The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), France’s gambling authority, has released a detailed guide intended for licensed online gambling operators. This guide aims to enhance the identification, documentation, and response strategies regarding various forms of player fraud, and it was made public on Monday following a consultation period with industry operators and the gaming ombudsman.
While the guide does not introduce new legal requirements, it clarifies existing obligations under current anti-fraud and anti-money laundering regulations, effectively refining the framework that operators must adhere to in managing player fraud in France.
One of the main focuses of the guide is to address operators' ongoing uncertainties about critical decisions such as account closure, balance retention, bet cancellation, and prize redistribution related to fraud. It also outlines the evidence standards that French courts expect operators to meet before taking actions susceptible to legal challenges.
The regulator has classified player fraud into six primary categories: identity fraud, payment fraud, abusive chargebacks, in-game cheating, money-dumping, and manipulation of sporting events. Each category is explained with relevant legal provisions and suggested operational responses.
For identity fraud, operators are advised to close accounts once fraud is confirmed and to withhold balances if the ownership of bank accounts cannot be verified. When it comes to account takeovers, the guide stresses the importance of technical protections, recommending practices such as two-factor authentication for withdrawals and changes in banking details.
In cases of poker collusion and the use of bots, the guide suggests contractual measures that allow operators to redistribute fraudulent winnings back to the rightful players. It notes that courts have upheld such redistributions when supported by strong evidence.
Moreover, the ANJ emphasizes that operators must provide concrete proof rather than rely on suspicion alone. The guide details the types of evidence and “converging indicators,” known as faisceaux d’indices, that have been recognized by French courts in prior cases, including IP addresses, device logs, and connection times.
Operators are encouraged to implement several proactive measures, such as enhancing their terms and conditions, rigorously maintaining evidence, and adopting high technical standards. A thorough review of their Know Your Customer (KYC) processes, fraud detection protocols, and contractual terms to incorporate the guide's recommendations is advised, along with an evaluation of their current technical safeguards to ensure compliance with regulatory expectations and certification requirements.
The ANJ's renewed focus on safeguarding was illustrated in July when it fined an undisclosed online betting operator, referred to as Company X, €500,000 ($572,797) for failing to properly identify and assist customers showing signs of problematic gambling. This fine was the result of an investigation that revealed the operator did not correctly assess the risk level of 29 high-risk players, missing six entirely and misclassifying 23 as lower risk.
Earlier this year, the regulator also initiated a public awareness campaign during the 2026 World Cup, addressing potential gambling addiction risks linked to increased sports betting during the event.
