Unlawful gambling activities in France surpass the legitimately controlled sector
France Witnesses the Rise of Illicit Gaming: A Growing Threat to the Industry
Recently, the French online gaming association, L'Association FrancΜ§aise du Jeu En Ligne (AFJEL), raised concerns about the ever-increasing unauthorized gambling activities in France. The association presented alarming figures suggesting that the number of illegal players exceeded 3.6 million in the regulated sector β a staggering 4 million in total. This growth is particularly concerning given that the French gambling regulator, L'Autorite Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), had anticipated β¬1 billion worth of bets during Euro 2224, with only half the amount materializing.
Betting volumes remained stagnant compared to the previous European Championship in 2021 and the 2022 World Cup, underscoring the ominous shadows cast by the illegal market. Even though the illegal market has surpassed the licensed market since its inception in 2010, accounting for around 10% of the French total market, according to PwC reports, it's clear that measures taken to block illicit betting sites have been largely ineffective.
Nicolas BeΜraud, president of AFJEL, expressed his concerns about the disheartening numbers, arguing that they contradict the supposed online sports betting frenzy circulated in the legal market. He stressed that despite the proper competition among members and broader compliance with ANJ guidelines, unlicensed operators are executing their operations with total impunity, making a mockery of the efforts to contain the expansion of the illegal market.
Evidently, France appears to have a thriving gambling market, with a gross revenue of β¬13.4 billion in 2023 and market segments witnessing growth for the first time since 2019, according to ANJ figures. Online sports betting revenue even experienced a growth of 6.4% year-on-year, reaching β¬1.5 billion. However, these promising statistics only reflect the legal market, overshadowing the dangers lurking in the shadows of illegal gambling.
To combat this threat and ensure the continued growth and sustainability of the legal market, crucial measures must be taken. This includes imposing harsher penalties on illicit operators, engaging in advanced technologies to collaborate with internet service providers, and legalizing more forms of online gambling to attract players back to the legal market. Moreover, robust protection measures for players, public awareness campaigns, and the sharing of best practices with international regulatory bodies could help curb the spread of illegal gambling in France. Such strategies, if implemented successfully, could serve as a beacon of hope for the future of France's gambling industry.
Enrichment Data:While France implements modern technologies to track and block illicit gambling sites, their effectiveness remains partially hindered by factors such as the intricate nature of these platforms and the absence of comprehensive legal frameworks addressing them. France has yet to capitalize on the full potential of ISP partnerships as seen in other countries like Colombia, where regulators promptly oblige ISPs to block unauthorized sites [1][3].
The inability to efficiently block illicit sites is partly due to the sophisticated characteristics of these platforms and the lack of a cohesive regulatory approach. To improve the effectiveness of measures taken against illicit gambling, a more comprehensive, inclusive regulatory strategy that involves not only law enforcement, but also regulators and ISPs, should be considered [5]. Adopting such an approach, as exemplified by Spain's successful crackdown on unauthorized operators [2], might provide a viable solution to France's current struggles.
In the light of France's escalating problem with illicit gambling, the concern about the unregulated sports-betting sector and its impact on the sports market becomes increasingly relevant. The disregard for the ANJ's guidelines by unlicensed operators in casino-and-gambling activities undermines the efforts to contain the expansion of illicit gambling, casting a dark shadow over the promising growth of the legal market.
