French Gaming Disputes Surge: ANJ Steps Up Player Protection

Frances gaming regulatory body, the ANJ, has published recent figures concerning disputes between players and operators that were managed through its mediation program. It seems a significant number of French bettors are feeling dissatisfied! Applications for mediation saw an 11% increase in 2023, hitting 1,523. The vast majority of these (91%) centered around sports wagering.

The ANJ stated that these grievances were “primarily linked to difficulties encountered by sports betting participants” such as conflicts over wager outcomes, voided bets, or problems with their accounts – for instance, account closures or difficulties withdrawing funds.

However, not all of these grievances were examined. 752 were dismissed, largely (89%) because the player had not actually attempted to settle the matter directly with the betting firm beforehand.

Positively for players, these complaints are being addressed swiftly – typically within just 31 days. This is considerably faster than the 90-day maximum timeframe permitted under consumer protection law. Furthermore, roughly one-third of the complaints were either partially or entirely resolved.

Based on these findings, the ANJ provided the betting firms with four recommendations, aiming to prevent such a high volume of unhappy gamblers in the future.

Frances gaming authority, ANJ, is bolstering safeguards for users. The agency mandates that platforms justify account suspensions, proactively eliminate unjust clauses, alert players about closures due to inactivity, and enact measures to curb problem gambling.

Previously this year, ANJ also tightened its control over sports wagering, significantly reducing the roster of permitted events by 179. This revised catalog came into force on the first of March.

Moving ahead, ANJ and its intermediaries are dedicated to enhancing communication and protection for users, especially those susceptible to gambling-related difficulties.