A Streamlined Digital Process
People can now make a self-exclusion request completely online, from starting the request to sending in identifying documents and doing a dynamic selfie check on their smartphone. The steps in the process are:
The gamer starts the request on the special service.
Checking that an identity paper is real.
Mobile dynamic selfie verification (using the IDnow service).
Email to confirm your registration.
Goes into effect in a few days.
ANJ wants to speed up the process of getting a request and activating it by giving a "100% digital and secure" journey. They also want to make the identity control phase safer.
The Impact on Player Protection
Self-exclusion is a private option for players who know that their gambling habits could hurt their finances, mental health, or social life. Once someone is signed up, they can't go to: - Casinos and gambling clubs.
- Legal sites for betting on sports, horse racing, and poker online.
- Give players the chance to play Française des Jeux (FDJ) or PMU games online or in person.
The exclusion lasts at least three years. After that, the person can ask for it to be lifted at any time.
There were over 40,000 entries in the exclusion registry when ANJ took it over in 2021. Today, over 85,000 people are enrolled, which represents a 25% increase from two years ago. In 2024, 19,000 people signed up.
Statistics show that 77% of those who sign up are men, 23% are between the ages of 18 and 24, and 33% are between the ages of 25 and 34. Younger people sign up mostly for sports betting, while older people sign up mostly for casino gambling.
Upcoming Improvements
ANJ aims to add further features in 2026, such as giving registrants their own accounts so they may see papers and ask for the exclusion to be lifted, as well as a feedback mechanism to better support players and keep an eye on their experience of self-exclusion.
ANJ wants to increase trust in the system and assist more people take meaningful actions towards managing or reducing their exposure to legal gambling by making identification control better and making it easier to use the system digitally.
Broader Implications
The implementation of this improved self-exclusion program is a big step forward for France's responsible gambling system. As more and more gambling sites pop up and attract younger players, it becomes more and more vital to have easier and safer ways to keep people out. If the proposed improvements for 2026 go as planned, ANJ might become a model for other regulators who want to find a balance between making things easy to get and keeping people safe in the digital era.