French Gambling Regulator Issues Warning over Refusing Bets

At a time when gambling operators are increasingly under pressure to vet problem gamblers, the French National Gaming Authority (the L’Autorité Nationale des Jeux - ANJ) has issued a warning to operators about refusing to accept bets from responsible players.

There have been numerous complaints from French gamblers about operators placing a limit on their bets with no good reason or simply refusing to accept them, resulting in missed betting opportunities.

This led to the regulator releasing an official deliberation to address the issue. They pointed out that according to French law, it is a punishable offense to refuse customer service without a substantial reason. Breaking this law can result in fines of up to $1,740, which can grow even larger after repeat offenses.

The authority also said that refusing bets could be considered a “deceptive marketing tactic,” which is defined as false or misleading allegations, indications, or presentations of the existence, availability, and/or nature of the good or service, among others. This carries a fine of $350,000 and up to two years in prison.

Operators are allowed to refuse a bet, but only when it is justifiable. Reasons for refusing to accept bets include trying to prevent problem gambling, addictive behaviors, money laundering, criminal activity, underage gambling, or when a customer has been banned or self-excluded.

Across the world, there are ongoing discussions about betting limits. Many people view betting limits as a way to prevent harmful gambling. However, others argue that they can harm the average gambler who is looking to have fun and is not at risk.

The ANJ’s warning means that operators will have to be more vigilant and carefully track their clients’ betting activities to determine if they are justified in refusing a bet.

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