ANJ slams safer gambling action plans, rejects six

ANJ examined action plans presented by 235 racetracks, 203 casinos and seven gaming clubs. Six plans were rejected, belonging to five casinos and a gaming club.

Under a legal order imposed on 2 October 2019, all operators in France are mandated to submit action plans to operators, detailing agendas to fight against fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing and for safer gambling initiatives.

Casinos

For casinos and gaming clubs, ANJ said that most of the action plans had been approved – but reiterated the requirements it set out for 2022.

The 2022 requirements asked casinos to greatly improve their safer gambling initiatives for customers, specifically focusing on “monitoring tools, internal organisation, staff training” and safer gambling information.

Overall, ANJ said there had been “few significant advances or innovative actions” in action plans belonging to casinos and gaming clubs.

In light of this, ANJ is set to release a practical guide for casinos that will set out how to identify and support those who may be struggling with gambling addiction.

Racing action plans

ANJ said that the action plans brought forward by the National Federation of Horse Racing – which encompasses 235 racing companies and 10 regional federations in France – were “substantially identical” to those submitted in 2022.

ANJ emphasised that the racing entities must continue to make a distinction between spaces that are dedicated to families and spaces dedicated to betting.

Upon reviewing money laundering action plans earlier this month, the regulator said that “significant progress” had been made.

In February, an advertising action plan created by French national lottery operator Française des Jeux (FDJ) was rejected by ANJ. In its criticism, ANJ said the plan was not comprehensive enough, and did not take the 2022 criticism regarding gambling marketing in France into account.