France has stepped up oversight of its gambling sector following the annual anti-fraud and anti-money laundering review conducted by the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) on March 26, 2026, with results published on April 13. The regulator, chaired by Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, delivered a clear message: the legal framework remains unchanged, but enforcement and compliance requirements are significantly tightening for 2026.
The ANJ issued 19 regulatory decisions as part of this review. 18 were fully approved, while one, submitted by Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU) received conditional approval pending improvements. These decisions validate core compliance systems, including KYC procedures, transaction monitoring, anomaly detection, and the quality of suspicious activity reports submitted to TRACFIN, led by Antoine Magnant.
Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin
While the ANJ acknowledged progress in 2025—particularly stronger reporting and improved alert systems—it is now pushing operators further. For 2026, the regulator demands enhanced risk classification models, better identification of high-risk player profiles (including corruption-exposed individuals), and tighter oversight of retail distribution networks, especially for operators with extensive physical presence. Greater alignment between internal controls and TRACFIN reporting obligations is also required.
TRACFIN, led by Antoine Magnant
Importantly, no legislative changes have been introduced. France continues to operate under Law 2010-476 and Ordinance 2019-1015, where gambling is only permitted under strict authorization. Online gaming remains limited to sports betting, horse betting, and poker, while online casino games remain prohibited. In the land-based segment, FDJ United and PMU retain exclusive rights, both under ANJ supervision.
Market data highlights the sector’s scale. In 2024, total GGR reached €14 billion (+4.7%), with online growing to €2.591 billion (+11.9%). Sports betting led with €1.759 billion (+19.1%), while poker declined to €493 million (-2.1%). The market recorded 3.9 million active players and 5.7 million online accounts.
Retail activity remains significant: FDJ exceeded €7 billion, PMU generated €1.7 billion, and land-based casinos reached €2.7 billion, confirming that AML enforcement spans both digital and physical channels.
The message is clear: France is not liberalizing its gambling market. Instead, it is moving toward stricter supervision, heavier compliance burdens, and increased regulatory pressure, aligning the sector with broader efforts to combat financial crime and organized illicit activity in 2026.
