France’s gaming authority, the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), has launched an information campaign called “100% winner?” to alert the public about the dangers of illegal online casinos.
This initiative is part of the ANJ’s broader 2024-2026 strategic plan aimed at tackling key challenges in the French gambling market, with a strong focus on combating illegal gambling.
The campaign comes on the heels of a 2023 study by PwC, which found that between three and four million people in France have used illegal gambling websites.
Online casinos have become the most popular form of illegal gambling. Starting in October, the “100% winner?” campaign seeks to raise public awareness that online casinos are illegal in France, where only online poker, sports betting, and horse racing are regulated.
The campaign will also educate the public about the dangers of illegal gambling sites, helping to curb risky behavior and problem gambling.
Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, President of the ANJ, emphasized the serious risks involved: “The illegal supply of online gambling represents between 5% and 11% of the overall gambling market in France. It is particularly harmful for the players who consume it: addiction, over-indebtedness, family problems, etc.”
She further explained the wider implications of illegal gambling: “This parallel market constitutes a real financial support for multiple international criminal organisations. This is why the ANJ is determined to use all the levers at its disposal to stop this illegal supply.”
The “100% winner?” campaign will use striking visuals of online casinos in ads placed on gaming apps, web banners, and social platforms like Twitch, Snapchat, and TikTok. Each ad will direct users to a dedicated webpage that explains why online casinos are banned in France, outlines the risks they pose, and provides tips on how to spot illegal sites.
Since March 2022, the ANJ has been blocking and delisting illegal gambling websites, issuing 506 administrative actions and blocking 2,365 URLs. However, illegal operators frequently reappear using “mirror sites” with different URLs. To combat this, the ANJ works with intermediaries like payment providers and search engines and collaborates with national and European authorities on enforcement and prevention measures.
