ANJ: Reinforced anti-money laundering surveillance
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7 Apr 2025 •
Reading time: 3 minutes The National Gaming Authority has assessed gambling operators’ action plans to combat money laundering in 2024. While progress has been made, shortcomings remain, particularly in detection systems and the handling of alerts. The ANJ is demanding that operators strengthen their systems by 2025, with a focus on human resources and surveillance tools. Gambling regulation remains an ongoing process requiring vigilance and adaptation to new fraud techniques.
Each year, gambling operators are required to submit detailed action plans to the National Gaming Authority (ANJ) to combat fraud, money laundering and the financing of terrorism. This obligation, introduced by law, serves to ensure that industry players comply with strict standards aimed at preventing these illegal practices. But after examining the actions taken in 2024, one question remains: are they really ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow?
A positive assessment overall, but with room for improvement
When analysing the action plans submitted by operators in 2024, the ANJ observed significant progress in the implementation of anti-money laundering (AML) measures. The majority of operators have complied with the ANJ’s recommendations, integrating new anomaly detection tools and allocating more human and material resources to compliance. These advances are signs of an upward trajectory, but vigilance is still required.
Significant progress has been made in a number of areas, such as the improvement of internal control processes, but the ANJ has pointed out that some operators still need to strengthen their systems. In particular, the regulator noted shortcomings in alert systems and in the handling of these alerts, areas that are crucial to an effective fight against money laundering.
Specific measures to strengthen compliance
Although progress has been made, some operators still need to step up their efforts. For example, the ANJ has asked some operators to strengthen their anti-money laundering teams and to step up professional training to ensure that staff have a better grasp of procedures. The aim of such an initiative is not only to improve the quality of the reports sent to TRACFIN, the French anti-money laundering body, but also to refine the detection of suspicious behaviour.
The ANJ also specified that, by 2025, measures such as increasing the number of staff assigned to AML and deploying new internal control plans were necessary to achieve an optimal level of compliance.
Commitments for 2025: towards tighter regulation
Operators have committed to adopting more robust actions by 2025. These commitments include extending warning systems and making them more responsive. They also plan to step up transaction analysis and provide better training for their teams in detecting suspicious financial behaviour.
One of the key actions is the deployment of more sophisticated surveillance tools and the implementation of stronger internal controls. These efforts should make it possible to monitor activities in real time, which is essential for preventing money laundering and other forms of fraud.
Ongoing monitoring: a never-ending mission
The ANJ, as regulator, plays a crucial role in ensuring that each operator complies with legal requirements. The analysis of action plans is an iterative process, aimed at correcting shortcomings and strengthening anti-fraud measures. Thanks to regular exchanges between the ANJ and the operators, the compliance actions are constantly updated, but this does not mean that the work is finished.
The efforts made by operators to meet the ANJ’s requirements are encouraging, but constant vigilance is essential. The regulations must adapt to changes in money laundering techniques, which are becoming increasingly sophisticated.