ANJ unveils revamped digital gambling self-exclusion platform

France's gambling regulator Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) has launched a completely overhauled voluntary gambling ban service, introducing streamlined registration processes and enhanced identity controls that reduce effective registration time to just one day.

The renewed platform addresses growing demand for self-exclusion tools, with registrations climbing 25% over the past two years to reach more than 85,000 people currently enrolled in the voluntary ban system.

Expanding self-exclusion demand

When ANJ assumed management of the gambling ban database in 2021, 40,000 people were registered. By 2024, 19,000 new individuals had enrolled in the voluntary exclusion programme, reflecting increased awareness of gambling harm prevention measures.

The voluntary gambling ban remains a strictly personal and confidential process, available to players seeking protection against excessive gambling risks including financial difficulties, psychological addiction issues, and social isolation. Legal guardians can also request registration on behalf of individuals experiencing gambling problems.

Registration prohibits access to:

• Casinos and gaming clubs
• ANJ-licensed sports betting, horse racing, and online poker sites
• Française des jeux and PMU online games and retail point transactions requiring player accounts

The exclusion remains valid for a minimum of three years, after which individuals may request removal at any time.

User demographics and motivations

Current registration data reveals 77% of enrolled individuals are men. Age distribution shows 23% of registrants fall within the 18-24 bracket, with this demographic particularly susceptible to commercial offers and illegal gambling sites that circumvent protection measures.

The 25-34 age group represents 33% of registrations, while 35-49 year-olds account for 25%. Sports betting constitutes the primary motivation for exclusion requests across multiple age groups, with online poker serving as a key factor among 25-49 year-olds. For those over 65, casino gambling represents the main exclusion trigger.

Enhanced digital registration process

The new service offers a 100% digital and secure registration pathway through five streamlined steps:

1. Players submit exclusion requests via the online service at https://interdictiondejeux.anj.fr/
2. Identity documents undergo authentication
3. Dynamic selfie verification via smartphone using IDnow services
4. Email confirmation of registration
5. Effective enrollment within one day

The enhanced system aims to reduce actual registration timeframes while strengthening identity verification security protocols.

Future platform developments

ANJ plans to introduce personal account functionality by 2026, enabling registered individuals to monitor their gambling bans, access relevant documents, and process exclusion removals independently.

A complementary calling programme will allow the regulator to provide enhanced player support while gathering feedback on the exclusion experience.

Regulatory implications for operator compliance

The platform upgrade signals ANJ's commitment to strengthening responsible gambling infrastructure as self-exclusion demand accelerates. Operators should anticipate more rigorous identity verification requirements and faster exclusion processing times affecting customer onboarding procedures.

The demographic data highlighting young adult vulnerability to illegal gambling sites reinforces the need for enhanced advertising compliance, particularly around sports betting promotions targeting 18-34 year-olds who comprise over half of all exclusions. The Malta Gaming Authority has revealed systemic gaps in self-exclusion systems following similar investigations into operator compliance measures.

According to French National Gaming Authority (ANJ).