French Gambling Regulator Publishes a Blacklist of Gambling Websites
French national regulator l’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) has published a blacklist of gambling websites, which are subject to blocking and delisting orders.
The blacklist
The blacklist, features websites operated by brands such as Campeonbet, Casinoextra, Dublinbet, Kahuna Casino, Winmachance, MyStake, WinUnique, VegasPlus and YBet. The blacklist will be updated monthly.
ANJ was recently given new powers to block and delist illegal gambling websites, as well as those advertising these sites.
The first administrative blocking and delisting orders were sent out in June 2022, since then, ANJ has issued a total of 152 orders, and following which some 532 URLs relating to illegal gambling content have also been blocked.
According to ANJ, the procedure to block such sites has equally been improved so that quicker action can be taken, to halt access to illegal websites faster. Previously, it would take four to six months from identifying an illegal site to a judge approving the decision to block access to such site.
However, with the new development, ANJ can now consult with an administrative judge to request French internet service providers, (ISPs) to block access to websites identified as operating or advertising illegally.
The Process
A formal notice will be sent to the publisher and host of a site; if there was no response for five days and the operator fails to cease operation, ANJ may contact ISPs to take the relevant action to block access. According to ANJ, this could reduce the length of the blocking process to one to two months.
La Française des Jeux holds the monopoly for lottery in France. However, about 17 operators are currently licensed to operate in the country. A list of these approved operators is available to view on ANJ’s website.
ANJ said that, when French consumers plays on an illegal website, it exposes them to multiple risks such as the unauthorised collection of personal data, payment fraud, installation of malicious computer programs, non-payment of winnings and the absence of measures to prevent excessive gambling and underage gambling.
The ANJ also asked players to report illegal gambling, sites to the regulator.
Source: igamingbusiness.com
