France’s gambling regulator, the Autorité Nationale des Jeux, published a practical guide for licensed online operators on 31 August. It sets out how operators should identify, document and respond to player fraud. Published subsequent to consultation with operators and gaming ombudsman, the guide aims to clarify how current anti-fraud and anti-money laundering requirements should be applied in practice. While it does not introduce new legal responsibilities, the guidance tightens the operational framework operators must follow. It includes decisions involving account closures, player balances , cancelled bets and tournament gains.
What Fraud Risks Has the ANJ Identified?
The guide identifies six categories of fraud faced by online operators in France. These include identity theft, payment fraud, abusive chargebacks, in-game cheating, money-dumping and sporting event manipulation. For each category, the guide sets out the relevant legal provisions and recommends operational measures that operators can take when fraud is identified.
The list is not exhaustive. The guide also reviews French court decisions, showing how judges have assessed fraud disputes and what evidence they expect before an operator acts against a player.
In cases involving identity fraud, operators have been advised to close accounts once unauthorized activity has been facilitated. They may withhold balances when the name on the associated bank account cannot be verified. On account takeovers, the ANJ emphasised technical measures such as two-factor authentication for withdrawals and changes to banking details.
For poker collusion and the use of bots, contractual provisions can let operators redistribute unauthorized winnings to players who were affected by fraudulent activity. The guide noted that courts have validated such actions when supported by robust data.
Why the ANJ Says Suspicion Is Not Enough
The ANJ said operators must act on evidence rather than suspicion. It said characterising fraud requires probative evidence, and that an operator cannot refuse to pay a win on the basis of mere suspicions. The guide lists examples of evidence and converging indicators that French courts have previously accepted in litigation involving reported fraud. These include IP addresses, device logs and connection timings. Operators have also been pushed to boost their terms and conditions, maintain detailed evidence and improve their technical standards. They’ve also been asked to review their Know Your Customer procedures, fraud detection systems and contractual terms to ensure they reflect the recommendations in the guide.
The ANJ’s current requirements already require licensed operators to maintain traceability of gaming operations and store gaming data. These records allow the regulator and operators to conduct checks aimed at safeguarding players, combating unauthorized actions and money laundering, and maintaining the security of gambling activities.
The regulator is also continuing to focus on player safety and responsible gambling. In July, the ANJ fined an unnamed online betting operator, referred to as Company X, after finding shortcomings in how it identified and supported customers showing signs of excessive gambling. Give the fine in euros. The regulator found 29 high-risk players had not been correctly assessed. Six were missed entirely and 23 were placed in a lower risk category. The ANJ also launched a public awareness campaign earlier this year during the 2026 World Cup, advising about the potential risk of gambling addiction and increased sports betting activity during the tournament.
The wider regulatory focus has also increased as online gambling activity has surged. The ANJ said online bets during the 2026 FIFA World Cup reached 1.3 billion euros, more than twice the amount recorded during the previous World Cup. France’s gambling mediator accepted 1,856 complaints in 2025, up 20% year on year, with account management accounting for 42.4% of them.
You may also like to read – Best Online Sports Betting 2026 – Top Legal Sportsbooks Guide
