The French national gambling regulator ANJ (Autorité Nationale des Jeux) has rolled out a redesigned system for players who want to block themselves from gambling. The new setup aims to make the voluntary gambling ban easier to activate and much quicker to confirm. It also tightens ID checks to make sure registrations are secure while keeping the experience straightforward.

• The ANJ describes the voluntary gambling ban as a personal and confidential way for players to protect themselves, and it can also be requested by legal guardians. The measure blocks access to casinos, gaming clubs, licensed online betting and poker, and online or retail accounts at FDJ and PMU. The ban lasts at least three years, after which players can request removal at any time.

• When the ANJ took over management of the register in 2021, it counted 40,000 people; it now exceeds 85,000. Registrations have grown 25% in the past two years, with 19,000 added in 2024. The regulator says the service is used increasingly as players look for structured protection tools.

• Men represent 77% of those registered today, with 18–24-year-olds accounting for 23% of entries. Younger players report being strongly influenced by commercial offers and exposed to illegal gambling sites, where the voluntary gambling ban cannot be applied. The ANJ notes that this limits the ability to protect younger users effectively.

• The 25–34 group represents 33% of the register, with sports betting frequently cited as the main trigger for signing up. Players aged 35–49 make up another 25%, primarily citing sports betting and online poker. For individuals aged 65 and over, casino gambling is the main reason for enrolling in the system.

• The new online process is fully digital: the user submits a request, uploads ID for authentication, and completes a dynamic selfie via IDnow. A confirmation email follows, and the voluntary gambling ban becomes active within days. “Our goal is to simplify the journey while improving identity control,” the ANJ noted.

• From 2026, registered individuals will be able to create a personal account to access documents and request removal of the ban. The ANJ also plans a follow-up programme to contact users, gather feedback and support them throughout the period of restriction.

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