In recent developments, the French gambling regulator, L’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), has intensified its efforts to address two major challenges facing the industry: illicit online casinos and the shielding of children from gambling induced harm. They are being rolled out in a period of intense questioning and possible regulatory reforms of the French gambling market.
To fight back against the increasing danger of illegal online casinos, The ANJ has launched a wide-ranging ‘100% Winning’ campaign. Regulator estimates that Tehran subsidises Iran’s gambling markets to the tune of between 5 and 11 per cent, prompting this move. The aim of the campaign is to educate players as to what the risks on unlicenced platforms and to subscribe on legal licenced alternatives.
Online casino games are still considered illegal in France, and only lottery, sportsbetting, horseracing and poker are regulated in the European market. The partial prohibition has opened the space for the illegal operators to deploy their activities toward French players, potentially exposing them to unfair practises and contractual and financial risks. The “100% Winning” campaign attempts to remind people who play these illegal sites that they not only lose money, but they also put their money at risk, because there is no protection in the regulated market.
The regulator’s efforts do not stop with public awareness campaigns. At the same time, the ANJ is also collaborating with internet service providers and financial institutions to prevent access to illegal gambling sites and to try stopping them from receiving illicit money. The regulator hopes to pull players into legal, regulated options in part by taking a multi-faceted approach aimed at reducing the size of the black market by several orders of magnitude.
In addition to taking on illegal gambling, the ANJ has also acted against the problem of underage gambling in France. In recent years, the regulator has teamed up with the National Union of Family Associations (UNAF), which campaigns for responsible gambling and to prevent minors from accessing gambling services.
The collaboration between the ANJ and UNAF, which is important in the sense it is a first step to a broader approach to gambling regulation, will put into focus the social effect of gambling industry. The regulator endeavours to use the expertise and scope of family associations to disseminate information about the risks of underage gambling and the importance of responsible gaming practises, while working with them.
Educational materials, awareness campaigns and support services to prevent and respond to gambling related harm for young people will be developed under this partnership. It will also reduce the risk of minors’ access to online gambling and improve age verification processes as well as tighten controls.
Now, as the French gambling industry may undergo enormous changes, the ANJ launches these initiatives. The market is being rocked by rumours of a planned tax hike on gambling operators, including major companies Française des Jeux (FDJ), where shares have been volatile due to the talk.
The tax increase, though unconfirmed, underscores how the gambling industry is caught on a knife’s edge between generating revenue and operating in a socially responsible manner. There is the potential for greater taxation to have huge implications across the industry, potentially sixth striking at operators’ capacity to fund responsible gambling measures and consumer protection measures.
As the French gambling landscape develops, the ANJ maintains its determination to combate illegal and protect minors, in order to create a flourishing socially responsible space. Whether these efforts in France will help shape the future gambling regulation in all of Europe or will become a model for other European countries that have to solve similar challenges remains to be seen.
It will be crucial that regulators, operators and social organisations work together to ensure success for these initiatives. In addition, the constantly changing world of online gambling will require ongoing adaptation to new technologies and the changes in consumer behaviour.
The ANJ’s proactive approach to some of the key challenges that continue to face the industry creates some clarity and direction, given the uncertainty around potential tax changes and updated regulatory guidance. The regulator prioritises the fight against illegal gambling and the protection of the most vulnerable ones in order to keep the French gambling market competitive and responsible.
The French gambling industry now has its work cut out as it moves towards solving those hard regulatory questions and may have to contend with money worries. Operators, players and stakeholders will be monitoring closely how these initiatives develop and their effect on the market. No matter what happens, it is obvious that France is going through a radicalization of the gambling landscape, which puts the protection of the consumer and the integrity of the market under surveillance.