Lead brief
France's gambling regulator ANJ has revealed that 60% of gross gaming revenue comes from players classified as risky by its new benchmark algorithm, underlining the scale of potential harm and prompting industry-wide debates over responsible gambling standards.
Coverage frame
This piece sits inside the wider 31Casino news desk, where single developments are read against regulation, market structure, and reader relevance.
Primary source base
- ▸The French regulator ANJ estimates 60% of gross gaming revenue (GGR) comes from players it classifies as "risky".
- ▸ANJ has published its algorithm to serve as a benchmark for gambling operators and stakeholders.
- ▸The announcement intensifies debates around the effectiveness of industry safer gambling interventions.
- ▸This development places fresh scrutiny on regulatory approaches to protecting vulnerable players in France.
What Happened
On 12 June 2024, France’s gambling authority, Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), disclosed a striking finding. Using a new analytical algorithm, the regulator concluded that approximately 60% of gross gaming revenue in the French market originates from players whose behaviour is high-risk under responsible gambling standards. This insight emerged as the ANJ unveiled its algorithm, offering operators access so they can assess and improve their own strategies for player protection.
The ANJ’s algorithm sifts player data to identify those whose betting behaviour signals elevated risk for gambling-related harm, providing a data-driven methodology for classifying risk and evaluating the effectiveness of operator interventions.
Why It Matters
The revelation that the majority of gambling revenue in France accrues from customers identified as "risky" is a watershed moment for both industry and policymakers. Such a high proportion of GGR linked to vulnerable or problem-prone players raises searching questions about the sustainability of current operator business models and the robustness of responsible gambling frameworks.
60% of GGR — According to the ANJ’s benchmark, most of France’s gambling revenue comes from players at heightened risk for harm, intensifying the pressure on operators to address problem gambling.
For the industry, this evidence resets the conversation around player protection. There is now an empirical foundation for regulatory scrutiny and a clear invitation for operators to critically assess whether their safer gambling protocols have delivered real protection, rather than relying on compliance box-ticking. This will also inform public and political perceptions, potentially fuelling demands for stronger interventions such as loss limits, affordability checks, or mandatory breaks for players.
For regulators, the ANJ’s approach may become a model internationally. It marks a shift from broad, reactive enforcement to targeted, analytics-driven oversight. How operators respond — especially those with significant market share — will reveal much about the sector’s ability and willingness to balance profitability with consumer welfare.
Industry Context
The ANJ’s move arrives amid mounting scrutiny of gambling harms across Europe. France, though historically less liberal than the UK or some Scandinavian markets, has rapidly evolved its regulatory regime since the 2010 opening to online gambling. In recent years, public debate and media coverage of gambling addiction have intensified, and the rise of online platforms has expanded both access and risk.
Across leading markets, regulators are urging operators to invest in technology-driven harm detection and real-time intervention. The UK Gambling Commission has trialled similar data-led approaches, and regulators in the Netherlands and Germany are following suit. ANJ’s transparent publication of its methodology is unusual, promoting sector-wide accountability and knowledge sharing.
French operators are now confronted with a benchmark that quantifies the scale of risky play, putting additional pressure on those who may have previously considered their compliance tools sufficient. Industry observers will be watching for voluntary adoption of the ANJ benchmark in other territories and for further data releases from peer regulators.
Regulatory Background
ANJ oversees all regulated gambling activity in France, from online poker and sports betting to lotteries and retail betting. The regulator’s remit expanded significantly in 2020, placing issues of public health and player safety at the forefront of its mission. Regulatory reviews have focused on restricting marketing, reducing youth exposure, and tightening requirements for player monitoring.
The ANJ’s algorithm has been developed as part of these broader responsible gambling reforms, and its public release serves a dual purpose. It aims to raise operator standards but also bring greater transparency to a sector frequently criticised for opacity in its harm reduction reporting. Operators now face expectations to align their internal practices with the regulator’s risk thresholds.
Extensive responsible gambling resources and helplines are now mandated for all licensees, and recent years have seen increases in sanctions against operators failing to intervene with at-risk customers. The ANJ’s data-driven approach is a further escalation in the regulatory toolkit.
For more on the regulatory environment, see our France gambling regulation guide.
What Happens Next
The ANJ will monitor operator uptake of its benchmark and analyse data from those who integrate the algorithm. The regulator has made it clear that the findings will inform future policy and compliance activity. Operators are anticipated to review their player monitoring and intervention technology in light of the new risk metrics, with the potential for policy tightening at both operator and sector levels should self-regulation fall short.
Sources
This article is for informational purposes only. 31Casino does not provide gambling services or recommendations. If you're concerned about your gambling, visit our Responsible Gambling page for support resources.