French regulator L’Autiorite nationale des Jeux (ANJ) now has the power to block any unlicensed gambling website from operating in France. This regulation applies regardless of whether they advertise to French customers.
The “Law for the democratisations of sport in France” implements several measures. These measures apply to access to sport and aim to tackle match-fixing. However, it also grants the ANJ new powers to take action against unlicensed gambling.
The legislation
Now these powers ANJ has are comparable to the Dutch gambling regulator KSA, which is also able to block such sites. Sweden has proposed a similar law. As per legislation, the president of ANJ may address a formal notice to cease this activity to any person whose online gambling offer is accessible on French territory.
The formal notice invites the operator in question to respond with observations within five days. After the deadline, the ANJ may order internet service providers and search engines to “take any measure intended to prevent access.”
The ANJ has already blocked around 250 unlicensed gambling sites. It said the new powers would help it in its goal to reduce unlicensed gambling this year.
Priority for 2022
ANJ said that this is a major step forward in the fight against the illegal offer of gambling in France. This is one of their priority projects for 2022. The project supports the new cooperation strategy that they have been developing for several months. It refers to all digital players. Search engines, social networks, content exchange platforms, payment solution providers, are now under larger ANJ control.
Under the new legislation, the ANJ must also collect and analyse reports of suspicious betting on French-licensed websites. This is something the regulator already does.
