Betsson France gains ANJ approval for online poker, enters shared European liquidity pool

Betsson France has received a licence from France's gambling regulator, the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), to offer online poker. The approval also allows the Nordic operator to connect its player base with the shared liquidity pools of Italy, Spain, and Portugal.

The move comes as the French online poker market experiences a surge in player numbers. However, the growth in active accounts has not translated into higher revenue per user, with average spending per player declining during the same period.

By joining the cross-border liquidity agreement, Betsson France gains access to a larger player pool, which typically improves game availability and tournament prize structures. The shared market framework was established to enhance the viability of online poker in smaller regulated European markets.

The ANJ's decision adds another major operator to France's regulated poker landscape. Betsson's entry is expected to intensify competition among licensed providers as they vie for a share of the growing but increasingly fragmented player base.

Industry observers will be watching whether the combination of rising participation and expanded liquidity can reverse the trend of falling revenue per account in the French market. The development also signals continued regulatory openness to international player pooling within the European Union.