France Launches Campaign to Combat Illegal Online Casinos
The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), France’s gaming authority, has initiated a public awareness campaign titled “100% Winner?” to address the growing issue of illegal online casinos. This campaign is a key element of the ANJ’s 2024-2026 strategic plan aimed at curbing unlawful gambling activities in the French market.
Targeting Illegal Gambling
The campaign comes in response to a PwC study from 2023, which revealed that millions of people in France have engaged with illegal gambling websites, with online casinos being the most popular form.
The ANJ’s new initiative aims to educate the public about the dangers of these illegal platforms and emphasize that online casinos are banned in France.
The country only permits regulated forms of online gambling such as poker, sports betting, and horse racing.
Public Health and Security Risks
ANJ President Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin emphasized the risks associated with illegal gambling. “The illegal supply of online gambling represents between 5% and 11% of the overall gambling market in France. It is particularly harmful for the players who consume it: addiction, over-indebtedness, family problems, etc.,” she noted.
Falque-Pierrotin also stressed that illegal gambling supports international criminal organizations, making it a priority for the ANJ to combat these activities.
Campaign Outreach and Strategy
The “100% Winner?” campaign, launched in October, features eye-catching advertisements across popular gaming apps, platforms like Twitch, Snapchat, and TikTok, as well as web banners.
These ads aim to direct users to a webpage explaining the dangers of illegal gambling and how to recognize unlawful sites.
Efforts to Block Illegal Websites
Since 2022, the ANJ has been actively using its powers to block illegal gambling sites, having already taken 506 administrative actions and blocked over 2,300 URLs.
However, illegal operators often return with new “mirror sites” that circumvent these measures.
The ANJ is working closely with payment providers, search engines, and national and European authorities to strengthen enforcement.
