Football betting in France and Ligue 1 betting sites
Football remains the favorite sport of French bettors. It alone accounts for almost 80% of the online betting market share. Here, I'll list all the bookmakers, compare their features, and even introduce you to some new operators.
Football betting sites in France
The good news is that all the French bookmakers offer good options to bet on Football. But then, how do you choose a bookmaker? Here are 3 things we think could be useful for you to decide
- Choose a bookmaker available in English (see list below)
- Choose a bookmaker based on his welcome offer
- Choose a bookmaker based on what feature is more important for you (cashout, bet builder, etc)
Bookmaker | Welcome offer | Pros & Cons | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 ![]()
Winamax |
Up to €100 refunded in CASH |
Pros & Cons | |||||
#2 ![]()
PMU |
Up to €100 in CASH with the code SPORT |
Pros & Cons | |||||
#3 ![]()
Pokerstars |
Up to €100 (+€100 in poker) |
Pros & Cons |
Bookmaker | Welcome offer | Pros & Cons | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 ![]()
Betsson |
10€ without deposit with the code VERIF10 Then up to 100€ |
Pros & Cons | |||||
#2 ![]()
Parions Sport |
15€ without deposit Then up to 85€ |
Pros & Cons | |||||
#3 ![]()
Olybet |
First bet doubled up to €100 |
Pros & Cons | |||||
#4 ![]()
NetBet |
Up to 100€ with the code LEBONBET |
Pros & Cons | |||||
#5 |
First bet doubled up to €100 with the code LEBONBET |
Pros & Cons | |||||
#6 ![]()
Unibet |
1 registration = 3 bonuses Up to €370 |
Pros & Cons | |||||
#7 ![]()
Bwin |
Up to €200 in freebets |
Pros & Cons | |||||
#8 ![]()
Feelingbet |
Up to €50 + €250 for the first 5 months with the code "LEBONBET" |
Pros & Cons | |||||
#9 ![]()
YESorNO |
1st social betting app |
Pros & Cons | |||||
#10 ![]()
Vbet |
First bet doubled up to €100 |
Pros & Cons | |||||
#11 ![]()
Circus Bet |
No bonuses at the moment |
Pros & Cons | |||||
#12 ![]()
Genybet |
Up to €50 (+€200 in horse racing bets) |
Pros & Cons | |||||
#13 ![]()
ZEbet |
First bet doubled (lost or not) up to €100 |
Pros & Cons |
French football betting sites features compared
Best Ligue 1 betting sites
If you're looking to bet on Ligue 1, you're in luck, French bookmakers have one of the most comprehensive Ligue 1 betting offer, which doesn't come as a surprise. The also have regular promotions for bets on Ligue 1, that changes all the time, so you will need to keep an eye on it!
That said, not all platforms are equal. Here's how to compare and choose the best Ligue 1 betting sites legally operating in France:
Is there any English Ligue 1 betting site?
While all French-licensed bookmakers operate in French by default (as required by the French Gambling Authority), some platforms also offer their websites and apps in English. This can be a big plus if you're an expat or prefer navigating in English.
Here we list all the Ligue 1 bettings sites available in English.
Can you get a bonus to bet on Ligue 1?
All legal French bookmakers offer some form of welcome bonus, but the structure varies:
- Free bets (pari gratuits) after your first deposit or bet
- Refunds on losing bets
- Loyalty or cashback systems
Compare not just the total bonus amount but also the conditions (minimum odds, wagering requirements, expiration). Some of the best-known platforms like Winamax, Betclic, and Unibet often compete on the generosity and clarity of their promotions.
Here is the whole list of sports betting bonuses in France.
Who has the best features to bet on Ligue 1?
Different bettors prioritize different tools, and this is where platforms can really stand out:
Cashout: Ideal for managing risk, this lets you settle a bet before the final whistle.
Bet Builder (Pari Combiné Personnalisé): Great for creating custom bets within a single Ligue 1 match (e.g., Dembélé to score + PSG to win + Over 2.5 goals).
Live Betting Interface: Fast, intuitive live betting with real-time stats can be a game-changer.
