France Introduces New Risk Algorithm to Tackle Problem Gambling

France has taken another step toward strengthening oversight of its gambling industry after the National Gaming Authority (ANJ) unveiled a new risk algorithm designed to help online operators identify compulsive and excessive gambling behavior.

The initiative comes as the French gaming market reached a value of €14.1 billion in 2025, increasing pressure on regulators to improve consumer protection measures across the sector. Rather than serving as a medical diagnostic tool, the new system was developed to create a standardized benchmark that operators can use to evaluate the effectiveness of their internal detection systems.

The algorithm examines 23 different indicators linked to gambling behavior. These include player history, betting frequency, use of moderation tools, and financial activity. Based on the collected data, users are categorized into four profiles: recreational players, moderate-risk players, excessive gamblers, and clearly excessive gamblers.

Although the ANJ strongly encourages adoption of the model, its use is not mandatory. Instead, regulators describe it as a complementary compliance instrument that can operate alongside the proprietary systems already used by licensed platforms.

In an official statement, the ANJ explained: “For operators, it is an optional tool made available with full transparency, which they can use as a compliance barometer to measure whether their identification of excessive players is at the appropriate level. The ANJ algorithm can be used together with each operator’s own algorithms.”

To simplify integration for gaming companies, the authority also distributed detailed technical documentation outlining the methodology behind the model. According to the regulator, “Operators received a detailed technical document establishing, in a transparent way, the formulas used, to make use easier.”

The agency further emphasized its support for broader industry adoption, stating: “We really encourage operators to adopt this tool, along with their own.”

French regulators noted that licensed operators have already improved their ability to detect vulnerable users over the past year. During the annual assessment of prevention measures related to excessive and pathological gambling, the ANJ observed significant progress in monitoring systems used by online gaming companies.

The authority stated: “During the annual review of the ‘Preventing Excessive or Pathological Gambling’ action plans, the ANJ observed improved results in online systems for identifying excessive or pathological gamblers. This was reflected in the number of identified players being multiplied by three between 2024 and 2025, going from 31,000 to 89,000 excessive players identified by operators.”

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Despite these advances, the regulator’s own testing revealed the scale of the ongoing challenge. During the second half of 2025, the ANJ’s algorithm identified approximately 600,000 users with a high probability of losing control over their gambling habits. This represented 8.7% of all active accounts and accounted for roughly 60% of gross gaming revenue in the segment, equivalent to nearly €1.2 billion.

Authorities remain particularly concerned about the expansion of the illegal gambling market, which continues to operate outside regulated safeguards. While licensed platforms are increasingly required to implement betting limits, monitoring systems, and player protection mechanisms, unregulated operators continue to function without restrictions.

The French Online Gaming Association (AFJEL) warned that illegal gambling websites attracted 5.4 million bettors in 2025, significantly exceeding the 3.5 million users registered on licensed platforms. These unauthorized sites reportedly generated around €2 billion in turnover.

According to industry estimates, approximately 62% of users on illegal gambling platforms already display problematic gambling behavior, raising concerns among French authorities that vulnerable players are increasingly migrating toward unregulated operators where no consumer protection measures exist.

By fLEXI tEAM