Win real money at one of our favorite French poker sites now! - 100% legal
Playing online poker in France has been popular since the moment French poker sites debuted. But the activity wasn’t always legal (we’ll explain this in more detail in a moment). Today, as long as you have access to a checking account, and live in a European country, you can log into your favorite poker room and play.
KickAssPoker.com’s Recommended French Poker sites with Bonus Codes:
If you’re currently living in an EU country, and have yet to play at any of the top poker sites in France, you’ll want to do so soon. The tables are still relatively fishy, though this is becoming less the case as players from around the EU continue to filter in. We’ll provide a few recommendations below, so you’ll know where to start. First, however, let’s take a quick look at France online poker history.
Online Poker In France: A Brief History
Because there are so many French online poker rooms, it’s tempting to assume the country’s online gaming market is unregulated. In reality, it is closely regulated by the government-sanctioned agency ARJEL (Autorité de Régulation des Jeux En Ligne). In order for a poker site to open its doors to French and EU citizens, it must have an ARJEL-granted license.
It wasn’t always this way. Years ago, online poker was essentially illegal in the country. Poker sites could operate, but were forced to do so under the umbrella of a black market. Despite the illegality of playing the game online, it was very popular. The problem was, the French government lacked a way to tax the poker sites’ profits. So, in 2009, seeing a new and potentially lucrative revenue source, they tried to address that issue.
That year, the National Assembly created a bill that laid the groundwork for making online poker legal in France. In June 2010, the Assembly passed it. This allowed Party Poker, PokerStars, and many other sites to finally operate in the open. One of the requirements was that they had to register for an official license in order to open their doors.
France Online Poker: Cash Games And Tournaments
Following passage of the 2010 bill that made online poker in France legal, most of the tables were very fishy. There were a lot of people who were playing poker for the first time, and thus lacked the skills of the regular grinders. Even though the influx of players from other EU countries has changed the dynamic, there are still plenty of fish.
The best time to play is during the weekends and evenings, and preferably as late as possible. This is when “hobby players” log in after spending a tough day at the office. They are there mainly to blow off steam by playing a few hands. By contrast, the good players typically show up during the day, and will often grind for hours.
Tournaments at the French online poker rooms tend to attract a lot of fish. This is likely an extension of the fact that many of the players are still relatively new to the game. So, if you decide to play at these sites (and we recommend that you do), be sure to participate in the multi-table tournaments as well as the Sit and Go’s.
Taxes And Rake At The French Online Poker Rooms
One of the downsides to playing online poker in France is that ARJEL (the regulating agency) imposes large fees for licensing as well as a sizable tax on the sites. This translates into a higher rake. It has become such a big problem that PokerStars has told the government they plan to leave the French market unless changes are made. There’s very little you can do about this issue, but it is worth mentioning.
3 Top-Rated France Poker Sites Online
We evaluate poker sites using the same measures of quality, regardless of whether the sites focus exclusively on the French market, or remain open for everyone in the EU. This means we consider their sign-up bonuses, player traffic, and software. We also want to know that the poker rooms offer a variety of games and tournaments as well as ongoing promotions. The three French online poker sites below meet our standards. Their names should be familiar to you.
- Party Poker – Once the 800lb. gorilla in the online poker market, Party Poker now ebbs between the second and third spots. They still command a large volume of player traffic, so it’s never difficult to find an active holdem table, especially at the low to middle range stakes. You’ll notice that the site is geared toward beginners. This means you’ll find plenty of fish at the tables. With a full schedule of tournaments (MTTs, SNGs, shootouts, bounties, etc.), and plenty of soft player traffic, you’ll have numerous opportunities to build your bankroll. Visit Party Poker today, and use bonus code “yesyes” to lock in a 100% match up to $/£/€500.
- Poker Stars – When they were forced to leave the U.S. market in 2011, they were the largest poker site in the world, trouncing their competitors’ player traffic numbers. Even today, Poker Stars remains practically untouchable. They offer a long list of tournaments, including the Sunday Million, the industry’s largest weekly guaranteed event. Their game variety is also impressive; in addition to Texas Hold’em and Omaha, you can play Stud, Triple Stud, 2-7 Triple Draw, HORSE, and several other games. Visit Poker Stars today to claim a 100% match up to $600. .Use marketing code “kickasspoker.com” and bonus code “stars600″
- 888 Poker – They are one of the largest online poker rooms in the industry, and host holdem tables that consistently attract weak players. They also maintain a no-download option for those who want to play poker through their browsers. One of the first things you’ll notice at 888 Poker is that they offer a huge list of promotions – both for new and existing members. When you register your account, you’ll receive three bonuses: a 100% match up to €888, eligibility to enter a $1,000 First Depositors’ freeroll, and free entry into 7 $500 freerolls. Visit 888 Poker today to claim your bonuses.
Even though French poker sites are heavily regulated and taxed, many still offer a fantastic playing experience. We suggest that you start with the three sites above. Each has spent several years catering to their members in ways that encourage them to remain loyal.
