France's gambling regulator ANJ is urging families to reconsider giving instant lottery games as Christmas presents, despite the practice becoming increasingly normalized.
France's gambling authority ANJ has launched a public awareness campaign questioning the practice of giving scratch cards to children as Christmas presents, highlighting a concerning disconnect between perceived risks and actual behavior among French families.
The intervention comes as holiday-themed scratch card packages arrive at tobacco shops across France. According to recent survey data from Toluna – Harris interactive, conducted online from December 5-9, 2024, among 2,073 respondents representative of French adults, 20% of French people planned to give scratch cards to children at Christmas.
Instant games represent a significant segment of France's gambling market, with 20 million French people wagering nearly 11 billion euros in 2024 across approximately 30 instant games available at retail points of sale. These games often serve as the entry point into gambling activities, with the ENJEU Mineurs study from 2021 identifying that 15-17 year-olds typically begin their gambling experience with instant games.
The normalization of giving these games as presents has become particularly evident during holiday seasons. A quarter of French people reported having previously given scratch-off games to children, most commonly parents giving to their own children, followed by gifts within siblings or to nephews, nieces, and grandchildren.
Christmas emerges as the peak period for such gifts, whether placed under the tree or included in advent calendars. Gift-givers view these presents as suitable for both boys and girls and as something families can enjoy together. One in five French people expressed intentions to give scratch-off games to children at Christmas.
20%
French adults planning to give scratch cards to children at Christmas
20 million
French people wagering on instant games
€11 billion
Total amount wagered in 2024
30
Instant games available at retail points
25%
French people who previously gave scratch-off games to children
The survey reveals a striking contradiction in public attitudes. While more than half of French people considered it inconceivable to give scratch-off games to children, and 94% viewed gambling as dangerous for children – rating it as more hazardous than social media or screen time – the practice continues.
This risk perception exists even among those who give these games as presents. Gamblers themselves rate the practice as somewhat less dangerous compared to non-gamblers, yet nearly all French respondents acknowledged that children who engage with gambling risk developing addiction, including those who had previously given scratch cards as gifts.
Recent research by the Chaire de recherche sur le jeu de l'Université Concordia de Montréal conducted in France reinforces that while scratch-off games may appear as simple entertainment, they represent a far from trivial gambling activity.
The ANJ's social media campaign titled "where is the problem?" uses illustrated scenarios to challenge families' assumptions about the normalized place gambling occupies within household dynamics.
Critical Risk Assessment Gap
Despite 94% of French people viewing gambling as dangerous for children and rating it more hazardous than social media or screen time, 20% still plan to give scratch cards as Christmas presents. This paradox reveals a significant disconnect between risk awareness and actual behavior patterns among families.
This campaign signals ANJ's growing focus on prevention and early intervention strategies, particularly around gateway gambling products. The regulator's approach of targeting family gifting practices represents a shift from traditional compliance-focused messaging toward broader social responsibility initiatives.
The disconnect between risk awareness and behavior patterns identified in the survey data suggests potential regulatory vulnerabilities in how instant games are marketed and distributed during holiday periods. With scratch cards positioned as family-friendly gifts despite widespread recognition of their addictive potential, operators and retailers may face increased scrutiny over promotional strategies targeting gift-purchasing demographics.
The timing of this intervention, coinciding with peak holiday retail activity, indicates ANJ's recognition that regulatory effectiveness requires addressing cultural normalization of gambling products beyond traditional harm prevention measures. This approach aligns with broader European regulatory trends, as seen in recent enforcement actions by Dutch regulators targeting unauthorized gambling operations.
Regulatory Strategy Insight
ANJ's shift from compliance-focused messaging to addressing cultural normalization represents a new approach to gambling regulation. Operators should anticipate increased scrutiny over promotional strategies targeting gift-purchasing demographics, particularly during holiday periods when scratch cards are positioned as family-friendly presents.
According to French National Gaming Authority (ANJ).
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This content reflects a general overview of regulatory frameworks based on publicly available information. It does not constitute legal advice or a legal opinion. iGamingWriter.blog disclaims any liability arising from reliance on this material.
Written by
Maryna ShevchukContent Partnership Manager
Maryna has been part of the We–Right™ Factory team since 2018, working directly with operators, affiliates, and agencies on content planning and delivery. Her background in copywriting gives her a hands-on understanding of iGaming briefs, regulatory nuances, and market-specific requirements. On the blog, Maryna covers client-side content operations and B2B collaboration patterns in the iGaming industry.
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