France Reshapes Its Gambling Self-Exclusion Landscape

France Reshapes Its Gambling Self-Exclusion Landscape

France has taken a decisive step toward updating its responsible gambling framework by launching a fully digital self-exclusion system. The national register, Interdiction Volontaire, has been restructured under the direction of l'Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), which now oversees the process from sign-up to enforcement. The transition to a digital model reflects the broader movement within France's gambling regulation: a shift toward more efficient, accessible systems designed to operate in parallel with the increasingly online nature of the country's betting and casino offerings.

The self-exclusion register has long been part of French gambling oversight. When it was first established in 2007, responsibility for the system rested with the Ministry of the Interior. The process reflected the administrative culture of the time. Applicants were required to visit a police station, bring official identification, complete paperwork, and participate in an interview before their exclusion could be confirmed. For many, this introduced barriers unrelated to the programme's core purpose. The system functioned, but lacked the flexibility to accommodate later changes in gambling behaviour, particularly as digital betting channels gained traction.

A significant turning point arrived in 2010, when France legalised online sports betting and poker. This expansion altered the scope of gambling regulation and placed pressure on the exclusion framework to evolve. While the register eventually expanded to include these online sectors, its structure remained tied to the older, in-person model. Over time, the limitations became harder to ignore. When the ANJ assumed control of the system in 2020, one of its primary commitments was to introduce reforms that aligned the register with contemporary expectations around accessibility and security.

The newly launched digital platform is the outcome of that commitment. Instead of navigating the earlier, multi-layered process, individuals can now complete registration entirely online. The application pathway requires identity verification, including a dynamic selfie check conducted through IDnow. Once the information is reviewed and approved, the exclusion becomes active within one day. From a structural standpoint, this represents a shift from a slow, administrative process to a streamlined system that mirrors the speed of online gambling interactions.

The regulator has framed this update as the most meaningful change to the exclusion programme since its inception. Its focus lies not in expanding eligibility criteria or altering the length of exclusion but in reducing obstacles that may have discouraged individuals from participating. By removing the need for physical appointments and paperwork, ANJ is effectively positioning the register as a tool that can be accessed in the same environment where most gambling now takes place.

The modernization effort does not conclude with the current rollout. ANJ has already outlined plans for a second phase, scheduled for implementation in 2026. This next stage will introduce personalised user accounts, allowing registrants to access documents, monitor the status of their exclusion, and submit removal requests after the mandatory three-year period ends. The regulator also intends to deploy a callback system to gather feedback and provide ongoing support. These additions signal a broader evolution toward a more interactive oversight model, shifting the register from a static listing to a dynamic platform that supports ongoing communication.

Participation trends provide further context for the timing of this overhaul. Since 2021, the total number of individuals enrolled in the register has more than doubled, rising from 40,000 to over 85,000. The past two years alone have seen an increase of approximately 25%, with 2024 accounting for 19,000 new registrations. This growth suggests not only rising awareness but a deeper reliance on the system as gambling preferences shift across demographics.

The data also highlights patterns within the registered population. Men represent the majority of participants at seventy-seven percent. Younger adults participate at higher rates than earlier generations, with individuals between eighteen and twenty-four years old constituting nearly a quarter of all sign-ups. The group aged twenty-five to thirty-four accounts for one-third. Among those between thirty-five and forty-nine, sports betting and online poker emerge as prominent influences on their decision to self-exclude. For participants aged sixty-five and older, land-based casinos continue to be the primary concern, reflecting longstanding habits and differences between age groups regarding gambling formats.

These demographic distinctions are valuable for policymakers. They illustrate how gambling behaviour varies across age ranges and platforms, and they provide the regulator with a clearer understanding of which groups rely most on exclusion measures. With the introduction of digital registration and future personalised features, ANJ may be better positioned to respond to these patterns and adjust its outreach and policy tools in a targeted manner.

For France, the revised system represents more than an administrative update. It is part of a larger shift in how the country manages gambling oversight. The move toward digital processes mirrors developments in other regulated sectors and acknowledges that responsible gambling mechanisms must evolve alongside the market they monitor. The new version of Interdiction Volontaire aligns technical capability with regulatory intent, offering a more adaptable structure without altering the fundamental principles that shaped the original programme.