ANJ and Unaf united against gambling addiction: a strengthened collaboration

Gambling addiction is a scourge that affects more and more people, including young people. In France, the ANJ and Unaf are joining forces to fight against this phenomenon. Their common goal: to better prevent the risks associated with excessive gambling and protect minors.

The problem of gambling, particularly among young people, is a major public health issue. Faced with this alarming observation, the National Gaming Agency (ANJ) and the National Union of Family Associations (Unaf) have decided to strengthen their collaboration.

Signed on September 18, 2024, their new partnership agreement aims to intensify prevention and protection actions for minors. It follows the one already undertaken between 2020 and 2023.

This is not the first collaboration of this type that the ANJ has signed this year. Indeed, last July, the ANJ joined forces with the Addiction Federation to implement various measures to combat addiction and protect young players. This new collaboration is a strong signal that demonstrates the ANJ’s desire to address this public health problem.

A constantly growing scourge

The figures speak for themselves: in 2019, the Gaming Observatory estimated the number of players at risk in France at 1.4 million. While this data needs to be updated, it reflects a worrying situation, with significant social consequences for individuals and their loved ones. Young people are particularly vulnerable, despite the legal ban.

A strengthened collaboration for better protection

Based on this observation, the ANJ and Unaf have decided to pool their expertise to combat this scourge.

Together, they decided to focus on developing tools for professionals supporting vulnerable people, with an emphasis on budgetary support mechanisms and facilitating access to specific resources.

The planned actions are structured around several axes:

• Raising awareness among professionals: Development of tools and training programs for social support professionals, social workers and educators.
• Informing families: Publication of awareness-raising materials for parents and guardians, to help them identify the signs of possible addiction and support their loved ones.
• Protecting minors: Implementation of specific mechanisms to prevent minors from gambling and strengthening controls at points of sale.

The situation in Belgium

While France and other European countries are striving to better regulate gambling and protect players, the situation in Belgium is worrying. A recent study showed that one in four Belgian minors had already gambled for money, despite the legal ban.

Scratch cards are particularly popular with young people, and their accessibility is criticized. In addition, slot machines are often accessible to minors in stores, despite the rules in force. This situation raises many questions about the effectiveness of the prevention and control measures in force.

In Belgium as in France, it is urgent to strengthen prevention and protection measures, in order to protect young people and their families from the devastating consequences of gambling addiction.