France’s regulator approves harm reduction action plans
The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) in France has greenlit mandatory harm reduction plans across the gambling industry, while urging the country’s two monopolistic operators to ramp up their compliance efforts.
Since October 2019, French gambling operators have been required to submit action plans to the ANJ aimed at mitigating problem gambling and preventing underage participation. These plans undergo rigorous review to ensure they meet the evolving standards of player protection.
Between January and March of this year, the ANJ meticulously assessed the action plans submitted by France’s monopolies, PMU and FDJ, as well as the 16 licensed online gaming operators and 203 land-based casinos operating in the country.
While the ANJ acknowledged the approval of these industry action plans, it has emphasized the necessity for enhanced compliance measures, particularly concerning the prohibition of sales to minors. The regulator proposed more stringent policies to bolster monitoring at points of sale.
Furthermore, the ANJ has advocated for the reinforcement of systems designed to identify and support players exhibiting signs of excessive gambling. This includes implementing strategies that enable the detection of harmful gambling behavior at points of sale and establishing comprehensive training and monitoring programs for retail staff.
Identifying the reduction of excessive gambling as a pivotal focus, the ANJ has incorporated it as a regulatory priority in its strategic plan for 2024-2026.
ANJ Highlights Success of Online Gaming Regulation While Calling for Further Action
The ANJ has reported that its strategy focused on outcome-based regulation within the online gaming sector has been “generally successful.”
The regulator highlighted advancements in protective measures for identifying and assisting players prone to excessive gambling, resulting in heightened detection rates and improved support systems within operator platforms. Moreover, the ANJ noted that operators have begun to implement individualized support measures that better align with identified risks.
Despite these positive developments, the ANJ expressed concern that problems associated with gambling continue to represent a significant segment of the online gaming market. Consequently, the ANJ has urged operators to actively identify a greater number of players at risk, aiming to align these figures with current player demographics and academic research findings.
Operators are now expected to implement detection and intervention strategies “as early as possible” in severe cases of problematic gambling, alongside introducing further gaming limits for high-risk activities such as live betting and rapid-paced poker tournaments.
Insights on Land-Based Casinos
In its review of harm prevention action plans submitted by land-based casino operators, the ANJ noted that only one out of the 203 licensed casinos failed to meet approval standards.
The regulator identified an “overall improvement” in compliance within the sector. It observed that while some casinos are proactively seeking and adopting best practices, others remain stagnant in their approaches since 2021.
To facilitate enhancement in harm reduction practices, the ANJ launched an e-learning initiative designed to provide accessible, concrete solutions to tackle the challenges of industry-related harm.
Notably, the ANJ reported a year-on-year growth in the overall turnover of the French gambling sector, with a 3.8% increase reaching €5.5 billion ($5.25 billion/£4.13 billion) in the first half of 2024, reinforcing the economic vitality of the industry while underscoring the ongoing need for effective regulatory measures.
