The Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ), France's gambling regulatory body, has levied a €500,000 ($572,797) penalty on an online betting operator identified as Company X. This sanction stems from the operator's failure to properly identify and assist customers who exhibited signs of problematic gambling.
This decision was announced following an investigation that revealed Company X’s shortcomings in identifying 29 players deemed high-risk. Alarmingly, six players were not identified at all, while 23 others were misclassified as lower-risk.
From October 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, the ANJ conducted an inquiry focusing on the data accumulated in Company X’s secure data vault, known as the "coffre-fort." The regulator utilized a scoring model that assessed factors like the frequency of deposits, betting behavior, loss trends, and previous self-exclusions. The investigation identified the 30 players with the highest risk profiles, with 29 linked to formal complaints.
In addition, Company X did not offer adequate and proportional support or interventions to 25 of these players, jeopardizing their gambling behavior.
The regulator noted that the combined net losses for these 29 high-risk individuals totaled €683,355, while Company X gained €190,501.86 during the same period.
The ANJ's ruling is based on several legal frameworks. These include the gambling law amended on May 12, 2010, which mandates licensed online operators to identify excessive or pathological gambling practices and to provide appropriate support. The second basis is a reference framework issued on April 9, 2021, intended to guide operators in identifying risk indicators, such as betting frequency and loss-chasing behaviors.
The ANJ asserted that there are two separate, enforceable responsibilities for operators: to identify risky gambling behavior and to provide necessary support. Failure in either area can lead to sanctions.
Company X contested the methodology employed by the regulator, citing a lack of a clear statutory definition of "excessive" or "pathological" gambling under French law. The operator questioned some of the indicators used, such as counting "completed bets" and the management of voluntary limits for different accounts, suggesting these could yield false positives. Additionally, Company X argued that measures like automated warning emails, temporary exclusion from certain promotions, and brief suspensions for fraud were sufficient interventions.
The operator has also worked on improving its detection systems and expanding its player protection team, claiming a 28% average reduction in net losses when comparing data from the 90 days prior to being sanctioned.
However, the ANJ rejected these arguments. It affirmed that the reference framework is explicit, enforceable, and directly integrated into the law. The agency also defended its use of indicators and scoring methods against Company X’s technical criticisms.
Although the commission recognized the potential benefits of automated communications in reducing harm, it deemed the measures taken by Company X insufficient. The ongoing bonuses aimed at high-risk players were particularly criticized, as they could encourage continued gambling.
Company X has faced sanctions before; in 2024, it was fined for exceeding the statutory payout rate ceiling for 2022. However, the commission viewed this case as separate, thus not allowing the previous penalty to influence the current fine amount.
The decision made on July 10, 2026, will be formally communicated to Company X, which has two months to appeal the ruling through the appropriate legal channels.
