Poker has known a huge increase of players in France. Recently, free tournaments are being organised with a large success, TV programs about poker are more and more popular, many books are published and more and more people play poker on the internet. But is this fashionable game legal in France? Poker can either be unlawful or authorised.

I. Unlawful poker

French law traditionally distinguishes between games of skill and games of chance. As in many other countries, the prohibition is focused on games of chance and not, in principle, on games of skill.

Two mains laws regulate this prohibition: the Act of 21 may 1836 prohibits lottery[1] and Act of 12 July 1983 is focused on games of chance[2]. It is not always easy to determine the precise field of each law, even if admittedly in games of chance players are more active than in playing lottery. It is not only a theoretical question since the definition of each term sets the limits of the prohibition...

However, a long time ago, French Courts have judged that Poker is covered by the 1983 Act[3]. Poker is usually considered as a game of chance by courts. The influence of the fact that skill prevails on chance in games of poker is currently largely discussed. But even if a judge was to endorse the conclusions of a mathematical study proving that skill prevails on chance, it is not obvious that he/she will reject the qualification of game of chance for poker. On the contrary, the Supreme Court has already qualified a specific game as "game of chance", despite the fact that in this game the skill prevails over chance, since there are important stakes, therefore the game was be prohibited as a "game of chance"[4].

The existence of a stake is crucial to prohibit a game of poker. As a result, when there is no stake, for example in a tournament without real money, the game itself is legal. Nevertheless, the first article of the 1983 Act does not require "stake[5]"to prohibit the game, but the French legal doctrine claims that there is no risk to breach public order with a game without stakes. However, a minimum stake of one French franc (0.15 €) has been judged to be sufficient to justify the prohibition of the game[6]. 

There is a debate on the scope of the "free poker". What is the criminal risk if a game is without stakes but if there is a minimum amount of money for the registration to play the game, for example in a tournament ? To our knowledge there is no case law about this question. We would argue that since there is no direct stake, the game is legal.

Recently, a new Act[7] has been adopted to reinforce the prohibition against unlawful on-line games of chance, especially against poker.

• Penalties have been increased: infringements may be punished with penalties going up to three years jail sentences and with fines of €45.000. These sanctions are increased to a seven years jail sentence and a fine of €100.000 when the infringements are committed by organised groups.

• The advertisement of forbidden game of chance is a new infringement punished with fines of €30.000 or four times the advertising expenses.

II. Authorised poker

By exception, French law authorises some games of money based on chance. Casinos and gaming circles, la Française des jeux[8] or "FDJ" (French National lottery) and Pari Mutuel Urbain[9] or PMU (bet on horses) have monopolies on gambling. But this legal context has recently changed.

Poker with stakes used to be prohibited out of gaming circles (in French circles de jeux). In French law, gaming circles, which are not casinos, are specific places where it is authorised to play money games under the control of the administration[10]. But a new provision[11] now allows casinos to offer poker games too.

a. Poker in gaming circles

Under French law[12], poker games may only be offered in private "gaming circles" which must be authorised by the Home Affairs Ministry.

This authorisation entitles the circle's members to practice in private all the games of chance and in particular poker. Poker is not listed in the catalogue of games which are prohibited in circles.

b. Poker in Casinos

A new provision is allowing casinos to offer poker and to organise international poker tournaments. The Decree of 22 December 1959[13] which sets the regime for casino games has recently been amended to include poker. A ministerial order[14] defining the official rules of Poker has been published.

Article 1 of the 1959 Decree sets a list of games which can be practiced in casinos. The electronic form of these games is specifically authorised in the list of article 1.

This text distinguishes games "of counterparts" (jeux dits de contrepartie), and the games "of circle" (jeux dits de cercle).

- Games "of counterparts" are games where  the casino participates in the game :

1. Casino Stud Poker

2. Casino Hold'em Poker

- Games "of circle" are games where players play with and against each other.

Texas hold'em poker

[1] Loi du 21 mai 1836 portant prohibition des loteries

[2] Loi n°83-628 du 12 juillet 1983 relative aux jeux de hasard

[3] Cass. crim., 28 mai 1930 : DH 1930, p. 397 ; Gaz. Pal. 1930, 2, p. 65. - 20 avr. 1945 : S. 1945, 1, p. 126 ; RD pén. crim., 1947, p. 150 ; Rev. sc. crim. 1946, chron. P. Bouzat, p. 243 ; Bull. crim., n° 41. - CA Aix, 2 déc. 1914 : DP 1917, 2, p. 99 ; S. 1918, 2, p. 29.

[4] Cass. crim., 8 nov. 1956 : Bull. crim., n° 727.

[5] Enjeu.

[6] Cass. crim., 20 déc. 1971 : Bull. crim., n° 361

[7] Loi n°2007-297 du 5 mars 2007 relative à la prévention de la délinquance ( chapitre V)

[8] Décret n°78-1067 du 9 novembre 1978 modifié relatif à l'organisation et à l'exploitation des jeux de loterie autorisés par l'article 136 de la loi du 31 mai 1933.

[9] Loi du 2 juin 1981 ayant pour objet de réglementer l'autorisation et le fonctionnement des courses de chevaux.

[10] Décret du 5 mai 1947 portant réglementation de la police des jeux dans les cercles; Instruction ministérielle du 15 juillet 1947 sur la réglementation des jeux dans les cercles.

[11] Décret n°2006-1595 du 13 décembre 2006 modifiant le décret n°59-1489 du 22 décembre 1959 relatif aux casinos 

[12] Décret du 5 mai 1947 portant réglementation de la police des jeux dans les cercles. (Decree of 5 may 1947 regulating the policy gaming in the circles).

[13] Décret n°59-1489 du 22 décembre 1959 portant réglementation des jeux dans les casinos des stations balnéaires, thermales et climatiques. (Decree n°59-1489 of 22 December 1959, regulating the games in the casinos of the seaside, thermal and climatic resorts). 

[14] Arrêté du 14 mai 2007 relatif à la réglementation des jeux dans les casinos (JO 17 mai 2001- N°114 - p.9568 à 9600)