In a move the ANJ called “a major step forward in the fight against” illegal gambling, the regulator may now impose blocks on unlicensed sites whether they are found to have targeted French consumers or not.

Under a new law aimed at “democratising sport in France,” the current legal procedure for blocking illegal gambling sites has been replaced by an administrative process. As a result, the ANJ is no longer required to prove that such sites advertised to French consumers.

“Such a procedure,” the regulator remarked, “will allow the ANJ to prevent, more quickly and more effectively, access to sites which present very high risks in terms of addiction, reliability of gambling and money laundering operations.”

The President of the ANJ may now order internet service providers (ISP) to block access to sites providing “an illegal offer of gambling” if such sites do not respond to a “formal notice to cease this activity” within five days.

“This legislative development is a major step forward in the fight against the illegal offer of gambling in France, which the ANJ has made a priority project for 2022,” it stated.

“It supports the new cooperation strategy that it has been developing for several months with all digital players (search engines, social networks, content exchange platforms, payment solution providers) in order to hold them accountable and stem the proliferation of illegal offers.”

The new law also requires the ANJ to “centralise and analyse” reports related to suspicious betting activity.