As Euro 2024 approaches, the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) has issued a strong advisory for responsible gambling in France. Euro 2024 kicks off in Germany on June 14, and the ANJ projects that nearly €1bn (£851.4m/$1.1bn) could be wagered by French players, contingent upon how well the French national team performs in the tournament. This potential figure surpasses the €900m staked during the 2022 World Cup when France reached the finals, and it also eclipses the €700m bets placed during the 2021 European Championships.
Given this expected surge in betting activity, the ANJ is urging the public, especially younger individuals, to heed the legal warnings in gambling advertisements. As part of its new prevention campaign, the ANJ aims to spotlight the risks of betting addiction and the associated dangers. One of the campaign’s hallmark features is its use of an intentionally exaggerated segment in yellow that focuses on addiction risks, presenting the real-life stories of problem gamblers.
Additionally, these warnings will promote the Evalujeu website, which provides players with the tools to assess their gambling habits and get personalized advice. Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, the president of ANJ, stressed the critical importance of raising awareness about these resources.
“The ANJ wishes to make an impact with its campaign which aims to make people understand that legal notices on advertisements are not only a legal obligation but that they contain stories of players’ lives, testimonials on the risks linked to excessive gambling such as those we receive every day at the ANJ,” said Falque-Pierrotin.
Ahead of the tournament, the ANJ commissioned consumer insights provider Toluna-Harris Interactive to carry out a study on the French population’s betting intentions for Euro 2024. Conducted in May, the online survey involved 1,070 respondents. The study revealed that 55% of the French population plans to follow Euro 2024, with 82% recognizing the risks of addiction. Moreover, 35% of participants intend to place bets on the matches, a figure that rises to 44% among those aged 18 to 34, underscoring the necessity for targeted awareness efforts for younger gamblers.
In 2023, over €4bn was wagered on online sports bets in France, with football accounting for 52% of these stakes. Among these bettors, 64% were aged between 18 and 34. A 2019 report by the Games Observatory estimated that there were approximately 1.4 million at-risk gamblers in France, with close to 400,000 exhibiting pathological gambling behaviors. The report identified sports betting as the most significant risk factor.
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A new ordinance in 2019 required operators to submit annual plans to the ANJ to mitigate excessive gambling. In April 2024, the regulator acknowledged “significant progress” in curbing problem gambling, particularly through heightened awareness. Nonetheless, the ANJ maintains that problem gambling rates in France remain too high, and its 2024-2026 strategic plan prioritizes aiding problem and underage gamblers. The regulator calls on operators to bolster their responsible gambling measures to enhance player protection.
When announcing the Euro 2024 prevention campaign, Falque-Pierrotin lauded gambling operators for their current efforts but emphasized the need for continued vigilance. “Since the excesses of the Euro in 2021, gambling operators have become aware of their responsibilities in the fight against excessive gambling and have adjusted their practices,” she said. “This positive dynamic must continue during the Euro and the Olympic Games, and the ANJ will be vigilant on the actual practices of each.”
In April, the ANJ reported a record gross gambling revenue (GGR) of €13.4bn across France for 2023, reflecting a 3.5% increase over 2022, a year that included a World Cup. All market segments reported gains in GGR. Online gambling specifically saw a 7.2% year-on-year increase, reaching €2.3bn in 2023, compared to a modest 0.8% increase the year before.
Commenting on this growth, Falque-Pierrotin noted, “This good health of the market demonstrates that demanding regulation is not an obstacle to development. This growth makes all the more relevant the objective of reducing the number of excessive gamblers that the ANJ has placed at the center of its action for the years to come.”
As Euro 2024 approaches, the ANJ’s campaign serves as a critical reminder for responsible gambling. With the proper measures and increased awareness, the goal is to safeguard players and foster a more conscientious betting environment in France.
