France’s Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) has published new guidance to help licensed gambling operators identify, assess and respond to player fraud. The document is designed as a compliance resource rather than introducing new regulatory requirements.
Guidance Covers Online Gambling Fraud
The guide applies to gambling products that require players to register online, including sports betting, online lottery and account-based gaming. It does not cover gambling conducted exclusively through physical distribution channels without online registration.
ANJ said the guidance supplements existing legal and regulatory requirements, particularly the framework introduced in September 2021 for preventing fraud and money laundering. Operators must continue to assess individual cases and retain discretion over contractual measures.
The regulator developed the document following consultations with licensed operators and discussions with France’s gaming ombudsman.
Five Key Fraud Categories
ANJ identifies five main types of player fraud: identity fraud, payment fraud, abusive bank chargebacks, game-related fraud and money dumping. The latter involves transferring funds between accounts while disguising the movement as poker chip transactions.
The classification is not exhaustive. Operators also highlighted practices such as betting bots, syndicates, late betting and repeated account closures and openings to obtain bonuses. However, ANJ does not automatically classify these activities as fraud, leaving operators to address them under their own contractual conditions.
Suspicion Alone Is Not Enough
One of the guide’s key points concerns the evidence required before operators take action. Winnings or account balances cannot be withheld solely because fraud is suspected.
A player’s failure to respond to an operator’s questions may strengthen suspicion, but it does not independently establish fraud. To clarify the evidentiary threshold, ANJ has included relevant court decisions and case-law examples.
For confirmed cases, the guide explains measures operators may take under existing law, including handling fraudulent accounts and balances in situations involving hacked accounts or falsified payment information.
It also provides recommendations on penalty clauses and contractual sanctions, helping operators align enforcement measures with applicable legislation and judicial precedent.
Overall, the guidance reinforces the importance of evidence-based fraud prevention, proportionate enforcement and consistent compliance practices across France’s regulated online gambling sector.
