France’s national gambling authority is calling upon operators to refine their alert systems, improve reporting and strengthen retail network oversight in regard to combating fraud and money laundering in the country’s market.
The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) is continuing to review the action plans of operators and those holding exclusive rights to tackle anti-fraud, anti-money laundering, and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT).
In particular, the authority paid attention to ‘measures related to combating organised crime and, in particular, to the implementation of enhanced due diligence measures tailored to players identified by operators as holding public or private sector positions that expose them to corruption risks’.
ANJ analysis of the plans revealed that operators have complied with AML/CFT requirements and recommendations, with most now having ‘satisfactory human, material, and procedural resources and have demonstrated a willingness to strengthen them by proposing new measures’. This includes:
- Progress in having devices to identify and understand clientele and detect atypicalities;
- Internal control improvements;
- Reporting quantity and quality to the national service TRACFIN regarding suspicious activity.
Commitments for 2026 were also made by the operators, including:
- Strengthening staff training and information;
- Improving customer risk classification criteria;
- Strengthening internal control measures.
However, the authority has also outlined three areas where improvements need to be made:
- Perfecting alert engineering to strengthen vigilance towards players exposed to corruption risks due to their professional activity;
- Consolidating reporting activity and continuing the process of improving quality;
- Exclusive rights operators are further strengthening retail control and ensuring dissuasive and proportionate sanctions are applied in the event of breaches.
ANJ action plan against gambling harm
The ANJ’s evaluation of AML/CFT action plans follows on from their assessment of action plans for preventing excessive and underage gambling.
Of note, the authority stated that while casinos are improving the quality of their identification and support systems, some are ‘still only identifying and supporting an insufficient number of excessive or pathological players, which is not consistent with their level of attendance’.
A stronger connection between venues and support centres has also helped to provide detected excessive gamblers with guidance to treatment options, conduct information campaigns and provide staff training.
In total, FDJ United and Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU), 17 licensed online gambling operators, 210 casinos and gaming clubs and 231 racetracks sent plans for approval to the regulator. Of the casinos, only one had its plan rejected.
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