France currently prohibits online casinos, leading to a booming black market with little competition.
Call for Regulation Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, chair of the National Gaming Authority in France (L’Autorité Nationale des Jeux, ANJ), has called on European authorities to intensify their efforts against illegal gambling. She expressed her concerns at ICE Barcelona, urging for stricter oversight as unlicensed gambling becomes increasingly prevalent.
Concerns Over Growth Falque-Pierrotin highlighted the urgent need to guide players towards licensed operators, noting mixed results in various regulatory markets. She emphasized that illegal gambling has shifted from a niche activity to a mainstream issue, with unlicensed operators openly advertising on TV and social media.
Despite some jurisdictions having stricter rules, many still struggle against the aggressive expansion of the black market. Falque-Pierrotin pointed out that illegal operators exploit gaps in regulated markets, such as France’s lack of online casino legality, drawing players towards their platforms.
Public Awareness and Regulatory Gaps She further noted that the general public often lacks awareness about the regulatory status of the platforms they use, inadvertently engaging with illegal operators. Consequently, unlicensed iGaming has continued to thrive in France.
Falque-Pierrotin stressed that without strong regulatory action, the legitimacy of licensed gambling frameworks could be at risk. Recent political shifts have halted efforts to legalize online casinos in France, further complicating the situation.
Tax Increases and Industry Impact In November, the French Senate approved tax hikes across several industries, including gambling, exacerbating the challenges faced by the legal gambling sector. These hikes have raised concerns among industry stakeholders, who fear that increased business pressures could force regulated operators to cede ground to unlicensed competitors.
Critics of the gambling industry have welcomed the tax increase, arguing that it is a necessary measure to mitigate the potential harm of gambling on vulnerable individuals.
