Proposed legislation to modernise e-sports legal framework

With international e-sport competitions on the rise and France regularly hosting major events, e-sport’s legal framework is still under development. After the government published its national strategy "E-sport 2020-2025", a new bill "for responsible and attractive e-sport" was registered with the National Assembly on 18 November 2025, which aims to secure and modernise the legal environment for e-sport in France.

Towards a regulated opening of paid online e-sport competitions

Article 3 of the bill is undoubtedly the most significant innovation in this text, in that it seeks to authorise the organisation of online e-sport competitions with entry fees (participation fees). This opening up of the market would likely have a significant impact on the economic impact of e-sports competitions in France.

As a reminder, the current legal framework prohibits charging for access to fully online video game competitions offering cash prizes under the terms of the ban on gambling (Article L.320-1 et seq. of the Internal Security Code). Only competitions in which participants are physically present may charge participation fees to players, provided that the total participation fees do not exceed the cost of organising the competition (Article L.321-9 of the Internal Security Code).

The new Article 3 would thus aim to extend the authorisation to all e-sports competitions, whether physical or online, while referring to a decree for details of the organisational arrangements in order to prevent any risks associated with them (cheating control, verification of participants' ages, etc.). 

The stated objective is therefore to expand the opening up of e-sport competitions while preventing risks (cheating, age verification), a recurring issue for the integrity of online competitions.

Good repute and administrative closures 

Law No. 2022-296 of 2 March 2022 amended Law No. 2016-1321 for a Digital Republic by incorporating conditions of good repute for performing functions related to the facilitation, teaching or supervision of a video game activity (particularly players) (Art. 102-1 of Law No. 2016-1321 of 7 October 2016). However, in the absence of a decree, these obligations have never been enforced. With a view to the future publication of the decree, Article 2 of the proposed law aims to clarify the integrity requirements, with proposals for sanctions and prohibitions in the event of non-compliance with the applicable rules. 

New contractual framework e-sport players contracts

Rarely used in practice, the fixed-term "e-sport" employment contract would be abolished by Article 5 of the proposal. This fixed-term contract would be replaced by a contract whose characteristics and mandatory clauses would be defined by decree of the Council of State. However, the proposal maintains the approval of the Minister responsible for digital affairs. The explanatory memorandum to the proposal suggests that this contract will be more flexible and better suited to the realities of e-sport.

Compulsory licence for e-sport player agents 

In view of the wide variety of practices and the development of a transfer market and representation of professional e-sports players, Article 6 aims to make the activity of an e-sport agent subject to obtaining a professional licence, similar to the activity of a sports agent, in order to guarantee the competence and integrity of agents, but also to protect players and clubs and prevent conflicts of interest in particular. The proposed law provides that a decree of the Council of State will specify the terms and conditions for obtaining, suspending and withdrawing the agent's licence, as well as the maximum amount of remuneration for the agent under the contract signed by the player.

Event security 

The bill provides for the inclusion in the Internal Security Code of provisions similar to those relating to the security of sporting events in order to prevent abuses and incidents and to protect players, spectators and organisers alike. Article 4 thus aims in particular to guarantee secure access to video game competitions, prohibit and punish violent or discriminatory behaviour, regulate alcohol consumption and the introduction of dangerous objects, and allow the judicial authorities to impose bans on access to e-sport events on troublemakers, similar to stadium bans.

Talent passport

Article 1 of the proposed law aims to introduce into law access to the talent passport for foreign e-sport players and coaches, previously granted by an interministerial instruction , thereby securing France's attractiveness to foreign talent.

Training centres and high-level players 

Among the new features introduced by the proposed law, this article aims to create a support framework tailored to young e-sport players in order to "enable them to combine training, competitive practice and the development of a sustainable life plan". Article 7 would provide for the establishment of dedicated training centres (with accreditation, training agreements, etc.) and the creation of an official list of high-level e-sports players, giving them access to the support mechanisms provided for high-level athletes. 

The text is still in draft form and has not yet been debated. Given the date of its proposal, it is unlikely to be examined before 2026. Its future and final content are therefore uncertain at this stage.