Bet365’s secret plans for France leaked!
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15 Oct 2025 •
Reading time: 3 minutes Bet365, one of the biggest names in the gambling world, is seriously considering France. This is quite remarkable, because for years they ignored that country. Too strict, too expensive, too complicated. But now the tone seems to have changed: France is on the list, and not just at the bottom.
Insiders whisper that the company is quietly making plans to go live in France before the 2026 World Cup. Officially, they are saying nothing. But if you look closely at how they operate, you can smell it coming from a mile away: something is brewing here.
America gives them wings
Another factor is that Bet365 is doing well in the US. Really well. In the second quarter of 2025, they shot up to a 4% market share there. And believe us, that’s no small feat in such a busy market.
That success gives them confidence. Because if you can score in a country with 50 states, you can take on France too. And yes, with those millions in the bank, they can afford to swallow a bit of tax.
France is not easy prey
Still, it’s no picnic there. France has had a tightly regulated gambling market since 2010. Sports betting, poker, horse racing — it’s all legal, but you have to play by the rules. And those rules are tough.
The biggest players are FDJ United and PMU. Together, they have an iron grip on the market. FDJ even has a monopoly on physical sports betting. No joke. The French gambling regulator ANJ also keeps an eye on things to ensure that everything runs fairly.
And as if that weren’t difficult enough, the French government recently threw in a tax increase. Online betting is now taxed at almost 60%. Plus a hefty levy on advertising. Great.
But Bet365 can handle this
Let’s be clear about one thing: Bet365 is no small player. In 2024, they had a turnover of £3.7 billion. With a profit of almost £400 million. That’s serious money. Enough to survive those French obstacles — and even smile about it.
What’s more, the company recently withdrew from China. Not because it wasn’t doing well there, but because they prefer to focus on markets where everything is properly regulated. Europe, in other words. And France fits in perfectly.
And what does that mean for you?
If you live in Belgium, you know that Bet365 has often been the subject of controversy here. For example, when they were fined for misleading advertising. Yet the question of whether you can legally gamble with them is still a hot topic.Would you like to know more about this? On this page, you can read exactly what the legal status of Bet365 is in Belgium. Really useful if you are considering placing a bet yourself.