France’s gambling regulator, the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), has introduced a new algorithm designed to identify signs of excessive gambling more accurately. The tool gives regulators and operators a broader view of gambling-related harm and suggests that the issue is larger than earlier reporting indicated.
High-risk gambling accounts for a major share of revenue
According to the ANJ, around 600,000 players in France showed a high level of gambling risk during the second half of 2025. That group represented 8.7% of registered players, yet it generated about €1.2 billion in gross gaming revenue, or roughly 60% of total online gambling revenue.
The regulator said the model was validated against the Canadian Problem Gambling Index, strengthening confidence in the findings. ANJ Chair Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin described the system as an important step toward measuring harmful gambling behavior through observed player activity rather than relying only on surveys.
She also stressed that operators should respond quickly when risky behavior is identified, and that similar detection efforts should be expanded beyond online channels to retail gambling locations as well.
Gap between operator reporting and regulator estimates
While licensed operators in France have improved their reporting, the ANJ said current identification efforts still fall short. Between 2024 and 2025, operators reported 89,000 problem gamblers, up from 31,000 a year earlier. Even so, the regulator’s algorithm identified more than 600,000 potentially high-risk players.
This gap indicates that existing monitoring systems may be missing a substantial number of vulnerable customers. The ANJ has urged operators to focus especially on the 300,000 most at-risk individuals and to apply stronger preventive measures.
Measures expected from operators
- Set or tighten betting and spending limits
- Direct affected players toward health and support services
- Intervene earlier when behavior becomes clearly excessive
- Suspend or close accounts when appropriate
Part of a wider harm-reduction strategy
The algorithm forms part of the ANJ’s 2024-2026 strategy to reduce excessive gambling and improve player protection. Although the tool is not mandatory for operators, the regulator sees it as a practical benchmark for assessing whether company systems are detecting harmful behavior effectively.
The ANJ also wants similar oversight to apply across all gambling channels, including land-based points of sale. Its broader objective is to reduce the proportion of industry revenue linked to excessive gambling while supporting a safer and more sustainable market.
France’s gambling sector is now worth more than €14 billion, and the regulator’s latest findings suggest that future growth will come under increasing scrutiny if consumer protection measures do not keep pace.
