📋 Legal Guide 2026 · Verified Information

France Lotteries and Law & Tax

From the 1836 Penal Code to today’s FDJ monopoly — a complete, plain-language guide to lottery law and tax rules in France, and what it means for you as a player.

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📅 Updated April 2026 · ✅ Verified against official FDJ & ANJ sources

FDJ lottery kiosk in Paris — French lottery law and tax guide

1933FDJ Founded

2019FDJ Privatisation

18+Legal Playing Age

€0Tax on Winnings (Residents)

⚡ Quick Answer

Lottery gambling in France is legal, tightly regulated, and operated exclusively under the FDJ monopoly. Lottery winnings are not taxed for French residents. Players must be 18 or older. Foreigners can play — both in person and online.

Brief History of Lottery Law in France

France has a long and turbulent relationship with lotteries. The country swung between full bans and state-sponsored games across several centuries — a story that reflects broader political and moral debates about gambling.

1539

First Royal Lottery

King François I authorises France’s first lottery to raise funds for the state treasury. Lotteries flourish among the nobility throughout the Renaissance period.

1836

Lotteries Banned

The French Penal Code of 1836 prohibits all lotteries, including private ones. The law remains the cornerstone of French lottery regulation for over a century — still referenced today.

1933

FDJ Founded

The Loterie Nationale is created to raise funds after WWI financial hardship. This entity would eventually evolve into the modern Française des Jeux (FDJ).

1978

Loto de France Launched

France launches its modern number-draw lottery — the precursor to today’s Loto. The format evolves over the following decades but the core game structure remains.

2010

Online Gambling Act

Law n° 2010-476 opens parts of the gambling market to competition — but lotteries and scratch cards remain under the exclusive FDJ monopoly. ARJEL (now ANJ) is established as regulator.

2019

FDJ Privatisation

PACTE Act partially privatises FDJ. The French state sells 52% of its stake via public offering, while FDJ retains its exclusive monopoly on lottery products until at least 2044.

The FDJ Monopoly: How It Works

If you want to buy a legal lottery ticket in France, there is exactly one organisation authorised to sell it: Française des Jeux (FDJ). Under the current regulatory framework, FDJ holds an exclusive and permanent concession from the French state to operate lottery games. The 2019 privatisation extended and entrenched the monopoly licence until 2044.

🏛️ State Oversight

FDJ reports to the Ministry of Finance and the ANJ. All game rules must be approved by ministerial decree.

🎫 Products Covered

The monopoly covers Loto, EuroMillions (French operation), scratch cards (Instant Gagnant), and Keno.

💶 Revenue Distribution

By law, a defined percentage of lottery revenue goes to the French state treasury, public health, and sporting federations.

📅 Concession Until 2044

No private operator — French or foreign — can legally offer lottery products in France during this period.

⚠️ Important: Any website claiming to offer “French lottery tickets” that is not the official FDJ platform (fdj.fr) is operating outside French law. Be cautious of third-party ticket resellers — they are not covered by FDJ’s prize payment guarantees.

The Legal Framework Explained

French lottery law is layered — built on centuries of legislation, amended repeatedly, and supervised by the ANJ. Here is the essential legal stack:

Law / Regulation	Year	What It Does
French Penal Code – Art. 322-1	1836 (updated)	General prohibition on private lotteries; baseline of all lottery law in France.
Loi du 21 mai 1836	1836	The original lottery ban. Exceptions for state-authorised games remain the foundation for FDJ’s licence today.
Decree n° 78-1067	1978	Created the modern Loto de France and defined the game’s structure under state control.
Loi n° 2010-476	2010	Opened online sports betting and poker to competition; kept lottery monopoly intact. Created ARJEL (now ANJ).
PACTE Act – Loi n° 2019-486	2019	Privatised 52% of FDJ; extended and legally enshrined the lottery monopoly until 2044.
ANJ Regulatory Framework	2020–present	ANJ sets responsible gambling requirements, advertising rules, and game approval standards.

