Scratch Card Ban in France: A Flawed Reality?

The ban on scratch card games in France reveals a more ambiguous reality than one might think, with legal loopholes, discreet controls, and ever-present temptations.

Scratching a ticket, a harmless gesture? Not so sure. In France, scratch card games attract thousands of players every day, young and old. Easily accessible, inexpensive, and ubiquitous, they pose a real danger for certain at-risk profiles. Faced with this silent addiction, authorities are trying to react. But can you really forbid someone from playing? And how do you enforce these bans in practice?

An Established Addiction to Scratch Card Games

In his tobacco shop in Strasbourg, Mohammed Rami regularly observes the damage linked to addiction. “You can tell right away 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’s the paradox: these excessive players account for 38% of the sector’s turnover. With tickets starting at 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 and Scratch Card Games: A Vulnerable Target

Despite the formal ban imposed on those under 18 since 2007, many minors access scratch card games. The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) is sounding the alarm and deploying an action plan to protect them. “The protection of minors and the reduction of excessive gambling guide all our actions,” recalls its president, Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin.

At the heart of the announced measures: the end of anonymity in physical points of sale, a paradigm shift to better identify at-risk behaviors. The ANJ also wants to further regulate advertising and encourage a more responsible sponsorship ethic.

Discreet Controls but Visible Loopholes

On the ground, compliance with the law leaves something 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 remedy this lack, the FDJ conducts “mystery shopper” operations: 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 the tobacconists of Bas-Rhin. But even if physical access is limited, the Internet offers an easy gateway. Florent, an early gambler, 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 ban scratch card games? The legal arsenal exists, but without effective controls and a real collective will, the loopholes remain wide open.