Why the gambling industry cannot do without problem players
Many gambling companies get their biggest profits from a small group of players who spend too much money. This is no accident. The industry has quietly adjusted to this for years.
Many gambling companies get their biggest profits from a small group of players who spend too much money. This is no accident. The industry has quietly adjusted to this for years.
Two Ukrainians have been sentenced to 15 months in prison for orchestrating a sophisticated cheating operation at the Annecy casino, using micro-cameras, earphones and artificial intelligence to analyse the cards in real time via an accomplice abroad. The duo, who pocketed more than €270,000 since 2023, were arrested after a nationwide investigation.
The ANJ has launched an innovative e-learning module to train casino and gaming club professionals to identify and support excessive or pathological gamblers. This interactive tool, inspired by a guide published in January 2024, offers realistic 3D immersion and has already enabled more than 1,000 certificates to be issued in just a few months.
In an exclusive interview, we spoke with Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, President of the French National Gaming Authority (ANJ) and the Gaming Regulators European Forum (GREF).
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 stepping up its action against excessive gambling and underage gambling by imposing strict prevention plans on operators. Faced with alarming figures – 1.17 million problem gamblers by 2024, including 360,000 problem gamblers – the ANJ is demanding concrete, measurable measures, including early detection of risky behaviour and personalised support for vulnerable gamblers.
Five men have been arrested for cheating as part of an organised gang at the Pasino in La Grande-Motte, causing a loss of €76,000. Thanks to CCTV footage, the management discovered that they were using an iron rod inserted into the roulette wheel to manipulate the trajectory of the ball and distort the results.
The JOA Casino in Le Tréport, located in Seine-Maritime, has become one of the first gaming establishments in France to accept payments in cryptocurrencies. The move, made possible through a partnership with fintech LYZI, allows players to convert their cryptos into euros securely and seamlessly.
Since September 2024, the National Gaming Authority (NGA) has stepped up its efforts to raise awareness among young amateur sportsmen and women of the risks associated with sports betting. In collaboration with the SportEasy application, an awareness campaign has been launched, followed by free sessions in sports associations.
On 28 February 2025, the seven Parisian gaming clubs were authorised to reopen. This put an end to two months of forced closure. The reopening was made possible by a decree issued by the Ministry of the Interior and validated by the Council of State.
The world of gambling has long intrigued scientists and health professionals. In Lyon, researchers have set out to explore the brain mechanisms of gamblers in depth.
On March 6, 2025, FDJ, a major player in the French gambling industry, announced a strategic shift by adopting a new identity: FDJ UNITED.
The French National Gaming Authority (ANJ) recently imposed a record €800,000 fine on SPS Betting, operator of the Unibet.fr website, for serious breaches of the self-exclusion system designed to protect vulnerable players.
Gambling plays an important role in modern society. While for some it is simply a form of entertainment, for others it can become a source of problems.
In a story that mixes crime, luck and moral dilemma, two homeless men recently won €500,000 from scratch cards. Problem: the tickets were bought with a stolen bank card.
France’s gaming sector continues to surprise with its resilience and ability to innovate. In 2024, market leader Française des Jeux (FDJ) reported impressive results, confirming solid growth despite an increasingly restrictive tax environment.
On 11 February 2025, the French Council of State handed down two major decisions confirming the authority of the National Gaming Authority (ANJ) over the games offered and promotional strategies of monopoly operators, in particular La Française des Jeux (FDJ).
At the start of 2025, the French government has announced a significant increase in taxes on online gambling operators.
The Golden Palace casino in Boulogne-sur-Mer recently received official recognition from Atout France for its commitment to inclusion.
The French National Gaming Authority (ANJ) recently made a strong statement by sanctioning a licensed operator for excessively long withdrawal delays.
The European leader in the gaming market, NOVOMATIC AG, has just announced in a press release that it has signed an agreement for the acquisition of the French group Vikings Casinos SAS.
The French gambling regulator, l’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), has called on major gambling operators to review their promotional budgets for 2025.
The curtain fell on seven emblematic gambling clubs in the French capital on December 31. After a six-year experiment, these establishments, created to regulate gambling in Paris, are ceasing their activities due to lack of a legislative extension.
A recent report by the CPO proposes an unprecedented reform of the taxation of gamblers’ winnings, with the aim of providing a better framework for gambling practices and stepping up addiction prevention.
ANJ launches an interactive e-learning module to help casino professionals identify and support at-risk players using immersive tools.
Every year, the approach of Christmas reawakens the excitement of gift buying. However, one trend is now causing concern among the French National Gaming Authority (ANJ): offering scratch cards to children.
Casinos de France criticises Nirio, FDJ’s payment service, for its alleged risks. A controversy that raises questions about ethics and social responsibility.
Since her arrival at the head of Française des Jeux (FDJ) ten years ago, Stéphane Pallez has overseen a real revolution. Once considered a “sleeping beauty”, FDJ has become a […]
Faced with the rise of manipulation in sports competitions, the National Gaming Authority (ANJ) plays a decisive role in France.
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 […]
The betting platform Polymarket has pulled the plug on betting for French users. This is because the French Gaming Authority, ANJ, is investigating the platform.
The taxation of gambling in France is about to undergo a major upheaval. As part of the Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS) for 2025, the Senate approved a series of measures aimed at significantly increasing taxes on gambling, whether physical or online.
Kindred Affiliates has announced a major change to how it handles payments. During a routine audit, the company discovered that some affiliates were using a third party as a beneficiary for their payouts.
The Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS 2025) is the subject of strong criticism from French sports stakeholders.
The crypto gambling platform Polymarket, where you can bet on almost anything, is under fire in France.
After years of discussions and changes to the law, the municipality of Arnac-Pompadour in the French region of Corrèze has finally given the green light for the arrival of a casino.
On October 31, the European Commission decided that La Française des Jeux (FDJ) does not receive unfair state aid for its monopoly on lottery games and sports betting in France.