The country’s new regulatory authority launched with its first meeting taking place on 23 June, taking over regulatory duties from predecessor ARJEL.

While ARJEL was responsible for online games only, ANJ will act as a single body which will oversee all segments of gambling in France.

ANJ will also be responsible for overseeing horse racing betting at the country’s 228 racetracks, lottery and retail operations, and operations at all 202 casinos, except for anti-money laundering and integrity issues..

According to the new regulatory body, this represents 78% of the regulated market in France, compared to just 11% under the ARJEL.

Its enhanced powers allow the regulator to withdraw advertising communications encouraging excessive incentive to play, carrying out on-the-spot checks, and approving operators' game types and promotional strategy.

ANJ President Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin said: “The ANJ is not an enlarged ARJEL, it is a new project that requires rethinking regulation.

"It must adapt its intervention to operators under exclusive rights and to players who play for the most part anonymously at points of sale.

"I wish to set up a regulation which combines support and control in order to better serve and protect the players”.