Three years after its launch, Autorité Nationale des Jeux, France’s National Gambling Authority has drawn up a new strategic plan encompassing the period from 2024 to 2027. Its pivotal points include problem gambling prevention, examining the social impact of gambling, as well as protection of minors.
The National Gambling Authority was set up on June 23, 2020, to regulate a flourishing gambling market that has attracted consumers of all ages and backgrounds. The gross gaming revenue for 2023 stood at €13 billion, according to figures published in the strategic plan. 78% of the sector is regulated by the ANJ, including 16 authorized operators of sports betting, horse racing, and online poker. Due to the inherent risks associated with the activity, the supply and demand of gambling products must be supervised, as the regulatory body noted.
The authority further observed the substantial progress that has been made by gambling operators over the past three years in terms of the implementation of player protection mechanisms. However, excessive gambling represents a major social problem, with 1.4 million at-risk gamblers, including 400,000 pathological gamblers, according to estimations from 2019. The figures must be updated soon, as the ANJ noted, to reflect the current state of the industry.
It is against the backdrop of these social problems that the authority calls for a collaborative process involving all economic and institutional stakeholders.
The 2024-2026 Strategic Plan Is Based on Three Fundamental Pillars
The new strategic plan of the regulatory authority is based on three fundamental pillars. The first one aims to drastically reduce the share of problem gamblers. To achieve this objective, the ANJ calls for significant efforts on behalf of gambling operators, requiring a coherent and consolidated approach.
The second pillar involves the illegal gambling market and the necessary steps that must be taken to reduce its share. The gross gaming revenue generated by illegal operators is estimated between €748 million and €1.5 billion. To reach this goal, the regulator must continue its action to preserve the transparency and integrity of the market. The third pillar involves the strengthening of the economic aspect of regulation to better understand market balances and deliver solutions in line with the current market situation.
Ultimately, through its strategic plan, the gambling authority seeks to strengthen the French model of regulation by reaching a balance between openness and robust protection mechanisms.
Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, President of the French Gambling Authority, commented on the recently published strategic plan. She explained that it would be monitored over three years, with adjustments made based on monitoring indicators and prevalence studies. She underlined the importance of joining the forces of all industry participants, including gambling operators, public authorities, and associations to reach the ambitious objectives of the plan.
