Frances gaming authority, the ANJ, recently published figures revealing a substantial rise in disagreements between gamblers and platforms. Instances of grievances surged by 11% in 2023, with the bulk originating from wagering on sporting events. Gamblers are chiefly dissatisfied with how platforms address contested bets, voiding wagers, and account problems such as inaccessible balances or obstacles in collecting payouts. The ANJ stresses that players must initially lodge complaints directly with platforms – a measure many are bypassing, resulting in their disputes being rejected. Positively, the mediation initiative appears to be functioning effectively, settling roughly one-third of all situations with an average resolution time considerably quicker than the legal timeframe. The ANJ has additionally provided suggestions to platforms, encouraging them to enhance their procedures and minimize these clashes.
France is strengthening its regulations for online gambling. The government is ensuring companies demonstrate fairness when suspending users, eliminating overly rigid regulations, and providing advance notice before accounts are deactivated due to inactivity. Additionally, they are developing strategies to mitigate excessive gambling habits.
Earlier this year, the French regulatory body for gambling (ANJ) conducted a comprehensive review of permissible sports betting activities. Consequently, they removed 179 events from the authorized list, implementing the revised list on March 1st. Throughout the year, the ANJ and mediators will collaborate more closely to guarantee that players, particularly vulnerable individuals, are adequately informed and safeguarded.
