Esports in France: a new legal framework emerging in 2026?

France may be on the verge of a significant shift in how esports is regulated. On 18 November 2025, a new bill was introduced before the French National Assembly.[1]

This shift may significantly impact the growth of esports in France, attracting both local and international players to the burgeoning market.

The draft bill aims to modernise a legal framework that has emerged since the adoption of the 2016 legislation,[2] which was a first attempt to regulate the esports sector.

Although the bill has not yet been debated and is expected to be examined in 2026, it offers valuable insight into the direction France intends to take—and why this may matter to international esports stakeholders.

Making France More Attractive to International Talent

Article 1 of the draft bill formally recognises esports players and coaches as eligible for the specific visa,[3] working as a multi-year residence permit.

Until now, this eligibility relied on administrative guidelines rather than legislation, creating uncertainty for foreign players and teams. Codifying this status aims to make France more competitive internationally, particularly when compared to jurisdictions such as Germany, that already offer tailored visas for esports professionals.

As the landscape for esports in France continues to evolve, new opportunities for investment and participation will likely emerge.

Online Paid Competitions: A potential game changer

Perhaps the most impactful reform is related to online competitions. Under current French law, online esports tournaments involving entry fees and prize money are largely prohibited, as gambling is strictly limited under the French internal security code.[4]

With these changes, esports in France could potentially attract a wider audience and elevate its status globally.

The bill proposes to allow paid online competitions, explicitly excluding them from gambling regulations. This reform would align France more closely with international practice and could significantly expand monetisation opportunities for tournament organisers and platforms.

However, the reform depends on future regulations intended to address key risks such as cheating, underage participation, addiction and money laundering. Without strong safeguards, this opening could undermine competitive integrity.

Esports in France: A Growing Industry

Esport Contracts: introducing a new legal model ?

The bill intends to abolish the esports-specific fixed-term employment contract introduced in 2016, which has proven largely unworkable.

The bill amends article 102 of the 2016 law by removing the reference to “employee” (salarié).[5] The former definition stated that:

“The employed professional competitive video game player is any person whose paid activity consists in participating in video game competitions under a legal relationship of subordination with an association or company holding ministerial approval.”

The revised framework removed the “employed” term and refers the definition of the new contract’s characteristics and mandatory clauses to a decree adopted by the Counsel of state, while maintaining:

• ministerial approval of esports organisations, and
• a definition of professional players based on the existence of a legal relationship of subordination.

This combination still creates ambiguity. Although the term “employed” has been removed, the concept of legal subordination—central to French employment law—has been retained.

Nevertheless, the abolition of the existing esports-specific fixed-term contract appeared as necessary, given its unsuitability to the sector’s realities

Structuring the Ecosystem: Events, Agents and Player Development

The draft bill also introduces:

• enhanced security rules for esports events, inspired by traditional sports regulations;
• licensing requirements for esports agents, including caps on remuneration and conflict-of-interest rules;
• recognition of accredited training centres and a formal status for elite players, granting access to specific protections under theFrench sports Code

These measures signal an effort to professionalise the ecosystem and align esports more closely with traditional sports governance models.

Conclusion: A Promising Framework

This bill represents a meaningful step toward a more coherent esports framework in France, as it is seeking to become a more predictable and attractive jurisdiction for esports investment and operations in time.

That said, much will depend on the content of future implementing regulations. At this stage, the draft bill remains a framework rather than a fully operational legal regime.

[1]  Proposition de loi pour un esport responsable et attractif, Assemblée nationale, 18 november 2025.

[2] Loi n° 2016-1321, 7 octobre 2016 « pour une République numérique ».

[3]French visa« passeport talent – renommée internationale » 

[4] Code de la sécurité intérieure, art. L320-1 et s.

[5] Loi n° 2016-1321 du 7 octobre 2016 pour une République numérique, art 102.