Hello.
Im coming to France in september for at least half a year. I didn't know where to turn to get some french poker information, so I came here (hope it is not a problem). I'd like to know how is regulation working arround poker. Is it legal only for french to play on french sites or also foregniers who are getting internet from french soil? Or can I as a foregneir living in France play on any site? Are there any good live games (ill be located in Nantes)?
The main question is: will I play poker in France?
Thanks for reading and I hope Ill get some info desperatly needed.

As a foreigner in France, chill out, you will be able to play poker !

Online: AS any french person or anyone on the french soil, you will only be able to play on .fr websites. Most probably Winamax or Pokerstars, but i'll let you check out the other offers. I'm not talking about the rake (), and i'll let you see the level yourself (not gonna spoil ). What's sure is that once u get on the french soil, you won't be able to play anywhere else (only .fr)
To do so, you will need a bank account situed in the E.U. You'll prob get one when you get there if u don't have one yet.

Live: As long as you can show your ID, no probs to play in live casinos or poker rooms.

Hope this will help.

Awsome. I was thinking of having my money on moneybookers. And Id use their mastercard to pay for everything. Is moneybookers enough to play on these sites? Are there any RB deals? How tough are games on microlimits (NL50, NL100)?
Thanks for answers.

Depending on the poker room, you may be able to deposit via MB but only withdraw on bank account. Check it out in the T&C's first.

For the rest, MB good enough. RB deals are a lot worse than anywhere else because of the taxation in France. Might be worth it speaking with some affiliation people to get the best u can (i can prob hook you up). On the micros, depending on your level, you should have lots of fun

Rake + tax is just way to high.
Best you can do is to stop playing poker, as long as you are in France.

Lots of people actually make a living of it in France. And i'm not talking about the live games where the 1€/2€ is litteraly the equivalent of a NL2 online (no kidding).

I guess games are much more lighter and soft in French market than international. Therefore maybe with this rake+tax with soft games (a lot of fish) it just might be profitable playing. Just my thoughts cause as I remember most of french players were donators (fish). How is tax imported? Do you have tax on winnings (income-outcome) or tax on actual pots (only income) like rake?

Rake only for now. But lately, a lots of poker pros, from medium to big ones, have been contacted by french governement for an investigation on their revenues, and it seems that they are finding ways to make you pay silly amount of moneys... I guess once the elections will be over (with either Hollande or Sarkozy elected), they will start writing a bill that won't smell good for our people.

Play live, keep the cash under your pillow

Now that Hollande is elected, what can we expect about taxation? Will it be profitable playing online or should I only play live?

Not sure it will change anything as he will have lots of other problems to deal with.
The government has been decided yesterday, let's give them time to see what they have in mind regarding our problems...

Hello,

i'm living in Nantes and impossible to play live poker here (or you need to move for about 50kms to play in some casino.)
For online poker, only pokerstars.fr or winamax.fr accept foreigner's player. You just need european's bank account.

Ps:You can ask me if you need informations about Nantes.

would not hold my breath, the right wing would immediatly charge them accusing them to make a fiscal present to degenerate gambles while the country is at rockbottom deficit wise...

There is hope in the fact that Fleur Pellerin
French wikipedia
English wikipedia

Is a very intelligent woman and might be convinced that crippling a whole industry is not a bright thing to do.

Now I agree with JLBorloo on the fact that they have more pressing matters on their hands and online poker is definitely not their priority.

I'm really afraid that fate like this is waiting for all EU countries.

Personnally, I'm really afraid that fate like this is waiting for all countries in the world.