What the ANJ Does

The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) replaced ARJEL in 2020. It is an independent administrative authority responsible for approving all new lottery games, enforcing responsible gambling standards, monitoring advertising compliance, publishing annual gambling statistics, and operating the national self-exclusion register.

Official Rules of the French Loto

The French Loto is governed by an official règlement (ruleset) published by FDJ and approved by ministerial decree.

🎱 How to Play (Official Format)

Pick 5 numbers from 1–49 · Pick 1 Numéro Chance from 1–10 · Cost per line: €4.49 · Draws: Mon, Wed & Sat · Jackpot minimum: €2 million · Rollover cap: 34 draws — after which jackpot rolls down to nearest winners.

🏆 Prize Claiming Deadlines

Up to €500: Any FDJ point of sale · 60 days
€500–€4,999: Via FDJ directly · 60 days
€5,000+: Bank transfer after ID verification · 60 days
Unclaimed prizes are forfeited after 60 days.

Match	Approx. Prize
5 + Numéro Chance	Jackpot (min. €2M)
5 numbers	~€100,000
4 + Numéro Chance	~€1,000
4 numbers	~€100
3 + Numéro Chance	~€50
3 numbers	€15
2 + Numéro Chance	€7
2 numbers	€4.50
Numéro Chance only	€2.20

Age Limits & Eligibility Under French Law

🔞 Legal Age Requirement

Article L. 320-6 of the Internal Security Code prohibits the sale of lottery products to minors. FDJ points of sale are legally required to check identification. Online, age verification is mandatory before account creation. You must be at least 18 years old to purchase tickets or collect prizes in France.

Player Type	Eligible?
French residents	✅ Fully eligible — no restrictions
EU citizens in France	✅ Fully eligible — in-store and online
Non-EU foreigners physically in France	✅ Eligible in-store (18+)
Tourists visiting France	✅ In-store — online may be limited by home country
Minors (under 18)	❌ Completely prohibited
Self-excluded players (FNIJ)	❌ Cannot purchase lottery products

Taxes on Lottery Winnings in France

The short version: lottery winnings are not subject to income tax in France. However, the situation becomes more nuanced depending on what you do with the money afterwards.

✅ No Income Tax on Winnings

Under Article 157 of the General Tax Code (CGI), gains from FDJ lotteries are fully exempt from income tax for French tax residents. This applies to all prize amounts, including multi-million euro jackpots. You keep 100% of what you win.

💰 What About Investment Income?

Once your winnings are invested, normal tax rules apply to any returns generated. Interest, dividends, and capital gains are taxed at the standard PFU flat tax rate of 30% (12.8% income tax + 17.2% social contributions).

🏠 Inheritance & Gift Tax

If you gift lottery winnings to family members, standard French droits de donation (gift tax) and droits de succession (inheritance tax) apply. Rates vary by relationship: 0% for spouses under certain conditions, up to 60% for unrelated beneficiaries.

🌍 Non-Resident Winners

If you are not a French tax resident but win while playing in France, France does not tax the prize at source. However, your home country may tax the winnings depending on its own tax laws. Always check with a tax professional in your country of residence.

💡 Pro Tip: For very large wins (€1M+), FDJ arranges a dedicated winner support process that includes connections to financial advisors and tax specialists. You have 60 days to claim — use the window wisely before making any financial decisions.

Can Foreigners Play the French Lottery?

One of the most searched questions about France lottery law: can foreigners participate? The answer is yes — with some distinctions.

Situation	In-Store?	Online (fdj.fr)?	Claim Prizes?
EU citizen, any residence	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (18+, ID)	✅ Full prize
Non-EU foreigner in France	✅ Yes (18+)	⚠️ Depends on residence	✅ Full prize
Tourist visiting France	✅ Yes	⚠️ Limited by home IP	✅ Yes (extra steps)
Person living outside France	N/A	⚠️ If fdj.fr accessible	✅ No restriction

EuroMillions: A Special Case

France participates in EuroMillions alongside 8 other European countries. For EuroMillions specifically, players from any participating country can legally purchase French-based tickets. Foreigners have won major EuroMillions jackpots through France-based tickets multiple times — all wins paid in full.