Mobile App Performance: A smooth and responsive app is critical if you bet on the go.
Looking for something new to bet on Football?
I'm highlighting 3 bookmakers that you might not know, who are either new or off the radar:
- YESorNO : If you're looking for something truly new, then you're in luck. This is a social betting app where odds don't exist. The goal is to answer Yes or No on simple bets (e.g., will this team win against that team?). The odds are calculated based on the bettors who answer Yes or No. I'll let you discover the app for yourself or read our review to learn more!
- Olybet : This is the latest site launched in the market, in October 2024, making it the newest bookmaker in France. However, the bookmaker is not new and is already established in several European countries. It has also already established partnerships with rugby (Toulouse) and basketball (Paris Basket) clubs. I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes a partner of a club in the coming years.
- Feelingbet : It's not new to the bookmaking scene, but it's less talked about than the others. It has a very attractive referral offer and a generous welcome bonus.
French football betting site to avoid
While some bookmakers shine with their features, I'll list those that, in my opinion, should be avoided for betting on football .
- Circusbet : Arriving on the French scene in 2024, the bookmaker doesn't yet have all the tools to fight off fierce competition. Be patient and wait a little longer for the operator to give us a little more bread to eat in terms of its offers and features.
- Genybet : A true expert in horse racing betting, it's clear that the operator isn't 100% dedicated to football. For horse racing, I can only recommend it; if you want to bet on football, however, you can move on.
- Pokerstars : As the name states, the site is a good online poker site in France, but not the best option for sports and then football.
The best French football bookmakers have :
- Promotions on social media: bookmakers no longer only offer promotions on their dedicated pages. Today, you'll find many bookmakers offering promotions on their networks, mainly X.
- Livestream: this option is not yet the most common on betting sites. Bettors are increasingly valuing this option, and it's easy to see why.
- A modern app: Having an app isn't enough. Some betting apps in France are designed for soccer betting, such as Unibet or Betclic. What's more, a bookmaker must also offer a user-friendly application with all the features to optimize the gaming experience, such as Face ID.
- Wide choice of payment methods: a wide choice of payment methods such as PayPal and Paysafecard in addition to credit cards and bank transfers.
How to bet on football in France?
We think soccer is a complicated sport for punters. Lots of surprises, unpredictable scenarios, it's often difficult to find the right balance between risk and reward. The strategy for betting on soccer is based on a few basics.
- Be up to date: The team's form, dynamics, composition... You can find out all you need to know about a match from the statistics provided by the bookmakers or on your own.
- Take secondary factors into account: Away matches, transfers, fatigue. It's very important to know the context of the match and the team to avoid unnecessarily risky bets.
- Don't hesitate to combine: You can feel it. Paris is going to win. So is Lyon. Dembélé will score. Bet on all three to have a chance of making a profit on just a few games.
- Features: Treat yourself to a bettor that offers cash out and live betting. It's so much fun when you bet on soccer.
- Find out about the types of bets available: It's important that you know the types of bets and their conditions before you place a bet. If you don't already know them, go to the conditions for each one. We've listed a few below.
France football bets you need to know
- 🔢 1N2 bets
This is the most classic type of bet, and all bookmakers offer it for football as well as other sports. Here you bet on whether team 1 or 2 will win, or whether the match will end in a draw.
- 🥅 Scorer bets
This type of bet can have several variations, notably on the time at which the goal will be scored. As the name suggests, the aim is to bet on which player(s) will score during the match.
- 🕧 Half-time bets
This bet gives you the choice of betting on all the possibilities of the first or second half. Whether it's the exact score, goal difference, goal difference, exact score, scorers, etc.
- 💯 Exact score bets
Here, you'll have to guess the exact score of the match or one of the halves.
- 🔥 Asian handicap bets
This is a double bet in which, from a given selection, you assign an imaginary advantage or disadvantage which will be added to the result at the end of regulation time. The Asian handicap bet is more flexible than the “classic” handicap bet: the advantage or disadvantage (e.g. 1, 2 or 3 goals) given does not have to be a whole number, but a half (0.5), quarter (0.25) or three-quarter (0.75) point.