AFJEL: France Is Losing the War on Illegal Gambling

The Association Française du Jeu en Ligne (AFJEL) published a new report on the performance of France’s legal betting market during the Euro 2024. The mixed results suggest that the country might be losing the war on illegal gambling.

According to the AFJEL, its report reveals “surprisingly low or even declining figures” compared to previous iterations of the championship. The volume of bets stagnated compared to Euro 2021, showing a lack of growth in bets for 3 years.

Additionally, the total bets were 25% lower than they were during the 2022 World Cup. To put these figures into perspective, the AFJEL pointed out that they were 50% lower than the estimates announced by the ANJ, which had forecast a record-breaking figure of up to EUR 1 billion in bets.

The concerningly low figures were recorded in spite of the fact that France’s national team reached the semi-finals of the Euro 2024. Additionally, the figures recorded in France contradict those recorded in other European markets where the betting activity spiked.

Many Players Prefer Playing with Unlicensed Operators

The declining number of legal wagering in France seems to prove the outflow of punters into the illegal market. For context, 2023 experienced a 5.3% decline in the total number of players, suggesting lower channelization rates.

Despite the French regulators’ efforts to get the matter under control, French gamblers have become increasingly more likely to bet with black market operators rather than selecting the legal alternative.

The black market, however, offers none of the safeguards provided by licensed gambling companies, exposing players to higher risks of gambling harm.

The AFJEL pointed out that the lack of evolution within the legal iGaming market has been offset by the rapid growth of the illegal market. According to the association, France is losing the battle against foreign operators as the black market has, for the first time, surpassed the legal market.

 While France has been fairly restrictive in its approach to betting, only allowing a handful of ANJ-approved websites to offer online bets. However, online casino websites, despite being illegal, have also offered wagers on the Euro 2024, attracting countless players to their products.

The ANJ is now fighting an uphill battle. Despite the regulator’s efforts to minimize the problem gambling rates in the country, it seems that the market continues to stagnate.