French regulator ANJ says casino efforts to combat gambling harm remain insufficient

(AsiaGameHub) –   France’s national gambling regulator has urged casinos to intensify their efforts against underage and problem gambling, stating that some establishments are failing to detect and assist a sufficient number of patrons experiencing gambling-related harm.

The authority highlighted that both compulsive and underage gambling rank among the most significant threats within the French market, calling on the industry to re-evaluate its approach to these challenges.

Alongside this caution, the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) acknowledged the growth in collaborations between casinos and support services, as it assessed operator action plans designed to prevent excessive and underage gambling.

Uneven results

The ANJ observed that while casinos are enhancing their systems for identifying and assisting at-risk players, some ‘are still only detecting and supporting an inadequate number of excessive or pathological gamblers, a figure that does not match their customer traffic levels’.

The regulator also mentioned that the improved links between gambling venues and support organizations have facilitated directing identified problem gamblers to treatment, running awareness campaigns, and training employees.

Regarding staff training, the ANJ reported that more than 2,200 individuals have utilized the e-learning module since its introduction in November 2024.

More work to do

Minimizing gambling harm is a central pillar of the ANJ’s strategic plan for 2024-2026. Since October 2019, operators have been mandated to submit their protection action plans to the ANJ for assessment, with the goal of bolstering player safeguards.

In all, plans were submitted for approval by FDJ United and Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU), 17 licensed online operators, 210 casinos and gaming clubs, and 231 racetracks. Only one casino’s plan was rejected.

The ANJ pointed out that industry-wide advancements have occurred but stressed that more work is necessary to achieve the target of reducing gambling harm by 2027.

Operators received several suggestions, such as reinforcing their systems, training staff, and giving players essential information.

While the ANJ approved the action plans from FDJ and PMU, it indicated two primary issues require attention:

• Implement a rigorous policy for monitoring retail outlets to ensure compliance with the prohibition on sales to minors.
• Create methods suitable for physical locations to establish a more efficient system for recognizing and aiding gamblers affected by harm.

Strengthening systems

Concerning licensed online operators, the ANJ said most have implemented procedures to prevent circumvention of the underage gambling ban, covering registration, information provision to adults, awareness initiatives, and parental controls.

Actions to better detect individuals harmed by gambling have also been taken. The count of flagged players increased from 31,000 in 2024 to 89,000 in 2025, following upgrades to detection tools and new metrics.

Nevertheless, the regulator expects operators to enhance their identification of potentially harmed players to align it ‘with the scale of their customer base and prevalence research’.

‘Concrete and quantifiable outcomes’ must also be realized in fortifying systems that spot those suffering or at risk, with possible monitoring to confirm these improvements.

This push for stronger systems coincides with operators gearing up for the forthcoming FIFA World Cup. The ANJ reminded FDJ, PMU, and other licensed operators earlier this year that they must not surpass their declared total promotional budget for 2026.

Racetrack improvements

In the horse racing sector, the ANJ recognized work to inform bettors about support resources, train staff, and the ongoing supervision by the National Federation of Horse Racing (FNCH).

However, the regulator emphasized the need for a clear separation at venues between family-friendly zones and betting areas, and to ensure content does not indirectly promote gambling.

The FNCH was also directed to enhance its processes for identifying and supporting individuals experiencing gambling harm at tracks by persisting with training, as current efforts were deemed ‘insufficient’.

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