France’s gambling regulator, the ANJ, has released a new guide intended for licensed online gambling operators. This document is designed to help them better identify, document, and respond to various instances of player fraud.
Launched on Monday after consultations with gaming operators and the ombudsman, the guide clarifies existing compliance expectations concerning anti-fraud and anti-money laundering regulations, though it does not create any new legal obligations.
While no new legal duties are established, the guide effectively tightens the framework operators must follow to handle player fraud within France.
It specifically addresses lingering concerns among operators regarding the appropriate circumstances for actions such as account closures, withholding or returning player balances, canceling bets, and redistributing tournament prizes obtained through fraud.
Importantly, the guide outlines the evidentiary standards that French courts expect operators to meet prior to implementing corrective measures that might face legal scrutiny.
The ANJ has identified six common types of fraud in online gambling: identity fraud, payment fraud, abusive chargebacks, in-game cheating, money-dumping, and manipulation of sporting events. For each category, the guide outlines relevant legal provisions and suggests operational responses.
For instance, when it comes to identity fraud, operators are advised to close accounts once fraud is identified and to withhold balances if the ownership of bank accounts cannot be verified. For account takeovers, the guide stresses the importance of implementing technical measures like two-factor authentication for any withdrawals and alterations to banking details.
Addressing poker collusion and the use of bots, the guide recommends operators adopt contractual provisions that would enable them to redistribute winnings deemed illegitimate back to the affected players, an approach that French courts have validated when backed by substantial data.
A strong emphasis is placed on evidentiary standards; the ANJ demands that operators provide solid proof rather than relying on mere suspicion. The document details acceptable types of evidence and indicators that French courts have favored in past cases, such as IP addresses, device logs, and connection timings.
Operators are urged to take practical actions, including improving their terms and conditions, ensuring thorough evidence gathering, and enhancing their technical standards.
Furthermore, they must re-evaluate their Know Your Customer protocols, fraud detection systems, and contractual terms in accordance with the new guidelines. It's essential for them to assess existing technical safeguards to ensure compliance with the expectations set forth by the regulator.
Safeguarding has again emerged as a primary concern for the ANJ. In July, the agency imposed a €500,000 ($572,797) fine on an unnamed online betting operator, referred to in the report as Company X, for failing to adequately recognize and assist customers showing signs of problematic gambling.
The investigation revealed that Company X inadequately identified 29 players at risk, missing six entirely and misclassifying 23 at a lower risk level than warranted. Earlier this year, the regulator also initiated a public awareness campaign coinciding with the 2026 World Cup to highlight the possible gambling addiction risks associated with the surge in sports betting during the event.
