France is entering a sensitive phase in its debate over gambling, sports finance and consumer protection as lawmakers consider changes to the way professional sport operates. A proposed ban on gambling advertising during live sporting events was rejected during parliamentary discussions, while other measures aimed at younger gamblers remain under consideration.
The debate formed part of a professional sports bill designed to strengthen financial oversight of sports organisations, revise governance arrangements in professional football and improve enforcement against audiovisual piracy. The Association for the Protection of Sports Programmes estimates that almost 60% of France’s 9.9 million football fans watch matches through illegal streaming services.
The legislation also includes proposed loss limits for young adults aged under 24. The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) has identified gambling exposure among younger consumers as a concern. If Parliament approves the measure, France would become the second regulated European gambling market after the Netherlands to introduce mandatory youth-specific loss limits.
Sports Finance Remains Central To The Debate
Financial pressure within professional sport has added another dimension to the gambling discussion. French football has faced uncertainty around broadcasting income, including the collapse of the Mediapro agreement in 2020 and difficulties surrounding DAZN’s arrival in 2024. Ligue 1+ subsequently launched as the Ligue de Football Professionnel’s direct-to-consumer service in 2025.
Lawmakers considered amendments that would have prohibited gambling operators from sponsoring sports federations and clubs while also introducing a whistle-to-whistle advertising ban. Supporters argued that stronger restrictions would reduce gambling exposure, while opponents highlighted the industry’s contribution to sports funding.
Belkhir Belhaddad, rapporteur for the commission handling the sports bill, defended the role of betting companies during the debate, telling MPs: “Whether you like them or not, sports betting companies are a genuinely useful source of funding for the sporting world at a time when money is hard to find.”
The proposed advertising restrictions also resemble the approach taken under France’s Évin law, which has restricted alcohol and tobacco advertising and sponsorship since the early 1990s.
Political Divisions Sharpen Ahead Of 2027
The ANJ supported the rejected whistle-to-whistle proposal and highlighted its position in a post-World Cup report. The regulator has generally avoided taking public positions on sensitive policy questions, including the unresolved issue of whether France should regulate online casino gaming.
Political disagreement is also becoming more visible. Left-wing parties have generally taken a tougher stance toward gambling, with some describing the industry as “a tax on the poor”. Right-wing and far-right parties have tended to take a more pragmatic position on regulatory questions.
The debate has also placed gambling alongside products such as tobacco and alcohol in political discussions about potential health harms. Supporters of tougher restrictions argue that gambling can become normalised among younger people, while the regulated market already applies age and identification requirements.
France’s next phase of budget discussions begins in September, adding financial considerations to the regulatory debate. With the 2027 presidential election approaching, gambling policy and professional sports funding are likely to remain politically sensitive issues.
Source:
“France seeks centralised control of sport and betting”, sbcnews.co.uk, August 12, 2026
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