ANJ’s Algorithm Reveals 60% of France’s Gambling Revenue Originates from High-Risk Players

The French gambling regulator, ANJ, has unveiled a new algorithm indicating that a significant 60% of the country’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) is generated by players considered to be at risk. To promote responsible gambling, ANJ has shared this tool with operators, enabling them to evaluate the effectiveness of their player protection measures.

Developing a Tool to Detect At-Risk Gamblers

Committed to reducing gambling-related harm, ANJ conducted in-depth research that uncovered alarming trends: over half of France’s GGR is derived from problem gamblers. Although previous efforts led to operators identifying 89,000 problem players in 2025, a significant improvement from 31,000 the year before, ANJ expressed concerns about the sufficiency of current detection methods.

In response, ANJ created its own sophisticated algorithm using data from online operators as well as France’s national lottery and betting monopoly. This algorithm assists operators by ensuring compliance and allows ANJ to objectively assess how well operators are identifying players exhibiting signs of problematic gambling behavior. The ultimate goal is to decrease revenue sourced from those experiencing gambling harm.

Worrying Insights from Initial Findings

While the algorithm is not intended to provide an exact count of problem gamblers, it offers a more comprehensive perspective on the issue’s scale. Validated with the Canadian Problem Gambling Index and expert oversight, the algorithm evaluates 23 risk factors to classify players into four groups: recreational, moderate-risk, excessive, and clearly excessive players.

Early results from the latter half of 2025 are concerning, revealing approximately 600,000 players flagged as likely problem gamblers. About half of these players were identified as clearly excessive, with the remainder considered very likely at risk. ANJ noted that although the rising number of problem gamblers aligns partly with increased gambling popularity and market growth, the rate of increase in problem gamblers outpaces the overall player growth.

Alarmingly, the algorithm estimates that problem players contribute 60% (around EUR 1.2 billion) of France’s total gross gaming revenue.

Offering the Algorithm to Gambling Operators

ANJ provides this algorithm voluntarily to gambling operators, enabling them to compare their own detection techniques against this benchmark. It can be used in conjunction with existing tools to enhance player protection strategies.

Meanwhile, ANJ will utilize the algorithm to focus efforts on identifying clearly excessive players and further investigate those who may be at risk. Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, ANJ’s chair, described sharing this tool as a pivotal advancement in French gaming regulation.

Alongside survey data, this algorithm objectively measures the level of effort needed to detect problem gamblers, whom operators must support immediately. Additionally, we emphasize the necessity of extending this identification beyond online platforms to physical points of sale, a step we have urged France’s monopolies to implement since 2024.

In a related development, France recently condemned the expansion of prediction markets within Europe, expressing regulatory concern over this emerging sector.