France has opened recruitment for a senior Budget Directorate position that also carries responsibility for the gambling sector and the role of government commissioner to the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ).
The vacancy is for Head of Department and Deputy to the Director of the Budget within the Ministry of Public Action and Accounts, with an anticipated start date of 1 October 2026.
The successful candidate will have authority across the Budget Directorate's responsibilities while also overseeing gambling matters.
The official notice specifies that the incumbent serves as government commissioner to the ANJ and may also represent the state on boards of organisations subject to the Budget Directorate's supervision.
The position gives the Budget Directorate a formal link to France's independent gambling regulator. Under French law, the government commissioner attends ANJ college meetings with a consultative vote, although meetings concerning decisions exclusively related to licensed online gambling operators take place without the commissioner present.
The commissioner communicates the Government's position and can request a second deliberation on certain matters within five days of an initial decision.
ANJ currently identifies Jean-Marc Oléron as government commissioner. The vacancy notice also names Oléron as the existing Head of Department and Deputy Director of the Budget, indicating that the advertised post incorporates the functions he currently holds.
The recruitment comes during a period of leadership change at the regulator. Pascal Chèvremont was appointed ANJ President by presidential decree on 22 June, replacing Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, while two new college members joined as part of the regulator's scheduled renewal.
The ANJ oversees a French gambling market that generated €14.1bn ($16.4bn) in gross gaming revenue during 2025, up 3% year-on-year. Online gambling revenue increased 8.6% to €2.62bn, with online sports betting accounting for €1.77bn.
Applications for the Government position must be filed within 15 days of publication of the vacancy notice. The appointment is for three years and may be renewed once.
In July, Global Gaming Insider reported that the ANJ had reminded consumers that esports betting remains prohibited in France during the Esports World Cup in Paris. The regulator said betting on video game competitions falls outside the country's permitted gambling framework and warned players about offshore sites.
France's ANJ college has nine members serving six-year, non-renewable terms, with part of the membership renewed every two years
