GamblersPost Gamblers Post is a dedicated news and networking portal in the online gambling industry which features news, opinions, interviews as well as product and software reviews.
New findings from France’s gambling regulator, the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), expose a troubling reality: 60% of the country’s online gambling revenue is generated by players identified as high-risk. The data, derived from an advanced risk-scoring algorithm, underscores the industry’s heavy dependence on a small segment of potentially vulnerable users.
According to the ANJ, around 600,000 account-based gamblers displayed signs of excessive play in the second half of 2025. These players, comprising just 8.7% of all regulated accounts, accounted for €1.2 billion in gross gaming revenue—60% of the total market revenue. The results challenge the gambling industry’s claim that most revenue stems from recreational players, instead revealing a concerning concentration of profits among those at risk of harm.
ANJ’s Risk Detection Tool
The ANJ’s algorithm, built using continuous account-level data from licensed operators, FDJ, and PMU, assesses 23 risk indicators, including financial behavior, use of gambling limits, play frequency, and player history. Players are categorized into four groups: recreational, moderate risk, excessive, or manifestly excessive.
Among the most concerning findings, 300,000 players were classified as ‘manifestly excessive,’ a category the ANJ emphasizes should be prioritized for intervention. The regulator also observed that the number of excessive players is growing faster than the overall player base, with their revenue share increasing steadily since 2023.
Developed in 2024 and presented to operators in 2025, the algorithm was validated against the Canadian Problem Gambling Index and overseen by a scientific committee. While similar models are in development in Spain and the Netherlands, France’s tool is the first of its kind in Europe. It serves as a benchmark for operators to fulfill their legal responsibilities in identifying and assisting vulnerable customers.
Yet, the data highlights a critical compliance issue. Operators identified 89,000 excessive gamblers in 2025—up from 31,000 in 2024—but this falls far short of the 600,000 flagged by the ANJ’s algorithm. This gap raises significant concerns about the effectiveness of current risk detection systems and the industry’s adherence to responsible gambling standards.
