Gambling operator fined €500,000 for failing to protect addicted clients

France's National Gaming Authority (ANJ) has imposed a significant fine of 500,000 euros on an unidentified online gambling operator for failing to adequately protect clients struggling with gambling addiction. The penalty highlights the regulator's commitment to enforcing responsible gaming practices.

The ANJ's sanctions commission cited the "gravity" and "duration" of the operator's shortcomings as justification for the substantial fine. Investigators focused on the cases of thirty players who displayed a "clear risk of excessive gambling" over a six-month period, from October 2023 to March 2024.

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the gravity and the duration of these failures

According to the ANJ, the operator failed to accurately identify nearly all of these individuals as high-risk players, a crucial requirement under current regulations. Furthermore, the company neglected to implement the necessary support measures mandated to help moderate the behavior of these vulnerable customers. The authority utilizes a mandatory digital register, tracking all player operations, to detect such risks, including deposit frequency, betting volume, and self-exclusion activations.

Excessive gambling is characterized by a loss of control, where individuals are unable to stop or reduce their betting despite experiencing negative financial, psychological, familial, or social consequences. Data from Joueurs info service indicates that last year, half of the 4,850 gambling-related help requests concerned sports betting, with casino games accounting for another third.

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clear risk of excessive gambling