France ANJ Reports Alarming Rise in Underage Gambling

French regulators are sounding the alarm after new data revealed that 42.6% of minors aged 15-17 have gambled at least once in the past year. The findings come from a survey conducted by ARPEJ, the Association for Research and Prevention of Excessive Gambling, involving 5,000 French children.

The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), France’s gambling regulator, expressed grave concern over the extent of gambling participation among minors. The 2025 figures represent a significant increase of 7.8% compared to a similar study conducted in 2021.

Participation rates are higher among boys at 45.5%, compared to 39.6% for girls. The data points to significant vulnerabilities in retail gambling channels, with 34.3% of minors reporting they played scratch cards, up from 27.3% in 2021. Additionally, 20% cited participation in national lottery draw games.

The survey exposes a troubling pattern of parental involvement in facilitating access. 65% of young gamblers stated they accessed retail gambling through their parents. A further 36.9% admitted to using a parent’s online gambling account with permission, while 26.4% created personal accounts with parental assistance.

Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, President of the ANJ, warned that the data signals a broader cultural shift: “The increase in gambling participation among minors is worrying. It once again reflects a normalisation of gambling, whereas young people’s first encounter with these products should be delayed, not encouraged.”

Beyond access, advertising exposure remains a key concern. The study found that 78.8% of 15-17-year-olds reported exposure to gambling advertising, rising to 85.1% among those who gamble. Traditional media remains the primary channel at 50.2%, followed by social media at 43.8%.

The ANJ is expected to review enforcement of retail age-verification and current advertising controls, particularly during major sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup 2026.