France ANJ Tightens Player Fraud Guidance: 6 New Standards Operators Must Meet

France ANJ Tightens Player Fraud Guidance: 6 New Standards Operators Must Meet

Rise in Fraud Cases Triggers Policy Changes

French gaming companies are tightening terms and conditions for player accounts in response to a notable uptick in fraudulent activities. According to the Médiateur des jeux’s 2025 annual report, the volume of proven or suspected fraud cases has grown sharply, largely due to both a higher incidence of fraudulent players and improved detection by operators.

Requests to the Médiateur des jeux rose 20 per cent in 2025, increasing from 1,541 to 1,856. The majority of these admissible cases related to sports betting, with account access and withdrawals being common concerns. The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) is preparing updated guidance on fraud, as described by ANJ president Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, who pointed to the upcoming release of a new guide to good practices.

The ANJ’s New Guide to Good Practices

The ANJ, France’s gambling regulator, issued a practical guide aimed at licensed online gambling operators to better identify, document, and respond to various types of player fraud. Published on Monday after a period of consultation with operators and the gaming ombudsman, the guide clarified expectations around compliance with existing anti-fraud and anti-money laundering regulations without introducing new legal obligations.

While the guide does not impose novel legal duties, it effectively tightens the operational framework that operators must observe to manage player fraud in France.

The regulator identified six key categories of fraud frequently encountered in online gambling. These included:

• Identity fraud
• Payment fraud
• Abusive chargebacks
• In-game cheating
• Money-dumping
• Sporting event manipulation

In cases of identity fraud, operators were advised to close accounts upon establishing fraud and to reserve balances when bank account ownership cannot be confirmed. Regarding account takeovers, the guide emphasised technical mitigations such as two-factor authentication for withdrawals and changes to banking details. For poker collusion and bot use, recommended contractual provisions allow operators to redistribute illegitimate winnings to affected players.

The New Evidentiary Standard: “Converging Indicators”

It has addressed ongoing questions faced by operators regarding when it is reasonable to close accounts, withhold or return player balances, cancel bets, or redistribute tournament prizes deemed fraudulently obtained.

The ANJ has called for operators to provide proof rather than act on suspicion alone. The guide outlined the types of evidence and “converging indicators” (faisceaux d’indices) that French courts have accepted in previous litigations, including IP addresses, device logs and connection timings. The guide noted that courts have validated such actions when supported by robust data.

Revised operator policies have been most apparent in the handling of account closures. In certain cases, operators have deducted up to 50 per cent of account balances as incident fees prior to closure, placing remaining funds in reserve. The report states, “Faced with this resurgence, some operators have changed their terms and conditions and now deduct significant sums.”

Jérôme Gallot, the mediator, expressed a firm position: “I therefore firmly invite players to give up any fraud because, not only will it not be favourable to them, but, in addition, it may heavily penalise them. In the event of fraud, deposits and losses are generally not reimbursed, and the balance may be placed in reserve.”

Compliance, KYC, and TRACFIN Reporting

Operators were encouraged to take several practical steps, including enhancing terms and conditions, maintaining robust evidence and uptaking technical standards. They have also been advised to thoroughly review their Know Your Customer (KYC), fraud detection protocols and contractual terms to reflect the guide’s recommendations. They must also evaluate their current technical safeguards to ensure alignment with regulator expectations and certification standards.

The most significant advancement has been in the detection of abnormal behaviours within customer accounts. The ANJ stated that operators have strengthened their capacity to detect anomalies, which is crucial in preventing fraud and money laundering. Online operators have enhanced the quality of reports sent to TRACFIN, “demonstrating a more structured approach to monitoring and reporting suspicious transactions.”

As Oliver De Bono, CEO of Quantum Gaming, stated, “What we’re talking about is a framework that protects players, and in some cases operators, to ensure that before reaching a serious legal dispute, there is an intermediary.”

Wider Priorities for the Regulator

Safeguarding has reappeared as a focal point for the regulator. In July of this year, ANJ imposed a €500,000 ($572,797) fine on an unnamed online betting operator, referred to as Company X, for not adequately identifying and supporting customers exhibiting signs of problematic gambling. The fine followed an investigation that found Company X had failed to correctly identify 29 high-risk players at an appropriate risk level.

As the gambling industry continues to grow, the ANJ remains committed to ensuring that operators not only meet but exceed regulatory requirements. “Sustained progress is essential to maintaining the sector’s integrity,” the ANJ stated.

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Sources: iGaming Business (iGB), Casino Guardian , and SBC News.