ANJ Focuses on Reducing Excessive Gambling

Five Years of Regulatory Reform

Since its establishment in June 2020, the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) has focused on balancing support and oversight to better protect players. The first regulatory cycle laid the groundwork by developing key tools defined by the 2019 ordinance and the Pacte Law. These tools are now fully integrated into the operational practices of both the regulator and licensed operators.

The ANJ noted that gambling operators have made substantial progress in meeting their obligations, particularly around preventing gambling addiction and combating money laundering. These improvements are now evident in the action plans reviewed by the ANJ, with more problem gamblers being identified. Operators have increasingly incorporated the goal of reducing excessive gambling within their customer bases.

Two decisions by France’s Conseil d’État have reinforced the ANJ’s authority to regulate game offerings and promotional strategies, particularly regarding the state monopolies. These legal confirmations strengthen the regulator’s position in protecting consumers.

Enforcement Intensifies in 2024

The year 2024 marked a turning point in the ANJ’s enforcement policy. Nine sanctions were imposed, including fines up to €150,000. In January 2025, the ANJ’s sanctions committee issued an unprecedented €800,000 public fine related to excessive gambling violations. This case signals a new era of stricter enforcement and sets a precedent for future actions.

The ANJ also intensified efforts to curb illegal gambling. In 2024 alone, 1,335 URLs were blocked, 231 administrative actions were taken, and new measures such as financial flow disruptions were introduced. The regulator stressed that illegal gambling platforms are particularly popular among high-risk players, making this a critical focus.

Ongoing Concerns About Gambling Harm

Despite these advances, excessive gambling remains a serious concern. The number of individuals voluntarily banning themselves from gambling continues to rise, reaching 85,000 in 2024—up from 40,000 in 2021. This trend underscores the need for further action.

To address this, the ANJ has made the reduction of excessive gambling the core of its 2024–2026 strategic plan. The regulator argues that this requires a shift in the industry’s economic model toward less intensive gambling, with a reduced focus on high-risk players.

National Dialogue on Gambling Addiction

To encourage cross-sector collaboration, the ANJ will host a conference on June 27 at the French Senate focusing on gambling addiction. The event aims to assess the implementation of player identification and support obligations introduced in 2019 and to explore necessary improvements through comparative approaches and expert discussion.

According to ANJ President Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin:

“Driven by a highly dynamic market fueled by digitalisation, gambling has become a routine consumer product—yet it is not a product like any other. The ANJ’s target to reduce excessive gambling must now translate into results: fewer problem gamblers and lower operator revenues derived from them. This issue calls for a wider societal response involving operators, public authorities, regulators, associations, educators, and families.”