France's gambling regulator, ANJ, has released a new practical guide designed to assist licensed online gambling operators in identifying, documenting, and addressing various forms of player fraud. This guide, published on Monday, follows consultations with operators and the gaming ombudsman and clarifies compliance expectations regarding existing anti-fraud and anti-money laundering regulations, without adding new legal obligations.
While it does not introduce novel legal duties, the guide does tighten the operational framework for managing player fraud in France. It addresses ongoing operator concerns about the conditions under which they may reasonably close accounts, withhold or return player funds, cancel bets, or redistribute prizes obtained through fraud.
Significantly, the guide offers insights into the evidence standards that French courts expect operators to meet before taking actions susceptible to legal challenges. ANJ has identified six primary categories of fraud prevalent in online gambling: identity fraud, payment fraud, abusive chargebacks, in-game cheating, money-dumping, and sporting event manipulation. For each category, the guide provides relevant legal provisions alongside recommended operational actions.
In cases of identity fraud, operators should close accounts upon confirming fraudulent activity and reserve balances when they cannot verify bank account ownership. The guide highlights the importance of technical protections, such as implementing two-factor authentication for withdrawals and alterations to banking information, particularly in cases of account takeovers. For issues like poker collusion and the use of bots, operators are encouraged to redistribute invalid winnings to the affected players; the guide acknowledges that such actions have been supported by the courts when backed by robust data.
ANJ stresses the need for operators to substantiate their claims with proof rather than assumptions. The guide specifies the types of evidence and “converging indicators” that have been recognized in prior legal cases, including IP addresses, device logs, and connection timestamps.
Operators are encouraged to enhance their terms and conditions, maintain thorough documentation, and ensure their technical measures align with the regulator's expectations. They must also revisit their Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols, fraud detection approaches, and contractual terms to integrate the guide's recommendations effectively.
The focus on safeguarding players remains a priority for ANJ. Earlier this year, the regulator fined an unnamed online betting operator, referred to as Company X, €500,000 ($572,797) for failing to adequately identify and assist customers exhibiting signs of problematic gambling behavior. The investigation revealed that Company X had improperly categorized 29 high-risk players, including overlooking six entirely and misclassifying another 23.
In addition, ANJ launched a public awareness campaign this year to address gambling addiction risks, particularly around the increased betting activities expected during the 2026 World Cup.
