France’s gambling regulator has issued a new fraud guidance framework designed to help licensed operators identify fraudulent behaviour, gather stronger evidence and determine what should happen to player accounts and balances.
France’s Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) has published a new guide aimed at giving licensed gambling operators clearer direction when dealing with suspected player fraud.
Released following consultations with operators and the gambling mediator, the guide brings together practical recommendations and legal guidance on how fraudulent activity should be identified, documented and handled.
The regulator stresses that the document does not introduce new legal obligations. Instead, it is intended to help operators bring their existing practices into line with rules already in force.
A clearer framework for difficult cases
Fraud can take many forms in online gambling, and operators can face difficult questions once suspicious activity is detected.
The ANJ guide provides a non-exhaustive classification of fraudulent behaviour involving online player accounts and explains, for each category, what operators should do under the current legal framework.
One of its key messages is that operators need to build a solid evidence base before characterising activity as fraud.
The guide therefore includes a review of relevant case law, giving operators a clearer picture of the level of evidence courts expect when disputes reach litigation.
That evidence can then help determine the appropriate treatment of both the player’s account and any remaining balance.
What happens to the player’s money?
One of the most practical aspects of the guidance concerns the handling of player accounts and funds following confirmed fraud.
Rather than applying a single approach to every case, the ANJ sets out the actions operators should consider depending on the type of fraud identified.
The regulator also provides recommendations and good practices where the existing law leaves room for interpretation.
This is particularly relevant for operators dealing with disputes over account closures, balances and alleged fraudulent behaviour, where insufficient evidence can expose them to legal challenges.
No new rules — but stronger compliance
The ANJ describes the document as a “soft law” tool, meaning it is designed to guide industry practice rather than create additional binding requirements.
The regulator specifically notes that the guide does not affect the contractual freedom available to operators.
Its purpose is instead to answer recurring questions raised by licensed gambling companies and promote a more consistent approach to fraud prevention and enforcement across the French market.
The work behind the guide involved ongoing discussions with licensed operators, as well as additional exchanges with the gambling mediator.
Fraud and AML remain closely linked
The new guidance also sits alongside France’s existing framework for combating fraud, money laundering and terrorist financing.
The ANJ is effectively asking operators to strengthen their ability to distinguish legitimate player activity from fraudulent behaviour while ensuring that decisions are supported by appropriate evidence.
For operators, that means a suspected fraud case cannot simply be treated as an internal account-management issue. The circumstances surrounding the activity, the evidence collected and the legal basis for any action all matter.
ANJ aims for a more consistent approach
The new guide reflects a broader effort by the French regulator to improve compliance practices across the licensed gambling sector.
By setting out examples, legal principles and practical recommendations in one document, the ANJ hopes to reduce uncertainty for operators when dealing with increasingly complex fraud cases.
The regulator’s message is ultimately straightforward: identify the fraud, prove it properly and make sure the response is consistent with the law.
For France’s licensed operators, the new guidance provides a clearer roadmap for doing exactly that.