The French gambling regulatory authority, L'Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), has officially approved the gambling and betting plan of La Française Des Jeux (FDJ) for 2026, but has also issued strict warnings and restrictions on certain aspects.
As the exclusive rights holder in the French gambling market, FDJ will continue to offer a diverse range of gaming products. However, ANJ has demanded the removal of certain high-risk games from the market and has prohibited the use of marketing language that implies winning odds, such as "winning probability over X%" or "best odds to win €X". These restrictions stem from the rise in the number of problem gamblers in France since 2020, with the number of self-excluded gamblers increasing from 40,000 in 2021 to 85,000 in 2024.
The regulatory body specifically pointed out that continuous online lotteries, online scratch cards, and "internet-exclusive" games are high-risk categories that need to be adjusted or completely removed. FDJ's "Amigo" lottery game did not receive ANJ approval and is prohibited from online sales. Additionally, the sale of €3 scratch cards, both physical and online, remains frozen, and the number of €5 games is also limited.
ANJ has also called for a reduction in the number of FDJ's online exclusive games, especially those priced at €2, €3, and €5. Recent studies on scratch cards indicate that they are the second most popular form of gambling in France, with betting amounts expected to reach €10.7 billion in 2024. However, the risk of problem gambling significantly increases when players engage in scratch cards priced over €3, both online and offline.
This week, ANJ promoted Pauline Hot to the position of Director-General, strengthening its regulatory efforts. Notably, FDJ's stock price fell by 11.1% last week, possibly in response to regulatory pressures. Although this approval provides FDJ with development opportunities, it also clearly defines a direction of strict regulation.
