In Biganos, France, a 26-year-old man with no history of drug trafficking was convicted for selling several kilos of drugs… to finance his fierce gambling addiction.
On 9 July 2025, a tense town council put an abrupt end to plans to reopen the Bagnères-de-Luchon casino. Golden Palace’s proposal was rejected by 10 votes to 9, consigning to oblivion a project that had been two years in the making. It was a slap in the face that the spa had not anticipated.
Despite their popularity and image as light entertainment, scratch card games can be a gateway to excessive gambling. This is particularly true when they are played both at the point of sale and online, or through high-stakes tickets, according to a study conducted by Concordia University (Montreal) at the request of the ANJ.
The ANJ is stepping up its fight against gambling advertising abuses. At a conference, the French regulator unveiled a series of ambitious proposals, including a ban on gambling advertising between the beginning and end of sports broadcasts (‘whistle ban’) and tighter controls on sponsorship.
The Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ) has imposed a €75,000 fine on a licensed operator for serious breaches of its legal obligations regarding data archiving and transmission.
The ANJ has given its approval, subject to strict conditions, to FDJ’s 2026 programme. The emphasis is on protecting players, at a time when indicators of excessive gambling are on the rise again.
To mark its 5th birthday, the ANJ organised a major conference to strengthen the fight against gambling addiction. Experts and regulators called for more proactive regulation, focusing on AI, personalised support and legislative reform. The aim: to build a sustainable French model focused on protecting players.
A new page in European gaming history was written when the Austrian group NOVOMATIC, already a technological giant in the sector, completed its acquisition of Vikings Casinos. The deal, announced last January, has finally been approved by the French authorities, giving NOVOMATIC not only lasting access to one of the continent’s most demanding markets, but also a strong signal of its international expansion.
On 1 July, the premises of the National Gaming Authority (ANJ) in Paris were the scene of a rare but highly significant diplomatic meeting. A Japanese delegation, made up of members of the Japanese government and researchers from WIP Japan Corp. travelled to France for a series of in-depth discussions on the regulation of gambling and the prevention of excessive gambling.
Their names are Raphaël, Inès or Yanis. They are 15, 16, sometimes 17 years old. And already, some of them are scratching tickets in the school playground or betting online on the result of a Ligue 1 match. Yet the law is clear: gambling is prohibited for minors.
For French online gambling operators, July 1 marks a real regulatory shockwave, with the entry into force of a new tax system deemed ‘record-breaking’ and ‘unfair’ by industry professionals.
The Senate Finance Committee met for a round-table discussion on the current state of gambling in France. Nicolas Béraud, Chairman of AFJEL, gave an unprecedented overview of a sector that is all too often misunderstood.
A new chapter is opening in this spa town. After an absence of several decades, a casino is returning to centre stage. But this renaissance, spearheaded by the Belgian Golden Palace group, is not being met with unanimous approval.
On 24 June 2025, the French National Gaming Authority (ANJ) published its 2024 activity report. This document marks five years of existence for the institution and represents a turning point in its regulation. At the halfway point in its 2024-2026 strategy, the ANJ has set a clear course: fewer gamblers at risk and greater responsibility for operators.
In just a few years, FDJ UNITED has established itself as one of the heavyweights in the European gaming and betting sector, the result of a strategy of targeted acquisitions and an agile positioning combining digital innovation and territorial roots.
On 12 June, a rare moment took place in the corridors of the addiction and psychiatry department at Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital in Paris. Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, Chairwoman of the French National Gaming Authority (ANJ), paid a visit. A visit that goes beyond mere protocol.
In Digne-les-Bains, the laying of the foundation stone for the future Golden Palace casino marks the beginning of an ambitious project combining entertainment, economic momentum, and sustainable development. Scheduled to open by the end of 2026, this new venue promises much more than a traditional gaming space.
