France's National Gaming Authority (ANJ) has launched a new responsible gambling campaign titled "Risk Zone" ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Created by agency LIBRE, the "Risk Zone" campaign aims to raise awareness of these risks by transforming the familiar yellow responsible gambling banner featured in betting advertisements into a highly visible warning signal.
By turning the banner into yellow safety tape, commonly used to mark hazardous areas, the ANJ illustrates what can happen when a player enters the "risk zone".
According to a Toluna-Harris study commissioned by the ANJ, 57% of French people intend to follow the tournament. While more than half of those planning to watch the World Cup expect to place informal bets with friends and family, 41% plan to wager money on matches through a licensed bookmaker.
This represents an increase of five percentage points compared with the 2022 World Cup and six percentage points compared with Euro 2024. The intention to bet is particularly strong among under-35s, with 54% saying they expect to place wagers during the tournament.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup generated more than €900 million in online and retail bets. The final between France and Argentina remains the highest-grossing betting event on record, attracting nearly €54m in online wagers alone.
Given the continued growth of the sports betting market, the levels of activity seen during recent major tournaments and the expanded format of the 2026 World Cup, total stakes could reach around €1.2bn. However, the performance of the French national team is expected to be a key factor in determining the final betting volume.
The study also highlighted ongoing concerns around gambling-related harm. More than a third of regular bettors (37%) said they have previously felt they were losing control of their gambling, rising to 67% among those under the age of 25.
Football remained France's most popular betting sport in 2025, accounting for 55% of all wagers as online betting turnover exceeded €6bn during the year
