The French gambling regulator (ANJ) has issued a new framework raising the evidential threshold for online gambling operators. Companies can no longer block accounts or withhold player winnings based on mere suspicion.
The updated rules apply to sports betting, lotteries, and retail networks requiring player accounts. The regulator mandates that operators evaluate every case individually.
Five Official Fraud Categories
The ANJ guide outlines five primary categories of fraud:
- Identity fraud: Falsified documents, account sharing, takeovers, and multi-accounting.
- Payment fraud: Unauthorized use of cards and altered bank details.
- Abusive chargebacks: Deliberately reversing payments after gambling activity.
- Game-related fraud: Poker chip dumping, soft play, collusion, and automated bots.
- Money dumping: Disguised transfers between accounts to move funds.
Strict Evidential Standards
A player's silence is not sufficient proof of guilt. Operators must collect converging indicators (faisceaux d'indices) before taking action. French courts validate evidence like device logs, matching IP addresses, and dramatic shifts in betting patterns.
The ANJ highlighted a Paris Court of Appeal ruling supporting Betclic. The operator legally closed an account after proving multiple users shared IP addresses and placed identical bets within seconds. Conversely, a Nice tribunal ordered the redistribution of illicit poker winnings back to honest players.
Fund Handling Rules:
- Fraudulent accounts must be closed, but legitimate funds must be returned.
- If identity fraud blocks verification, funds are held in a reserve account.
- Fraudulent transfers on hacked accounts must be canceled and restored to the rightful owner.
- If operator negligence caused the breach, the company must compensate the user.
- Contractual penalties must be reasonable and comply with consumer protection laws.
