In an attempt to bolster gambler protection, France’s casino regulator, the Autorité Nationale des Jeux, has launched a new self-exclusion programme. The new platform should provide easier registration, robust identity verification, and an overall smoother user experience.
The new portal, available at interdictiondejeux.anj.fr/, allows anyone wishing to take a break from gambling, whether it’s at land-based properties or on online casinos. Users can now complete the entire process in just a few minutes entirely online. Individuals can do it from a computer or smartphone.
After uploading an official ID document, such as a passport, national ID card or residence permit, applicants authenticate their identity. This is done via a short selfie video captured via Germany-based provider IDnow, which is a solution already widely used by European banks and regulators.
Shorter Wait Time
A confirmation email follows, and the exclusion takes effect within a few working days, a drastic reduction from the weeks or even months sometimes required under the previous system.
Once registered under the new self-exclusion portal, individuals are automatically barred from:
- All land-based casinos and gaming clubs
- Every ANJ-licensed online sports betting, horse-racing betting and poker site
- Any Française des Jeux (lottery) or PMU product played through an online player account or a registered retail account
The exclusion is mandatory for a minimum of three years and is strictly revocable only at the explicit request of the registered person after that period. In exceptional cases, legal guardians or court-appointed representatives may also file a request on behalf of someone demonstrably suffering from gambling-related harm.
Substantial Growth in Self-Exclusion
When the ANJ took over management of the national register in 2021, approximately 40,000 people were listed. Four years later, that figure has soared past 85,000, which was a 110% increase overall and a 25% rise in the last two years alone. In 2024, nearly 19,000 new registrations were recorded, the highest annual total since the system’s creation.
The demographic breakdown reveals clear patterns:
- 77% of excluded individuals are men
- Young adults aged 18 to 24 now account for 23% of the register, a group the ANJ describes as particularly vulnerable to aggressive bonus offers and influencer marketing. Crucially, many in this age bracket admit to migrating to illegal sites precisely because unlicensed operators do not honour the exclusion list.
- The 25 to 34 age group is the largest at 33%, with sports betting cited as the overwhelming trigger for requesting a ban.
- The 35 to 49 cohort represents 25%, split fairly evenly between sports betting and online poker.
- For those 65 and over, traditional land-based casinos remain the primary reason for exclusion.
Roadmap for 2026
The ANJ has already outlined the next phase: in 2026, every registered individual will be able to create a secure personal account on the platform. This will allow them to download official documents, check the exact end date of their exclusion, and, when the three-year minimum has elapsed, submit a revocation request directly online.
There will also be a dedicated telephone support and outreach programme, enabling the regulator to offer guidance, detect potential relapses early, and collect valuable feedback on the exclusion experience.
Europe Unites Against Illegal Gambling
The launch coincides with a significant escalation in cross-border cooperation. On 20 November 2025, the gambling regulators of Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Portugal and Spain released an unprecedented joint institutional statement condemning the rapid spread of illegal online gambling and its sophisticated advertising tactics.
In their declaration, the seven authorities stated unequivocally:
“The fight against illegal online gambling is one of the paramount tasks facing regulated jurisdictions. Its borderless nature and the speed of technological innovation make it easier for illegal operators to evade regulatory oversight.”
The regulators claim that the unlawful market creates risks for consumers and public health, while also threatening the order and harming the business of casino operators, which are already licensed. Therefore, illegal gambling undermines the entire regulatory model designed to protect the public interest, as read their joint statement.
The regulators highlighted the explosion of unauthorised advertising on social media, video-streaming platforms, and affiliate networks, content that routinely bypasses age-verification tools and targets minors and vulnerable individuals. They announced three concrete lines of action:
- Systematic exchange of intelligence on rogue operators and their payment channels
- Formal calls on major digital platforms to strengthen the detection and removal of illegal gambling ads
- Deeper collaboration on investigative techniques and coordinated sanctioning powers
ANJ President Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin underlined the link between the new exclusion tool and the European initiative:
“Voluntary exclusion is one of the most powerful responsible-gambling measures we have, but it is toothless against illegal operators. By making registration simpler and more secure, we reinforce the protective wall around licensed channels,” said Falque-Pierrotin.
She added that the coordinated action from European regulators will seek to tackle the parallel market that often endangers the safety of players.
Industry observers note that France’s upgraded system could serve as a blueprint for other European jurisdictions currently modernising their own self-exclusion frameworks.
