chose.
- Click the button on the registration button on the top right of the webpage.
- Fill in the requested personal information.
- Verify your account (if necessary), and you are done.
If you have all information ready, you can be done with the whole process in a couple of minutes – time to deposit some money and start betting.
Payment Methods At French Esports Betting Sites
After your account is ready, the only thing left is to deposit some money. You will be pleased to know that sportsbooks in France can offer a wide range of payment options, so you can choose the one that suits you the best. Of course, different bookmakers have partnerships with different payment providers.
Some of the most used payment methods in France are bank wire transfers, credit/debit card (Visa, MasterCard), PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Neosurf, Klarna, Google Pay, Cryptocurrencies, and more.
All these methods are being used for esports betting, but the most popular by far are credit/debit cards. The next most famous are e-wallets, which are constantly rising in popularity due to their ease of use and high-security standards.
Even if they are not being used extensively, Cryptocurrencies are probably the most secure and efficient payment option. The payments are executed instantly, and the limits per transaction are pretty generous. You can make a payment just by scanning a QR code, which makes the whole process incredibly fast.
Mobile Esports Betting & Betting Apps In France
In a technologically advanced country like France, computers are losing some of their allure, and smartphones are taking their place, at least in esports betting. As a result, more and more people are choosing to bet on their mobile phones.
Many betting sites realized that and have created betting applications designed to work on most Android and IOS phones. They are easy to download, and placing bets can be done faster than on a computer. A good betting application is key for a good mobile betting experience.
If an application is not available, you will have to settle with betting through a mobile browser. It is not the best experience, but it can do the trick if there is a match you want to bet on urgently, but you can’t access your computer.
France Esports Live Betting & Live Streaming
What attracts esports fans the most to gambling is the live betting features. It is very simple to watch a match live, and place bets. In France, live betting accounts for more than 38% of the total betting volume, with the total amount wagered in 2022 surpassing 2 billion euros.
Contrary to sports matches, esports are broadcasted freely through streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube. That is why many French betting sites will have a live stream of the game available on their platform. Live streaming has become a 100% necessary feature for any good esports betting site.
How Popular Is Esports In France?
Esports in France are very popular, with a market penetration of 39%, which means that at least 26 million French people have watched esports. The numbers are also high when it comes to gamers, with 36.5 million French residents describing themselves as gamers.
A big reason why many people became familiar with esports is that many famous French football clubs have entered the esports world, forming their own esports organizations, namely Paris Saint-Germain, Lyon, and AS Monaco.
France Overview
France is one of the leading countries in the global esports betting industry. The regulations might be strict, but with such a strong esports scene, many people are becoming aware of esports and are ready to risk their money in this exciting new market.
Home to some of the most famous esports organizations, nobody can ignore France’s power in the world’s most renowned video game competitions.
Many trusted betting sites already operate in France, with more considering taking a stab in this lucrative market. Even though esports betting is still in its infancy, the esports bettor has a lot of excellent websites to choose from, and the offer is only bound to get better in the coming years. It is a great time to love esports betting in France.
If you want to find more data about France and this European nation’s esports betting industry, the table below has all the important information you might need.
- The capital of France is Paris, and some of the biggest cities are Marseille, Lyon, Nice, Toulouse, Nantes, Strasbourg, Montpellier, and Bordeaux.
- The official language of France is French.
- The official currency is the Euro.
- The most popular online payment methods that are available in France are credit/debit cards, e-wallets, vouchers, and cryptocurrencies.
- Some of the most popular esports in France are Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, FIFA, Rocket League, and Rainbow Six Siege.
- The most popular esports players from France are Sébastien “Ceb” Debs (Dota 2), Alexandre “Kaydop” Courant (Rocket League), Dan “apEX” Madesclaire (CS:GO), Paul “sOAZ” Boyer (LoL), Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier (StarCraft).
- Some of the biggest esports competitions in France are La Ligue Française, Valorant Regional Leagues France: Revolution, Six Invitational 201
- Paris Saint-Germain, Lyon, and AS Monaco own esports teams.
- France’s esports players have collectively earned more than $41m in international competitions.
- France has at least 36.5m gamers.
Final Words
France is one of the best countries in Europe if you want to bet on esports. There are a lot of reliable bookmakers offering betting markets for esports tournaments, and their numbers are growing exponentially.
If horse racing, online casinos, and sports betting don’t cut it for you anymore, you should try esports betting. The action is fast-paced, and you can enjoy a unique experience if you find the correct bookmaker. So start your research, find what suits you the best, and participate in one of the most entertaining activities of the last few years.
FAQ
Which betting sites can I use in France?
Some of the betting sites you can use in France are Unibet, Pinnacle, and Betway, but those are not the only great bookmakers operating in the country. There are hundreds of options to choose from, but the good ones are limited, so be careful which one you choose.
Is online gambling legal in France?
Yes, online gambling is legal in France, and you will encounter no problems trying to bet online. If you find a sportsbook legally operating in France, you have nothing to worry about. Just make sure the bookie you choose holds a gambling license from the French government.
Which are the most popular esports in France?
The most popular esports in France are Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, Rocket League, FIFA, Rainbow Six Siege, and StarCraft II. An honorable mention goes to Dota 2 because even though it is not the most famous esports in France, many successful players were born there.
Which is the best esports betting site in France?
The best esports betting site in France is Pinnacle. Not only is it a trustworthy and experienced bookmaker for traditional sports, but it is also known for offering some of the most accurate odds in the esports industry while covering a great variety of esports titles.
Is esports popular in France?
Yes, esports is very popular in France. More than 20% of the population has watched an esports match, and the number of players and observers is increasing yearly. The esports industry is expected to see a meteoric rise in the next 3-5 years, and there is no sign of stopping.
