Betsson Secures ANJ Approval for Online Poker in France and Plans Playtech-Powered iPoker Launch

Betsson has become the ninth gaming company approved to offer online poker in France, giving it another regulated product line alongside its recent sports betting launch in the country. For PSPs and platform partners, the useful bit is simple: this is a live regulated entry into French poker, with international liquidity sharing on the table.

1. Betsson received online poker authorization from L’Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ), making it the ninth operator cleared to offer the product in France. The approval lets the company diversify its local business and serve a broader player base.
2. The authorization includes international liquidity sharing, which means French players will be able to compete against an international pool of opponents. That matters operationally because poker liquidity is the whole machine here: without it, the product is just a room full of empty chairs.
3. Betsson will launch iPoker on Playtech’s platform. In practice, that means the French rollout is being built on an established poker stack rather than a fresh in-house setup, which usually simplifies the product side of the launch.
4. The poker launch follows Betsson’s recent sports betting launch in France, so customers in the market will now have both sports wagers and online poker under the same local presence.
5. Asked by NEXT.io whether the move was driven by expectations of future iGaming regulation in France, Betsson said no. The company said the decision was based on “the French poker market as it stands today,” and that any expansion of the regulated offering is a matter for French lawmakers. Betsson also said it will continue working with the ANJ.

Betsson partner Nadir Ounissi called the launch an “important milestone” for the company’s French growth journey, and said the team plans to use Playtech’s poker platform to deliver content, customer service, and responsible gaming tools.