Betsson France receives poker licence and conditional shared-liquidity approval
Five-year poker licence from 15 Oct 2026; shared pool subject to regulator approvals and software certification
Key Takeaways
- The ANJ granted Betsson France SA a five-year online poker licence effective 15 October 2026.
- The conditional shared-liquidity authorisation requires approval from every participating regulator and certification of the gaming software.
- Betsson filed its licence application on 22 June and the ANJ adopted the decisions on 15 October; the Journal officiel published them on 23 October 2026.
- Before launch Betsson must notify the ANJ that its data-archiving system is operational to start a six-month window for the first certification and must complete an integrity and security certification within one year.
Betsson France SA obtained a online poker licence granted by the Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ), effective from 15 October 2026 for a five-year term. The ANJ also issued a conditional authorisation to share liquidity with other European markets, but that connection may only be activated after regulatory approval from all participants and certification of the gaming software.
Scope and limits of the licence
The five-year licence comes into force on 15 October 2026 and runs to the expiry date that allows renewal; the ANJ prohibits transfer of the licence to another operator. Betsson must offer the authorised games exclusively through betsson.fr. The ANJ adopted both decisions on 15 October 2026 after receiving the licence application submitted on 22 June. The Journal officiel published the resolutions on 23 October.
Decision Nº 2026-171 grants the poker licence under reference 0061-PO-2026-10-15-AGR-00. Decision Nº 2026-172 issues the conditional shared-liquidity authorisation under reference 0061-PO-LIQU-2026-10-15.
Conditions to share tables (shared liquidity)
The conditional authorisation could allow players on betsson.fr to sit at tables with participants from Spain, Italy and Portugal. The ANJ requires that each regulator involved approves the liquidity-sharing agreement and that the gaming software obtains the required certification. In addition, Betsson must notify the ANJ of any modification to the liquidity-sharing agreement, including the addition of a new participant or termination of the contract.
The framework for this cooperation stems from an agreement signed on 6 July 2017 between four regulators: ARJEL (now the ANJ) in France; Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) in Spain; Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) in Italy; and the SRIJ, part of Turismo de Portugal, in Portugal.
Technical prerequisites before launch
Before starting poker operations, Betsson France must notify the ANJ that its data-archiving system is operational; that notice triggers a six-month period for the first certification. A separate certification on game integrity and information security must be completed within one year from licence grant. The resolution also requires annual renewals of that technical certification.
Corporate context and presence in France
Betsson entered France in 2023 via a joint venture with a local partner and already held a French fixed-odds sports-betting licence since September 2023. The 15 October decision places Betsson France SA on the list of authorised operators alongside B.E.S. SAS, Betclic Enterprises Limited, FDJ Online Betting and Gaming France, Hillside (New Media Malta) PLC, La Française des Jeux, Pari Mutuel Urbain, Reel Malta Limited and Winamax. In its Q3 2026 report, Betsson stated it held gaming licences in 22 countries.
Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ) examined and adopted the decisions; Betsson must use betsson.fr for poker operations and complete the technical certifications before dealing the first hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
From when is Betsson France's poker licence effective?
The poker licence is effective from 15 October 2026 and lasts five years under reference 0061-PO-2026-10-15-AGR-00. The ANJ adopted the decision on 15 October and the Journal officiel published it on 23 October 2026.
What conditions apply for Betsson to share tables with other countries?
The conditional authorisation permits sharing tables only if each regulator involved approves the agreement and the gaming software receives the required certification. The conditional authorisation appears in Decision Nº 2026-172 under reference 0061-PO-LIQU-2026-10-15.
What technical steps must Betsson complete before launching poker in France?
Betsson must notify the ANJ that its data-archiving system is operational; that notice starts a six-month period for the first certification. Additionally, Betsson must complete a game-integrity and information-security certification within one year of the licence grant.
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About the author
Sofía Carrasco
Poker Correspondent
Sofía Carrasco covers live and online poker — tournament series from the WSOP and EPT to the daily room grind, promotions, and the industry moves behind them. The reports keep every score, pot, and player name exactly as the record shows, and follow the story past the final hand: who qualified, what the structure rewarded, and how the field is shifting. For player moves, software, and regulation across the poker economy, Sofía Carrasco is the first read.
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