The French National Gaming Authority (ANJ), has introduced a new algorithm aimed at identifying far more potentially problematic gamblers in online and in-play betting than operators currently report.
The tool forms a key part of the regulator’s 2024–2026 strategic plan, which prioritises reducing excessive gambling across France’s regulated market.
The French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction reports that around 1.17 million people were found to exhibit problematic gambling behaviour in France in 2024, among which 360,000 were defined to be excessive gamblers.
ANJ used a new algorithm that employs ongoing account-level data received from licensed operators to create its model. The developing algorithm is based on 23 scientific research defined indicators, used to classify four gambling categories; Recreational, Moderate-risk, Excessive, and Manifestly Exccessive.
On Wednesday, the initial results of the algorithm were released. In the last half of 2025, the algorithm identified approximately 600,000 of the online and in-play wagering population have a high probability of exhibiting excessive gambling behaviour.
This number represents about 8.7% of the online and in-play wagering population monitored by the ANJ. Within this group there were approximately 300,000 classified as persons who demonstrated manifestly excessive gambling behaviour, the ANJ identified this group and directed that the operators should attempt to identify individuals exhibiting these behaviours.
This identified group of individuals was estimated to have generated approximately €1.2 billion in gross gaming revenue, more than 60% of the total online gambling GGR for France. The ANJ indicated that this percentage continues to increase since 2023.
Further, the ANJ plans to offer this algorithm to operators on a voluntary basis as a way to assist the gambling industry.
The ANJ pointed out that the algorithm is not designed to provide an exact measurement of gambling addiction, but as a regulatory measurement which can be used to identify trends and aid operators in increasing their level of intervention.
