France has moved forward with one of Europe's toughest responsible gambling reforms after the National Assembly approved, on 29 June 2026, a bill on the organization, governance and financing of professional sport that empowers the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) to impose mandatory gambling loss limits on players aged 18 to 25. The measure is expected to take effect on 1 January 2027, subject to the completion of the remaining legislative process.
The reform amends Article L.320-11 of the French Internal Security Code (Code de la sécurité intérieure) by explicitly adding financial losses as a regulatory control parameter. Until now, licensed operators could apply limits on deposits, wagers and playing time.
Under the new framework, ANJ will also be able to cap the amount of money a young adult is allowed to lose, regardless of how much they deposit or stake. The regulator may impose these limits through a reasoned administrative decision for a period of up to one year, while requiring licensed operators to implement the necessary compliance mechanisms.
The legislation does not yet establish a specific monetary threshold. That figure will be determined later through a government decree, secondary regulation and technical consultation with the ANJ. The reform also introduces an additional safeguard: players aged 18 to 25 who wish to increase their own gambling limits will have to wait for a period established by decree, which cannot be shorter than two weeks, in order to discourage impulsive decisions following significant gambling losses.
The measure responds to the rapid growth of sports betting among young adults. According to the ANJ, two-thirds of people under the age of 25 have placed bets on sporting events, particularly online. During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the French betting market is expected to generate up to €1.2 billion in wagers, compared with approximately €900 million during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Pascal Chèvremont
The reform also comes amid a leadership transition at France's gambling regulator. Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, the founding president of the ANJ, completed her six-year term, and the French Government nominated Pascal Chèvremont as her successor on 3 June 2026. His appointment was officially confirmed on 18 June 2026 for a new six-year mandate.
A former senior official at the Contrôle général économique et financier (CGefi), former Director General of Brasseurs de France, and former official at the Ministry of Economy and the French Treasury, Chèvremont takes office with a regulatory agenda focused on reducing excessive gambling, protecting minors and young adults, strengthening AML/CFT controls, supervising gambling advertising and intensifying enforcement against illegal operators.
