A new online service is being introduced in France to help smooth the process by which players can self-exclude.
If a player feels that either they or someone they are caring for is at risk of excessive gambling, they will be able to request a ban on the site 'interdiction de jeux,' managed by the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ).
Identities will be verified via the taking of a 'dynamic selfie.'
A voluntary ban for someone other than yourself will only be allowed if the person submitting the request is the legal representative of the person experiencing gambling problems.
The registration is intended to prohibit access to casinos or gaming clubs as well as online betting sites licensed by the ANJ.
All bans will last for a minimum of three years, at which point the person concerned may request it be lifted.
The ANJ has accompanied its announcement with some statistics regarding the voluntary exclusion database.
It says: "In 2021, when the ANJ took over the management of this database, 40,000 people were registered. Today, that number has risen to over 85,000, representing a 25% increase in the last two years. In 2024, 19,000 people were registered."
Increases like this can always be read two ways - increased gambling harms may cause a rise like this, but improved awareness and better tools can also be the cause.
According to the data, for those over 65, casino use tends to be the most common reason for requesting a ban, whereas sports betting is more prevalent in the younger cohorts.
Further improvements to the system in 2026 will allow registered individuals to create a personal account that allows them to track their gambling ban.
77% of people registered for a voluntary ban in France are men
