French Gaming Authority Addresses Concerns Over Excessive Gambling and Underage Access
Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, president of the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), France’s national gaming authority, recently faced questions from senators regarding the evolving landscape of gambling in the country. During her address, she emphasized the ANJ’s primary objective since its transformation from ARJEL in 2019: prioritizing the protection of players.
The French gambling market has undergone significant changes, including a surge in sports betting, growth of Française des Jeux (FDJ), an expanding player base, and increased spending per player. Falque-Pierrotin highlighted the recent Roland-Garros tournament, which shattered previous betting records, as an example of this trend.
She noted that the integration of innovations from the video game industry and the use of advanced marketing techniques by operators have transformed gambling into a mainstream consumer product. The online market is particularly concentrated, with five major players controlling over 95% of the market share.
ANJ Defends Regulatory Efforts, Acknowledges Ongoing Challenges
Falque-Pierrotin defended the ANJ’s regulatory efforts, asserting that “the results are there.” She praised operators for their improved commitment to player protection, stating that they have “perfectly integrated this aspect of sustainability into their business model.” The ANJ also highlighted its own impactful actions, such as the removal of a controversial Winamax advertisement and a substantial fine imposed on Unibet. Furthermore, the authority has significantly increased its efforts to block illegal gambling offerings.
However, the core of the discussion centered on the risks of excessive gambling and the need for protection of minors. Falque-Pierrotin admitted that these issues are “not yet under control,” particularly concerning the sports betting segment. She pointed to “worrying signs,” such as the increase in voluntary registrations to the gambling ban registry, which has risen from 30,000 to 80,000 in recent years, with a large proportion being young individuals. According to ANJ data, a third of minors engage in gambling activities, with the average age of first exposure to scratch-off games being 13.
The regulator also expressed concern over trends observed since the beginning of 2025. Despite the absence of major sporting events, intense competition among operators is leading to “defensive strategies that can result in overstimulation of players.” Advertising spending has reportedly increased by 11% since the start of the year.
Future Priorities: Reducing Excessive Gambling and Strengthening Regulations
The ANJ has identified key priorities for the next two years:
- Reducing the number of excessive gamblers.
- Developing a reference algorithm to help operators identify at-risk profiles.
- Increasing pressure on monopolies like FDJ and PMU, which still allow for anonymous gambling practices.
The regulator also reiterated proposals previously submitted to the legislature in 2023:
- Reduce advertising pressure, such as banning gambling advertisements five minutes before and after sporting events.
- Consider regulating sponsorships.
- Require QR code presentation for access to points of sale.
- Initiate a review of the tax system, aiming for overall coherence and balancing fiscal revenue with the economic viability of operators, who are currently “the most taxed in Europe.”
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