The French online gaming market is experiencing its biggest structural transformation since its opening to competition in 2010 with the official landing of Bet365. The British giant, considered the world's number one in online sports betting with over 120 million global customers, began operating its bet365.fr platform and mobile applications on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 12:00 PM.
The arrival of the operator comes imminently ahead of a high-audience sports calendar that includes Roland-Garros, the Champions League final—of which it is an official sponsor—, the Tour de France, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a key strategic window for user acquisition.
The most notable and unusual fact for a new competitor is that Bet365 has proactively obtained all three regulatory licenses granted by France's National Gaming Authority (ANJ), allowing it to operate sports betting, horse race betting, and online poker under the same domain. In doing so, it becomes the fourth operator in the country to offer this full three-vertical catalog. However, the commercial rollout is carried out sequentially: the sports betting section was operational from day one, while the poker and horse racing launches are scheduled for June 2026.
In its sports betting offer, the operator covers 27 different disciplines and introduces technological live game management tools such as bet builders, cash-out options, and the sub-on/play-on feature following a player substitution. The operating system includes automated payment methods and round-the-clock customer service. From the registration process, the platform integrates the responsible gaming mechanisms required by French legislation, such as deposit limits, self-exclusion options, and direct links to state assessment tools.
Chronology of the authorization process in France
The regulatory and technical process that enabled Bet365's establishment in the French market took place in a concentrated manner during the months prior to its official launch:
- November 2025: First industry rumors emerge regarding the operator's interest in accessing the regulated French market.
- January 2026: Formal submission to the ANJ of the license application for sports betting operations.
- February 2, 2026: Registration of the authorization application for ring games (online poker).
- March 10, 2026: Submission of documentation and application for the horse race betting vertical.
- April 16, 2026: Official issuance by the ANJ of the sports betting license for a five-year period.
- April 23, 2026: Inclusion and publication of the sports betting resolution in the Official Journal of the French Republic.
- May 19, 2026: Simultaneous approval by the ANJ board of the poker and horse racing licenses for a five-year duration.
- May 22, 2026: Formal publication of the poker and horse racing authorizations in the regulatory authority's registries.
- May 26, 2026: Opening of the website and enablement of the sports betting channel at 12:00 PM.
- June 2026: Expected timeline for the integration and opening of the poker and horse race betting platforms.
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