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ANJ Publishes a Study to Evaluate the Illegal Online Gambling in France and Gain a Better Understanding of Consumer Practices

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In order to combat illegal online gambling more effectively, the ANJ (Autorité Nationale des Jeux) has commissioned Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) to carry out a study into what is available in France and consumer habits.

The study estimates that the gross gaming revenue (GGR) generated by illegal gambling is between €748 million and €1.5 billion, or between 5% and 11% of the overall gambling market. The scale and risks associated with illegal gambling justify even more vigorous action to combat it, in addition to that already being taken by the ANJ.

More specifically, the purpose of the study was:

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  • To measure, over the period from January to March 2023, via a quantitative analysis, the illegal online gambling available in France (illegal websites and mobile applications);
  • To gain a better understanding of the consumption associated with this illegal offer, through a qualitative study carried out on a web panel of more than 11,000 people.

The illegal offer considered in the study is that which presents the following three characteristics:

  • A gambling offer made to the public combining financial sacrifice, hope of winning and a share of chance ;
  • A gambling offer accessible on French territory, via an internet connection giving a French IP (without using a VPN or a proxy);
  • An absence of authorisation granted to the operator of the website or mobile application to offer its online gambling games.

In France, only the 18 operators licensed by the ANJ and FDJ legally offer online gambling.

Illegal gambling dominated by online casino games and slot machines and fuelled by the most vulnerable players

The gross gaming revenue (GGR) generated by illegal online gambling in France is estimated at between €748m and €1.5bn, or between 5% and 11% of the overall gambling market. As a reminder, the overall legal gambling market in France represented nearly €13bn in 2022, including €2.96bn for online gambling (sports and horse betting and poker).

Online casino games (such as roulette, dice games, craps, blackjack and baccarat) and slot machines are estimated to account for 50% of illegal online gambling Internet traffic.

The study, carried out between January and March 2023, identified 510 illegal websites generating traffic on French soil. Of these, 21 alone were estimated to generate 60% of illegal gambling traffic.

50% of the illegal gambling websites whose operators have been identified are owned by companies registered in Curaçao.

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79% of the PBJ generated by the illegal online gambling market comes from high-risk gamblers.

Typical profile of illegal gamblers

Around 3 million people are estimated to have played illegal games at least once a month in 2023.

1 out of 2 illegal gamblers say they are unaware of the illegal nature of the offer they are playing on.

Illegal gamblers prefer online casino games other than slot machines (54%).

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Illegal gamblers’ main reasons for playing on these unauthorised gambling sites are: the absence of wagering limits or identity checks, the expectation of higher winnings and the greater range of games on offer.

Illegal gamblers say that they first became aware of these sites through: online searches on search engines (19%), online advertising (18%) and social networks (18%).

35% of illegal gamers would use a VPN to play on these sites.

The need to diversify actions against illegal supply

Since March 2022, the ANJ has had the power to administratively block and delist illegal websites. Administrative blocking orders are now faster and less costly. Since then, the ANJ has issued 300 administrative blocking orders covering 1230 blocked URLs. In a year and a half, thanks to the introduction of this procedure, the ANJ has managed to block almost as many Urls as in 12 years of judicial blocking proceedings.

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Although the law does not currently provide the ANJ with any other specific means of combating illegal offers, the ANJ intends to take a number of actions in the near future:

  • Making targeted reports to the judicial authorities so that criminal proceedings can be brought against those registered in Curaçao or Cyprus who operate these sites, which currently operate with complete impunity and which the ANJ itself is unable to punish;
  • Take action to warn publishers of illegal games software and companies that provide hosting solutions for illegal sites;
  • Take action against payment service providers that enable financial flows between illegal operators and players;
  • Deepen the exchange of information and best practices with its European counterparts within the framework of the GREF (Gambling Regulators’ European Forum);
  • Increase public awareness of the dangers of illegal supply.

Reminder of the risks associated with illegal gambling

  • Playing on an illegal site entails a number of risks for the player:
  • Winnings are rarely paid out: no legal action is taken against the illegal operator;
  • Minors are not protected: most of the time, there is no check on whether the player has reached the age of majority;
  • There are no legal measures to protect players: self-limitation of bets, deposits and playing time, voluntary prohibition and self-exclusion from gambling, identification and support in the event of excessive or pathological gambling;
  • Risks of identity theft and theft of bank details;
  • Risks of fuelling money laundering and terrorist financing.

