The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), the French National Gaming Authority, has recently completed its assessment of action plans aimed at addressing excessive and underage gambling in the country. These plans were submitted by two exclusive gambling operators, 16 authorized online gaming operators, 203 casinos, and 235 racetracks.
The ANJ’s findings reveal an alarming situation in France, with approximately 1.2 million individuals identified as problem gamblers, of which 360,000 are classified as excessive gamblers. Furthermore, the ANJ referenced a recent study that indicated 34.8% of minors surveyed in 2021 had engaged in gambling activities. Additionally, one-quarter of children around the age of nine had participated in a game of chance during that year.
This review comes alongside the 2024 gambling activity report, which outlines the number of individuals who approached the ANJ for assistance with gambling-related issues. In the ANJ’s 2024-2026 strategic plan, reducing the number of excessive gamblers is identified as a key regulatory priority.
As part of these efforts, the two exclusive operators, FDJ and PMU, have been urged to enforce stricter measures to prevent sales to minors and to enhance systems for identifying and assisting excessive gamblers.
The 16 other operators are expected to align their efforts with the prevalence data and work towards identifying a higher number of excessive gamblers relative to the size of their customer base. These operators are also tasked with demonstrating measurable and verifiable progress in combating problem gambling through improved detection and early intervention strategies. This includes introducing limits on gaming offerings such as rapid poker tournaments and live betting.
The casino sector has shown notable improvement, according to the ANJ, and to aid this, the ANJ introduced an e-learning platform last November, offering practical guidance on detecting gambling issues and responding appropriately.
It’s important to note that in 2019, problem gamblers were responsible for contributing 38.3% of France’s gross gaming revenue, with 20.7% coming from those categorized as excessive gamblers.
The 235 racetracks have also made significant strides, particularly in raising awareness among new players and offering new training programs for volunteers. Furthermore, the National Federation of Horse Racing has implemented additional controls. As horse racing is often seen as a family-oriented event, the ANJ has instructed racetracks to clearly differentiate betting areas and ensure that children’s activities are not inadvertently promoting gambling.
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