The prohibition of scratch card games in France reveals a reality much more blurred than we think, between legal loopholes, discreet controls and constant temptations.
Is scratching a ticket a harmless gesture? Not quite. In France, scratch card games attract thousands of players every day, young and old. Easily accessible and inexpensive, they represent a real danger for certain at-risk profiles. Faced with this silent addiction, the authorities are trying to react. But can we really forbid someone from playing? And how can these prohibitions be enforced in practice?
A Well-Established Addiction to Scratch-Off Games
In his tobacco shop in Strasbourg, Mohammed Rami regularly observes the damage linked to addiction. “You notice it immediately when someone spends more than two hours scratching,” he says. His observation aligns with the worrying data from the Observatoire des Jeux: 1.4 million French people are considered at risk, including 40,000 at a pathological stage.
And there lies the paradox: these excessive players represent 38% of the sector’s turnover. With tickets starting from two euros, scratch card games give the illusion of a harmless pastime. However, they can quickly become an addictive escape. All this, within a framework that is still too permissive.
Minors Playing Scratch Card Games: A Fragile Target
Despite the formal prohibition imposed on those under 18 since 2007, many minors access scratch card games. The Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ) is raising the alarm and deploying an action plan to protect them. “The protection of minors and the reduction of excessive gambling guide all of our actions,” recalls its president Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin.
At the heart of the measures announced: the end of anonymity in physical points of sale, a paradigm shift to better identify at-risk behaviours. The ANJ also wants to further regulate advertising and encourage a more responsible sponsorship ethic.
Discreet Controls But Clearly Visible Loopholes
On the ground, respect for the law leaves much to be desired. In tobacco shops, some vendors do not systematically check the age of customers. “I’m never asked for my ID, just if I’m of age,” admits a high school student. To overcome this lack, “mystery shopper” programs are conducted: young people are sent incognito to test the vigilance of tobacconists.
“We have to check if they ask for identification or not,” explains Thierry Moreno, president of tobacconists in the Bas-Rhin. But even if physical access is limited, the Internet offers an easy entry point. Florent, an early player, recalls: “At 15, I modified a date on an ID card with software, and it was good. The account was validated.” So can we really prohibit scratch card games? The legal arsenal exists, but without effective controls and a real collective will, the loopholes remain wide open.
