ANJ issues heavy fines to gambling sites that violated refund rules
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3 Dec 2024 •
Reading time: 2 minutes On October 1, 2024, the French gambling authority ANJ launched a major attack on nine gambling companies. These online providers allegedly returned too much of the money wagered to players in 2022.
That may sound like good news for gamblers, but it is not allowed according to the rules. The companies received a warning and hefty fines, ranging from 5,000 to 150,000 euros.
Why these rules actually exist
Why is it bad if players get more money back? The answer lies in the risks of gambling. French law states that companies may not return more than 85% of the bets, so that gambling does not become too tempting. The idea is to prevent people from becoming addicted and to ensure that criminal money is not laundered through gambling. Makes sense, right?
In 2021, the ANJ once again clearly explained how to calculate that percentage. They look at a whole year and check whether companies adhere to the limit. These nine companies did not, and that has now cost them a lot of money.
How the ANJ arrived at these penalties
The ANJ did not take it lightly. They looked at how big the violations were and whether the companies had made the same mistake before. One company only received a warning, but the others had to dig deep into their pockets. The highest fine was no less than 150,000 euros! For some of these companies, that is really hard to swallow.
What is also striking: this is not the first time that the ANJ has taken action. Last year, in April 2023, seven gambling companies were already tackled for the same reason. This time the penalties were even heavier. The message is clear: the ANJ wants the rules to be taken seriously.
No major public scandal
Interestingly, the ANJ has decided not to widely publicize these fines. So no major headlines or public shame for the companies. They can still appeal, but that must be done within two months.
This shows that gambling in France is strictly regulated. The ANJ wants to protect players and ensure that everything is fair. For gambling companies it is a warning: play by the rules, or you will pay the price. For players it means that the rules are there to protect them from themselves – and from fraudulent practices.