France's gambling regulator ANJ has published a practical guide for licensed online operators on detecting and countering player fraud. The document follows consultations with operators and the gaming ombudsman. It introduces no new legal obligations but tightens the operational framework for handling fraud.
The guide answers questions operators face routinely: when an account can be closed, a balance frozen or returned, a bet cancelled, or tournament prizes redistributed. ANJ outlines six main fraud categories — identity theft, payment fraud and chargeback abuse, in-game cheating, money-dumping and sports event manipulation. Each category includes legal grounds and recommended actions.
For identity theft, operators must close accounts immediately after establishing the fact and reserve the balance if the bank account holder cannot be confirmed. To protect against account takeovers, ANJ recommends two-factor authentication for withdrawals and changes to payment details. In cases of poker collusion and bot use, contracts may allow redistributing winnings to affected players — courts have upheld this where data exists.
The regulator demands evidence, not suspicion. The guide lists types of proof and 'converging indicators' (faisceaux d'indices) that French courts have previously accepted: IP addresses, device logs, connection times. Operators are advised to review terms, strengthen KYC and fraud detection, and bring technical protections in line with certification standards.
Safeguarding remains a priority for ANJ. In July the regulator fined an unnamed operator €500,000 for insufficient work with problem gamblers — 29 high-risk clients were either missed or underestimated by risk level.
