An ANJ-licensed French sportsbook from the 30-year Belgian Circus/Gaming1 group, notable for offering no welcome bonus at all
Visit Circusbet →Pros
- Genuine ANJ licence backed by the established 30-year Belgian Circus/Gaming1 group
- Fast e-wallet withdrawals (~15 minutes) and 24/7 support with a 4-minute average response time
- Transparent no-bonus approach avoids wagering-requirement disputes entirely
Cons
- No welcome bonus for new customers
- Some players report withdrawal requests refused by their own banks with winnings remaining blocked despite documentation
- Withdrawals restricted to bank-account transfer only, per French law
Our verdict
CircusBet is a genuinely ANJ-licensed French sportsbook backed by the established, 30-year Belgian Circus/Gaming1 group, standing out for offering no welcome bonus at all - a transparent trade-off that avoids wagering-requirement complaints entirely. Support responds quickly (24/7, ~4-minute average) and e-wallet withdrawals process fast, though we want to flag directly that some players report withdrawal requests refused by their own banks with winnings left blocked despite providing documentation. Given the genuine licensing, established parent group, and generally responsive support weighed against the no-bonus structure and some withdrawal friction, we'd recommend CircusBet with reasonable confidence for French bettors who prioritize a straightforward, promotion-free sportsbook over a welcome offer.
How we rated it
Trust & licensing (27%)8
Genuine ANJ licence (0059-PS-2022-07-07) held by BCFR2 SAS, backed by the established Belgian Circus/Gaming1 group with over 30 years in gambling and multiple French casino acquisitions.
Sportsbook & casino (36%)7.5
A genuine ANJ-licensed sportsbook backed by the 30-year Belgian Circus/Gaming1 group; does not operate an online casino in France, only regulated sports betting.
Support & reliability (18%)7
24/7 support with an average 4-minute live-chat response time and fast e-wallet withdrawals (~15 minutes), though some players report withdrawal requests refused by their own banks with winnings remaining blocked despite documentation.
Bonuses & value (18%)6
Notably offers no welcome bonus to new customers - reportedly the only ANJ-licensed bookmaker to take this transparent approach.
Welcome bonus
Quick facts
| Owner/licence | BCFR2 SAS, ANJ licence 0059-PS-2022-07-07, part of the Belgian Gaming1/Circus group |
| History | Launched 5 June 2024, rebranding from BarriereBet, which ended activities May 2024 |
| Parent group | Circus/Gaming1, 30+ years in Belgian gambling (Spa, Namur casinos, ~15 gaming rooms); separately runs Circus Casino France (Briancon since 2018, Vals-les-Bains) |
| Withdrawals | E-wallet withdrawals in ~15 minutes; bank-account only per French law; limits EUR5,000/week, EUR20,000/month |
| Support | 24/7, average 4-minute live-chat response time |
| Complaints | Some players report withdrawal requests refused by their own banks with winnings remaining blocked; others report active support follow-up until funds received |
| France | No welcome bonus - reportedly the only ANJ-licensed bookmaker without one; does not operate an online casino in France |
Where Circusbet is licensed
Circusbet appears on the official register in 1 country — 1 for sports betting and 1 for casino. We only feature it in markets where it holds a licence to accept you.
Europe (1)
About Circusbet
CircusBet is a French sportsbook operated by BCFR2 SAS under ANJ licence 0059-PS-2022-07-07, launched 5 June 2024 as a rebrand taking over from BarriereBet, which ended its activities in May 2024. It is part of the Belgian Circus/Gaming1 group, present in Belgian gambling for over 30 years, operating the Spa and Namur casinos plus around fifteen gaming rooms in Belgium, and separately runs Circus Casino France with land-based casinos in Briancon (since 2018) and Vals-les-Bains. CircusBet does not operate an online casino in France, only ANJ-regulated sports betting, and it is notable for offering no welcome bonus at all - reportedly the only ANJ-licensed bookmaker to take this approach. Customer support runs 24/7 with an average 4-minute live-chat response time, and e-wallet withdrawals process in around 15 minutes, though French law requires final withdrawal to a bank account, with weekly/monthly limits of EUR5,000/EUR20,000. We want to name directly that reviews are mixed: some players report withdrawal requests refused by their own banks with winnings remaining blocked at CircusBet despite providing documentation, while others report CircusBet's support actively following up until funds were received.
