ANJ Launches Five-Point Action Plan After Euro 2020 Betting Advertising Concerns

The ANJ has announced a comprehensive five-point action plan following a meeting with sports betting operators on July 20, addressing what the regulator described as a "yellow line crossed" during Euro 2020 in terms of advertising pressure.

Record Betting Activity Highlights ConcernsEuro 2020 generated €434 million in online sports betting stakes in France, with French national team matches alone accounting for €88 million—an average of €22 million per match. However, the tournament also exposed troubling industry practices including advertising saturation, youth targeting, and excessive gambling stimulation.

A Harris Interactive survey conducted for ANJ found that over half of respondents who saw sports betting advertisements considered them too numerous, while nearly 80% believed such ads could contribute to addiction risks.

Five Key Regulatory WorkstreamsThe ANJ announced five initiatives to be completed by year-end:

Advertising: Mid-term review of operator promotional strategies approved in January 2021, with potential sanctions for non-compliance. A stakeholder consultation will launch in autumn, and collaboration with ARPP will produce operational advertising guidelines.Bonuses: Analysis of French and European bonus practices to define "reasonable" promotional offers and evaluate whether stricter limits are needed.Problem Gambling: A September 21 seminar will establish standardized definitions of excessive gambling, addressing inconsistent approaches across operators. Ongoing investigations are examining complaints about problem gamblers receiving promotional incentives.Stake Limits: Following a Council of State ruling recognizing players as consumers, ANJ will review operator terms against consumer protection law. Updated stake limitation rules will be proposed in September.Tipsters: ANJ has referred misleading commercial practices by tipster sites to administrative and judicial authorities.ANJ President Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin stated the Euro had a "useful revelatory effect" exposing problematic practices, emphasizing that operators cannot promote the illusion of easy money to young people.