Youth Gambling Data in France Shifts Focus to the Black Market

Youth Gambling Data in France Shifts Focus to the Black Market

A new nationwide survey has placed youth gambling back at the centre of regulatory debate in France. The data, collected from thousands of adolescents, indicates that participation among minors remains widespread and has increased in recent years. In response, representatives of the licensed online gambling sector are urging authorities to intensify action against illegal operators, arguing that unregulated platforms undermine existing safeguards.

The research was conducted by the Association for Research and Prevention of Excessive Gambling (ARPEJ), which surveyed 5,000 individuals aged 15 to 17. According to the findings, 42.6 per cent of respondents reported having gambled at least once in the past twelve months. Compared with similar data gathered in 2021, this marks an increase of 7.8 percentage points.

The results were submitted to the national regulator, the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ). The regulator acknowledged that the figures raise concerns, particularly given the upward trend. While the survey does not attribute participation to specific channels, it highlights the persistence of gambling activity among minors despite regulatory controls.

In the aftermath of the report, L’Association Française du Jeu en Ligne (AFJEL), which represents licensed online gambling operators in France, called for a policy approach centred on what it describes as a zero-tolerance approach to illegal gambling. AFJEL’s position is that the regulated online sector already operates under strict identification and verification rules that are designed to prevent minors from opening accounts.

According to the association, customers on licensed platforms must complete full identity checks before being allowed to deposit or place bets. These procedures typically include submission of official identification documents, verification of a bank account registered in the player’s name, and confirmation of residential address. AFJEL maintains that these requirements create structural barriers that minors cannot bypass without fraud or the misuse of an adult’s identity.

When minors do gain access to licensed services, the association argues, this often involves the intervention of adults, most frequently parents. From AFJEL’s perspective, the core vulnerability does not lie within the regulated framework itself but rather in behaviours that circumvent it.

At the same time, the trade body has drawn attention to what it considers a more significant issue: the expansion of unlicensed gambling platforms in France. Recent estimates cited by AFJEL suggest that 5.4 million French residents are using illegal gambling sites. This represents a 35 per cent increase over the past two years, indicating steady growth in the black market segment.

Unlike licensed operators authorised by the ANJ, unregulated sites do not apply mandatory identity verification, age checks, or advertising restrictions. They are also not bound by French consumer protection standards. AFJEL argues that this regulatory gap makes illegal platforms more accessible to minors and more difficult to monitor.

Particular concern has been expressed about the visibility of illegal gambling advertisements on social media and other digital channels. AFJEL has criticised what it describes as the widespread presence of promotional content linked to unlicensed operators. In its view, these sites benefit from online distribution networks that allow them to reach users without undergoing the scrutiny applied to licensed companies.

The association has proposed several measures to reduce the reach of the black market. These include accelerating procedures for blocking illegal websites, increasing cooperation with payment providers and hosting services, and preventing the promotion of unlicensed gambling applications through social networks and app stores. AFJEL has also called for additional public resources to strengthen enforcement capacity.

Beyond enforcement, the trade body has raised concerns about how gambling research is framed in public debate. AFJEL has urged policymakers and public health bodies to differentiate clearly between regulated and unregulated markets when analysing participation rates. According to the association, merging data from both sectors risks misrepresenting the impact of regulatory safeguards and may obscure the distinct challenges posed by illegal operators.

The ARPEJ study offers further detail on patterns of participation among minors. Boys reported higher levels of gambling activity than girls, with 45.5 per cent of male respondents indicating participation compared to 39.6 per cent of female respondents. The most common form of gambling among those surveyed was scratch cards, played by 34.3 per cent of respondents. This figure has risen from 27.3 per cent in 2021.

Lottery draw games were also cited frequently, with 20 per cent of minors reporting participation, up from 17 per cent two years earlier. These products are often widely available and may be perceived as low-intensity forms of gambling, which could influence their prevalence among adolescents.

The study does not provide definitive answers regarding the channels through which minors access gambling, nor does it isolate the impact of digital versus land-based formats. However, it underscores that underage participation remains a measurable reality within the French market.