L’Autorite National des Jeux (ANJ), France’s unified gambling regulator, has announced a new look sanctions commission, appointed to impose penalties on operators over malpractice.
Independent of the general ANJ college, the sanctions committee features six members who are each appointed to a six-year term.
Sanctions Committee chaired by Frederic Dieu
For the upcoming period ending 2028, the board will be chaired by Frederic Dieu and consists of two members of the Council of State, featuring Dieu and Dorothee Pradines.
Two advisers to the Court of Cassation also feature in the Committee; for the upcoming period, this consists of Fabrice Delbano and Veronique Boisselet.
Finally, two judges from the Court of Auditors, Nicolas Brunner and Maud Choquet make up the rest of the sanctions committee.
ANJ Sanctions Committee’s role
The committee is mandated to act when, following an inspection, the ANJ has ruled that an operator has breached its regulations or obligations or shortcomings.
Once observations from the operator have been considered, the college of the ANJ notifies the operator of the charges and refers them to the sanctions committee, which can impose sanctions such as a warning, reduction of an operator’s licensing period, the suspension of licensing or a financial penalty of up to 5% of turnover.
Offering an update on the progress of the new board, ANJ revealed that some seven online operators could soon be referred to the committee for sanctioning.
In a statement the regulator said: “Newly renewed, the sanctions committee has just been seized by the ANJ concerning seven online operators who have exceeded the ceiling of 85% of the player return rate (TRJ).
“This is the rate corresponding to the proportion of stakes paid on average over the year by operators to players. The ANJ also referred to decisions concerning two operators who allegedly disregarded their obligations to identify and support people whose gambling is excessive or pathological.”
