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Online betting via ANJ
What is ANJ and its mandate
ANJ (Autorité nationale des jeux) is an independent national gambling regulator in France. It licenses and controls the legal market (online and retail), monitors the protection of players, fights illegal sites and is involved in preventing match-fixing.
What is allowed online and what is not
In France, only three categories are legal on the Internet: sports betting, horse racing betting and poker. Lotteries (FDJ) - under a separate special mode. Online casinos (slots, roulette, etc.) are not allowed - they are only available offline at the casino.
Legal framework and licensing
The market was opened by law No. 2010-476 (May 12, 2010), which set the competition and admission system for remote betting and poker. Online sports and running operators need an ANJ license under the specified law and by-laws; online poker is also licensed by ANJ. Since 2024, a fantasy betting pilot has been launched as a separate licensed activity.
Technical certification
ANJ approves gaming/betting platforms and software: security, RNG correctness (where applicable), data integrity and compliance with technical requirements established on the basis of Art. 34 of Law 2010-476 (taking into account the reform of 2019).
Responsible play and advertising
The ANJ prioritises reducing over-play: operators are required to have a CUS/age verification, deposit/time limits, self-exclusion tools and low-key marketing policies. In 2025, the regulator updated its three-year strategy, requiring the industry to really reduce the share of "high-risk" players and a stricter approach to promotions and loyalty.
Fighting illegal online casinos
Since 2022, ANJ has received the right to administratively require blocking access and dereference of sites offering illegal games or their advertising (without lengthy court procedures). In 2024-2025 the regulator is actively using the mechanism of mass blocking and has created a separate unit to suppress violations.
Market trends 2024-2025
The online segment is growing, the driver is sports betting; according to ANJ reports for the first half of 2025, the GGR of the market reached about €5.7 billion (+ 3.5% YoY). Amid growing promotional budgets, ANJ warns of the "risky" nature of 2025 and insists on increased protection measures.
How an operator can obtain and hold an ANJ license (short diagram)
1. Yur. face and net reputation: transparent ownership structure, AML/KYC compliance.
2. Product and vertical: application strictly according to the permitted types (sports, running, poker; for fantasy - pilot mode).
3. Those. dossier and software: security audit, logging, data protection, fault tolerance; approval of ANJ software.
4. RG/advertising model: limits, self-control tools, moderate communication and youth protection.
5. Continuous compliance: reporting, monitoring of events (sports integration), participation in measures against illegal immigrants.
What matters to the player in France
Play only with licensed ANJ operators - this guarantees payment control, confidentiality and access to self-defense tools.
Online casino games on sites without a license are illegal: ANJ seeks to block them, and participation carries the risks of not receiving a win and data leakage.
If excitement gets out of hand, licensed operators have limits/self-exclusion and help desk contacts available.
The French online gambling model is a "narrow corridor" of sports, running and poker under the strict supervision of ANJ. It combines competition among licensed brands, strict technical certification and a system policy of responsible play, as well as an active fight against illegal sites. In 2025, the regulator will further shift the focus to consumer protection - and this determines the rules of the game for operators and safety for players.