What is ANJ (France)?

ANJ (France) is the Autorite Nationale des Jeux, the French national gambling regulator that licenses and supervises legal online betting and poker, while online casino games remain prohibited in mainland France. Created by the law of 22 May 2019 and operational since 2020, the ANJ replaced the earlier ARJEL and holds a broader mandate covering sports betting, horse-race betting, poker, the FDJ lottery, and land-based casino oversight. The ANJ enforces player protection, responsible-gambling controls, anti-money-laundering duties, and strict advertising rules. Licensed operators must offer self-exclusion, deposit limits, and identity verification, and every commercial operator submits an annual action plan against excessive and underage play. France also maintains a national self-exclusion register that bars listed players from all licensed sites and physical venues. Worked example: a French bettor deposits 100 euros with an ANJ-licensed sportsbook and stakes it on a 2.10 decimal-odds selection. A winning bet returns 210 euros. Gross gaming revenue is taxed at operator level rather than on the player, so the 110 euros profit is paid in full, though the operator's tax burden shapes the odds and promotional value offered. Bonuses are tightly capped compared with looser markets. For affiliates and players, the key point is scope: any site advertising online slots or roulette to French residents is operating outside ANJ authorisation, and ANJ-licensed brands are confined to betting and poker. Always confirm a licence on the official anj.fr register before depositing, and treat casino offers targeting France as unregulated.