France speeds up Self-Exclusion as Illegal Gambling Surges
France’s National Gambling Authority (ANJ) has introduced a streamlined online portal designed to reduce registration delays, enhance identity verification and offer faster protection for individuals experiencing gambling-related harm. The new system, which uses document authentication and live selfie verification through IDnow, aims to process registrations within roughly a day. More than 85,000 people are now listed on the national register up from 40,000 in 2021 reflecting rising demand for preventative tools, particularly among younger adults engaged in sports betting and online poker.
Once registered, individuals are barred from entering casinos, gaming clubs and licensed online betting and poker platforms. The exclusion period lasts a minimum of three years, after which a request for removal can be submitted. From 2026, registrants will also gain access to a personal account enabling them to track their exclusion status and request changes. The regulator plans additional support measures, including a structured call programme to help individuals evaluate the impact of their exclusion.
However, the initiative unfolds against a backdrop of rapid expansion in France’s illegal online gambling market. Data from industry association AFJEL indicates that 5.4 million players now engage with unlicensed operators, surpassing the 3.5 million on regulated platforms. Offshore online casinos remain the most popular illegal product, despite being prohibited under French law. AFJEL reports that a majority of consumers are unaware these platforms are illegal and lack safeguards such as identity checks, loss limits and self-exclusion compliance.
Experts warn that illegal operators actively target individuals who self-exclude, exploiting regulatory blind spots. This disconnect illustrates a broader structural issue: while France’s new system modernises responsible gambling tools, it cannot shield users from offshore platforms that operate beyond national oversight. The challenge ahead lies in aligning player protection with enforcement across a fragmented market.
