France’s ANJ Doubles Down on Problem Gambling
Regulator Shifts From Intention to Obligation
France’s gambling regulator, Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), has declared a bold shift in strategy as it places problem gambling front and centre of its 2024–2026 roadmap. In its newly released annual report, the ANJ makes clear that reducing addiction is no longer just a regulatory ambition—it’s a deliverable.
“The objective of reducing excessive gambling set by the ANJ must now translate into an obligation of results,” said ANJ President Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin. “That involves reducing the number of excessive gamblers and their contribution to the revenues of gambling operators.”
This shift marks a defining moment for France’s gambling industry, as the regulator pushes operators toward tangible, trackable outcomes—not just compliance-box ticking.
A Fast-Growing Problem: Self-Exclusion Doubles
France’s voluntary self-exclusion register has more than doubled since 2021, now surpassing 85,000 names. It’s growing at a rate of 20% per year—a statistic that underscores both the urgency of the issue and the regulator’s renewed focus on harm prevention.
The ANJ’s aim is twofold:
Reduce the number of players experiencing gambling harm
Lower the proportion of operator revenue linked to high-risk players
Senate Symposium Signals Cross-Sector Mobilisation
As part of its intensified efforts, a high-level symposium on gambling addiction is being held on 27 June at the French Senate. The event will unite lawmakers, treatment professionals, regulators, educators, and civil society to confront the broader social impacts of gambling harm and coordinate strategies across public and private spheres.
“Gambling, while not a product like any other, has nevertheless become a common consumer product,” said Falque-Pierrotin. “The fight against gambling addiction requires going beyond sectoral considerations… It concerns operators, public authorities, the regulator, associations, educators, parents, etc.”
Operators Under Pressure: Do More, and Do It Now
With its first full regulatory cycle now complete since being established in 2020, the ANJ is using its stronger legal footing to demand deeper engagement from licensed operators. Following two rulings from France’s Council of State in 2024, which reinforced ANJ’s authority over state monopolies’ marketing and gambling offerings, the regulator has adopted a firmer stance.
Operators are now expected to:
Implement measurable harm-reduction mechanisms
Restructure offerings to reduce intensity for vulnerable users
Shift marketing and design focus away from high-risk behaviours
iGaming Legalisation Discussions Resurface—With Caution
The report also reveals ongoing discussions with French governments, past and present, about the potential legalisation of iGaming. While online poker, sports betting, and lotteries are permitted, online casino games remain illegal in France.
The ANJ was clear that any expansion must be approached with extreme caution due to the addictive nature of these games.
Tougher Enforcement, Bigger Penalties
The ANJ has also stepped up its enforcement actions:
- Nine formal sanctions issued in 2024
- €800,000 fine against Unibet for failing to uphold self-exclusion protocols
- 1,335 unlicensed URLs blocked
- 231 administrative enforcement actions launched
- Freezing of transactions linked to illegal gambling operators
The regulator’s more aggressive enforcement posture underlines its commitment to meaningful market oversight—and its belief that industry compliance alone isn’t enough.
A Defining Era for Regulated Gambling in France
The ANJ’s latest report feels less like an annual update and more like a manifesto. It marks a pivot from passive oversight to interventionist regulation, with a clear call to action for operators and public bodies alike.
For operators navigating the French market, this is a moment of reckoning. The regulator is no longer simply observing; it’s demanding transformation. And with gambling’s cultural status shifting from entertainment product to public health concern, those that fail to adapt may find themselves on the wrong side of a powerful regulatory tide.
As France edges toward potential iGaming liberalisation, the tone is clear: this will not be a free-for-all. It will be a tightly controlled, socially responsible sector—or it will not happen at all.
