TLDR
- France’s ANJ launched a new algorithm to measure revenue tied to excessive gambling behavior
- The tool flagged 600,000 high-risk players in H2 2025, making up 8.7% of all registered accounts
- Those players generated €1.2 billion in gross gaming revenue, or 60% of the total
- Operators reported only 89,000 excessive players between 2024–2025, far below the algorithm’s 600,000 figure
- The ANJ is pushing operators to act on the 300,000 players deemed “clearly excessive”
France’s gambling regulator, the Autorité Nationale des Jeux, has released data from a new algorithm that puts hard numbers on the link between problem gambling and operator revenue. The results paint a stark picture.
In the second half of 2025, the algorithm identified roughly 600,000 players at high risk of excessive gambling. That group made up 8.7% of all registered accounts on licensed French platforms.
Those 600,000 players were responsible for €1.2 billion in gross gaming revenue. That figure represents 60% of all revenue generated during the period.
The ANJ said the data shows a dual rise in both the number of at-risk players and the share of revenue they account for. The regulator described the situation as urgent.
How the Algorithm Works
The tool was developed in-house by the ANJ and is designed to reflect actual player behavior on online gambling platforms. It uses data points from player accounts to flag those showing patterns of excessive play.
ANJ Chair Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin said the algorithm’s release to operators marks a key step. She called it an innovative and effective tool that closely mirrors real gambling behavior.
Operators are not required to use the algorithm. However, the ANJ has made it available so companies can compare their own detection systems against the regulator’s benchmark.
The regulator sees the tool as a way to track trends over time. It also gives the ANJ a clearer view of whether operators are meeting their legal obligations.
French law requires licensed operators to identify and support problem gamblers. The ANJ has found that most are falling short of that requirement.
Between 2024 and 2025, operators reported identifying 89,000 excessive players. That was up from 31,000 the year before.
While the increase shows some progress, it still falls well below the 600,000 flagged by the ANJ’s algorithm. The gap suggests that operator detection systems are missing the vast majority of at-risk players.
What Comes Next for Operators
The ANJ is now pushing operators to act quickly, starting with the 300,000 players the algorithm categorized as “clearly excessive.” That is the most urgent group, according to the regulator.
Support measures could include direct outreach to affected players. Operators may also introduce deposit or spending limits on flagged accounts.
Other options include connecting players with charities or health services. In some cases, the ANJ says account closures may be appropriate.
The regulator has tied this work to its 2024–2026 strategic plan, which places reducing excessive gambling at the center of its agenda. The ANJ has previously warned operators that they must do more.
Falque-Pierrotin also said identification efforts should go beyond online platforms. She called for extending oversight to retail points of sale as well.
The ANJ’s data adds pressure on operators to close the gap between the players they are catching and the much larger number the algorithm has identified. The regulator has made clear it will be watching.
