French regulatory authority shifts to newly created ANJ entity
ANJ launches with “significantly extended” mandate and enhanced powers, taking over from prior regulator ARJEL
France’s new gambling regulatory authority, ANJ (L’autorité nationale des jeux), has launched with its first meeting taking place today in the French capital, Paris.
ANJ will take full responsibility for regulatory oversight of the French market from previous regulator ARJEL, but with significantly increased regulatory and enforcement powers.
https://twitter.com/arjel/status/1275041857400176640
ANJ’s regulatory mandate covers all online gambling previously regulated by ARJEL, as well as all games offered by state-owned operators Française des Jeux (FDJ) and the PMU.
It will also have regulatory oversight of gambling activities taking place at 228 French racecourses and 202 casinos across France.
ANJ will be able to implement “preventive, prescriptive and control activities” affecting French operators, as well as sanction measures throughout the entire French market.
The ANJ has four main objectives, similar to that of its predecessor, including protecting vulnerable groups from gambling-related harm, promoting integrity, preventing fraud and ensuring the balanced development of the French market.
L'@ARJEL (Autorité des Jeux En Ligne) devient l'#ANJ (Autorité Nationale des Jeux) et régule désormais l'ensemble des secteurs de jeux sous la présidence d'Isabelle FALQUE-PIERROTIN. Suivez ici l'actualité du secteur des jeux d'argent et de l'ANJ. #lancementANJ #régulation #jeux pic.twitter.com/sh9XPFReMn
— Autorité nationale des jeux (@ANJ_FR) June 22, 2020
It also has enhanced powers to order the removal of gambling advertising and will retain product and strategic oversight of state-run operators FDJ and PMU in accordance with gambling law.
However inaugural ANJ chairwoman Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin was keen to stress the differences between the two French regulators in their approach and mandate.
“The ANJ is not an enlarged ARJEL, it is a new project that requires rethinking regulation,” said Falque-Pierrotin.
“It has to adapt its intervention to monopolies (FDJ and PMU) and to players gambling mostly anonymously in points of sale. I would like to set up a regulation that combines support and control in order to better serve and protect players,” she added.
In addition to its other regulatory powers, ANJ has said it will target problem gambling in France by implementing an evidence-based approach to reducing the country’s 1.2 million problem gamblers.
ANJ will take over management of the French self-exclusion register from the Ministry of Home Affairs in September, with a view to creating a new platform for players to self-exclude from licensed French sites.