⚠️ Third-Party Ticket Services: Several websites allow people outside France to buy FDJ tickets on their behalf. These are not illegal for the buyer per se, but they operate in a legal grey area. FDJ does not endorse them, and prize payment disputes can be complex. Buy direct wherever possible.

Online Lottery: Legal Status in France

France’s 2010 Online Gambling Act opened up sports betting and poker to competition — but did not open up the lottery market. Lotteries, scratch cards, and Keno remain under the exclusive FDJ monopoly online.

✅ What the 2010 Law Opened Up

Online sports betting (multiple licensed operators) · Online horse racing betting (PMU) · Online poker (licensed operators)

❌ What Remained a Monopoly

Online lottery tickets (Loto, EuroMillions) · Online scratch cards (Instant Gagnant) · Online Keno — all exclusively via fdj.fr

🚨 Offshore Lottery Sites Are Illegal in France: Foreign operators offering lottery products targeting French players without an ANJ licence are operating illegally under French law. Players using such sites have no legal recourse for prize disputes.

Responsible Gambling & Player Protection Laws

French law takes responsible gambling seriously. The ANJ enforces a comprehensive player protection framework that FDJ is legally required to implement.

🛑

Self-Exclusion Register

Any player can register on the Fichier National des Interdits de Jeux (FNIJ) to voluntarily self-exclude from lottery purchases. FDJ is legally required to enforce this list.

📊

Spending Limits

Online FDJ accounts must offer daily, weekly, and monthly deposit limits. These cannot be increased instantly — a 7-day cooling-off period is mandated by ANJ rules.

📢

Advertising Rules

FDJ advertising must include the responsible gambling message under ANJ regulations. Ads targeting under-18s are completely banned.

FAQ: France Lottery Law & Rules

Is it legal to play the lottery in France?

Yes. Playing the lottery in France is completely legal provided you purchase tickets through the official FDJ platform — in-store or online via fdj.fr. You must be 18 or older. Private lotteries remain prohibited under the 1836 Penal Code.

What is the law on lotteries in France?

The primary law is the law of May 21, 1836, which banned private lotteries. State-authorised lotteries were carved out as exceptions. Today the framework includes the 2010 Online Gambling Act (Loi n° 2010-476) and the 2019 PACTE Act, which privatised FDJ while extending its exclusive lottery monopoly until 2044. The ANJ oversees compliance.

Do I have to pay tax on lottery winnings in France?

No. Under Article 157 of France’s General Tax Code, lottery winnings from officially authorised games (FDJ) are fully exempt from income tax for French tax residents. The prize is paid in full, with no withholding tax. However, any returns generated by investing those winnings are subject to normal French taxes.

Can a foreigner win the French lottery and collect the prize?

Yes. French lottery law places no nationality-based restrictions on prize collection. Any valid winning ticket — regardless of the holder’s nationality — must be paid by FDJ. France does not withhold any tax from the winnings at source.

What is the minimum age to play the lottery in France?

The minimum legal age is 18. This applies to in-store purchases and online play. Retailers are legally required to check identification. FDJ’s online platform requires age verification during account registration. Selling to a minor is a criminal offence under French law.

How long do I have to claim a lottery prize in France?

Winners have 60 days from the draw date to claim their prizes. After this deadline, unclaimed prizes are legally forfeited and returned to the prize pool or the state. There are no exceptions to this deadline under the official FDJ règlement.

Is the French lottery rigged? Who oversees it?

No. The French lottery is independently overseen by the ANJ and subject to strict government audit requirements. Draw results are conducted under independently verified random number generation systems. FDJ is also a publicly listed company (Euronext Paris: FDJ) with full financial transparency obligations.

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