ANJ publishes its latest gambling blacklist

French regulator l’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) has published its updated blacklist of gambling websites.

The blacklist is updated monthly and includes unauthorised websites operated by Campeonbet, Casinoextra, Winmachance, MyStake, WinUnique, VegasPlus and YBet.

Also included on the blacklist are affiliate websites and domains which promote unlicensed casinos.

In addition to its blacklist, the ANJ has the power to issue IP-blocking orders and website delisting orders as tools to combat illegal gambling sites.

Since being given these powers in March 2022, the regulator issued its first round of blocking and delisting orders in June 2022. Since then, it has issued a total of 152 orders, leading to the blocking of 532 URLs related to illegal gambling and betting content.

The regulator also said that the procedure to block sites has improved. Previously, it would take between four and six months from identifying an illegal site to a judge approving the blocking order.

Now the ANJ can consult with an administrative judge to request internet service providers (ISPs) to block identified sites.

There will then be a formal note sent to the publisher and host of the site and if this goes unanswered for five days and the operator does not cease operation, the ANJ will then contact ISPs to take the relevant blocking action.

The change in process has now reduced the time it takes to block relevant sites down to between one to two months.

At the time of writing, there are 17 licensed operators in France.

In a statement, the ANJ said: “When a French consumer plays on an illegal website, it exposes you 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 suggests that players report illegal gambling sites to the regulator.”