Betsson secures French online poker licence with shared-table approval

Betsson France has received regulatory approval to offer online poker in France, adding a new product category to its activities in the country. A separate decision also authorises the company to offer access to shared-liquidity poker tables, potentially connecting eligible customers with players in other participating European markets.

The decisions were adopted by the board of France’s Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ) on 15 October 2026 and published later that month. They establish a legal basis for Betsson’s entry into the French online poker market, subject to the technical and regulatory conditions set out by the authority.

A five-year licence for Betsson France

Decision No. 2026-171 grants Betsson France approval to operate online circle games, including poker, under authorisation number 0061-PO-2026-10-15-AGR-00. The licence runs for five years from 15 October 2026 and may be renewed. It is non-transferable, meaning the authorisation is attached to the company that received it.

The decision identifies betsson.fr as the domain through which the authorised online poker service may be accessed. Betsson France submitted its application on 22 June 2026. The application was considered by the ANJ’s collegiate board. Pascal Chevremont, who has served as the authority’s president since June 2026, signed the shared-liquidity decision in that capacity.

Technical requirements before launch

The licence does not remove the operator’s obligations before the service begins. Article 4 of Decision No. 2026-171 states that Betsson France must notify the ANJ, before commencing activity, that the archiving hardware referred to under French gambling legislation has been brought into operation.

The requirement concerns the technical infrastructure used to retain gambling-related records for regulatory oversight. The decision requires a prior declaration about the hardware’s activation. It does not specify a separate six-month deadline for a general compliance document or state that the system must be physically located in France.

The five-year authorisation should not be interpreted as confirmation that the poker service is already operating. Betsson France must complete the applicable notification and technical procedures before commencing the authorised activity.

Approval for shared poker liquidity

A second decision, No. 2026-172, was adopted on 15 October 2026. It authorises Betsson France to offer players with verified, permanent accounts access to online poker tables under the shared-liquidity arrangement provided for by French law.

Shared liquidity allows players in participating regulated markets to compete at common online poker tables rather than separate national tables. The framework cited in the ANJ decision involves regulators from France, Spain, Italy and Portugal and is intended to broaden the player pool while retaining national oversight.

The authorisation is conditional. The ANJ states that shared liquidity may operate only with the agreement of all relevant gambling regulators and after the software used for the activity has received the required approval. Betsson France must also notify the ANJ of changes to the arrangement, including a new participant joining the shared-liquidity agreement or an existing participant leaving it.

The decision therefore provides a regulatory route for cross-border poker, rather than unconditional permission to connect to every market immediately. The necessary regulatory agreement and software approval must first be in place.

Betsson’s wider business performance

The French poker approvals arrive as Betsson reports continued customer activity across its wider business. In its third-quarter 2026 interim report, Betsson AB recorded group revenue of €326.5 million, compared with €295.8 million in the corresponding period of 2025. The company reported year-on-year growth of 10%.

Active business-to-consumer customers reached approximately 1.9 million during the quarter, up 40% from around 1.3 million a year earlier. Betsson’s report referred to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the start of major European football leagues as factors supporting customer activity. It also reported a 14% increase in casino revenue, while sportsbook revenue rose by 1%.

These figures relate to Betsson AB’s group-wide performance and should not be interpreted as financial results for Betsson France alone. The report does not specify the expected contribution of the new French poker product.

Betsson Foundation expands community structure

Betsson Group announced the launch of the Betsson Foundation on 1 October 2026. Established as a registered public benefit foundation, it is intended to bring together the group’s charitable, community and sports-related initiatives under one organisation.

The company said the Foundation would coordinate existing activities and support projects with employees, partners and local organisations. Incorporated in Malta as a separate legal entity, it is intended to provide a more coordinated structure for the group’s social-impact work. It is separate from the French poker approvals.

Conclusion

Betsson’s French online poker authorisation marks an expansion of the company’s regulated activities, while the additional shared-liquidity approval creates a route towards participation in a wider European player pool. The ANJ decisions establish the legal framework for these developments but also make clear that regulatory approval is only one part of the process.

Betsson France must complete the required archiving notification before it begins offering the authorised service. Cross-border play also depends on the agreement of the relevant regulators and approval of the software involved. The five-year licence gives the operator a defined period in which to develop its French poker offer, subject to renewal and continued compliance.

The development comes as Betsson reports higher group-wide customer activity and establishes a foundation for its community initiatives. These are distinct strands of the company’s activity, but together they illustrate the breadth of its operations. For the French market, the next key step will be the completion of the regulatory requirements and the eventual availability of the poker service to eligible customers.

FAQs

Has Betsson received an online poker licence in France?
Yes. Betsson France received an online poker authorisation from the ANJ under Decision No. 2026-171, adopted on 15 October 2026.

How long is Betsson's French poker licence valid?
The authorisation is valid for five years from 15 October 2026. It can be renewed but cannot be transferred to another operator.

Which authority approved Betsson's poker licence?
The licence was approved by France's Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ), the independent authority responsible for regulating gambling activities in the country.

Who is Pascal Chevremont?
Pascal Chevremont is the president of the ANJ. He signed the shared-liquidity authorisation issued to Betsson France.

What is Decision No. 2026-172?
It is the separate ANJ decision authorising Betsson France to participate in shared-liquidity online poker arrangements, subject to regulatory and technical conditions.

Can Betsson players join poker tables in other European countries?
The authorisation provides a regulatory route for shared poker tables under the framework involving France, Spain, Italy and Portugal. Access remains conditional on the required approvals.

What requirements must Betsson meet before launching online poker in France?
Betsson France must notify the ANJ before commencing operations that the required archiving hardware has been brought into service. Other applicable regulatory and technical requirements must also be satisfied.

What was Betsson's revenue in the third quarter of 2026?
Betsson AB reported group revenue of €326.5 million for the third quarter of 2026, representing a 10% increase compared with the same period in 2025.

How many active customers did Betsson report in Q3 2026?
The group reported approximately 1.9 million active business-to-consumer customers, representing a 40% year-on-year increase.

What is the Betsson Foundation?
The Betsson Foundation is a registered public benefit foundation launched in October 2026. It coordinates the group's charitable, community and sports-related initiatives.