Industry News

Dutch Mental Health Care Calls for Total Ban on Online Gambling Advertising

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The Dutch mental health service is calling for a total ban on online gambling advertisements in the Netherlands.

Although a ban on untargeted gambling advertisements and a ban on the use of role models has been in effect since 2023, a recent research by KRO-NCRV’s Pointer shows that (illegal) gambling companies and sports tipster platforms are still enticing young people via social media such as TikTok and Snapchat.

By using influencers and terms like “free money”, they try to attract a young audience and thus lower the threshold to start gambling. This concerns both legal online casinos and online casinos that do not have a license in the Netherlands. The Gaming Authority has started an investigation based on Pointer’s findings.

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Pointer’s research shows that part of the gambling industry deliberately targets young people who are often susceptible to promises such as “fast money” and the influence of role models. Ruth Peetoom, chair of the Dutch mental health service, compares this approach to that of the tobacco industry, where similar marketing strategies were used to get young people to smoke.

Despite the existing advertising ban, gambling companies continue to explore the boundaries of the law, according to Peetoom. The Dutch mental health and addiction care associations in the Netherlands therefore push for a total ban on online gambling advertising and stricter rules for the duty of care of gambling providers.

With the call for a total ban, the Dutch mental health care sector hopes to prevent further normalisation of gambling behaviour among young people and to protect them from the temptation and consequences of online gambling.

The post Dutch Mental Health Care Calls for Total Ban on Online Gambling Advertising appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Petra Maria Poola Joins Xace as Group Commercial Director

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Xace has announced that Petra Maria Poola has joined the company as Group Commercial Director.

Petra brings a wealth of experience from the iGaming industry having formerly held roles at several iGaming companies such as Yolo, Relax Gaming and SiGMA. She will lead the commercial growth of Xace and its group companies, including crypto and iGaming focused xda.io, helping to drive strategic initiatives across banking, fintech and iGaming solutions.

In her new role, she will mainly oversee the growth of the group’s sales, marketing and account management functions, ensuring a cohesive strategy that supports Xace’s ambitious expansion plans.

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“I am incredibly excited to start this new chapter with Xace, and work alongside such a talented team and management. Transitioning into the fintech space, while still connected to iGaming, presents an exciting opportunity for growth and learning. I’m looking forward to applying my expertise to help Xace and its group companies achieve new heights commercially, while gaining deeper insights into the fast-evolving world of fintech,” said Petra Maria Poola.

Reuben Abel, CEO of Xace, said: “Petra’s extensive background in the iGaming sector, combined with her commercial acumen, makes her a valuable addition to the Xace team. She will play a crucial role in expanding Xace’s market presence and enhancing its suite of services tailored to the specific needs of the iGaming and fintech industries.”

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JohnSlots Announces its Mission to Review the Latest Popiplay Slot Games

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JohnSlots and Popiplay are both on an upwards trajectory-two brands that have had a significant impact on the iGaming sector in their own ways. And now they’re coming together, as JohnSlots has just announced that it will review 40 Popiplay slots over the next year, covering the developer’s latest games and discussing their pros and cons for the studio’s growing audience of eager players.

Who are Popiplay and JohnSlots?

JohnSlots launched back in 2013 and quickly established itself as a trusted source for casino and slot reviews. It adopted a unique approach from the outset, hiring experienced writers and instructing them to follow a meticulous 15-point rating process that accounts for aspects such as:

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• Gaming metrics—including the game’s RTP, payout frequency and maximum payout

• Gameplay—the enjoyability of the game and how easy it is to play

• Features—free spins, bonus rounds, jackpots, payline mechanics and other notable features

• Experience—how the game’s rules, features and paytable correspond to the actual gameplay experience

Every review is honest, and each one takes the writer about 16 hours to complete. Only when they are properly acquainted with the game will the writer start the review and provide their rating.

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Popiplay & JohnSlots: What it Means

For JohnSlots, this partnership will provide its review team with 40 different titles, all released steadily throughout the next year. Some of these games have already been featured on the site, while others are in the works and undergoing that extensive review process, including September and October 2024 releases like Cultist, Baba Jam, Bubbles and Maxzilla.

Popiplay could also benefit, as it means the developer’s slots will be covered by one of the most experienced review teams in the sector. They will be subject to strict scrutiny, but if they emerge with positive ratings, it puts more eyes on those new releases.

Popiplay launched as recently as 2022, so it has only had a couple of years to make an impact. It has released a lot of slots in that time and is already making a name for itself, but a series of positive reviews could be a shot in the arm for this Scandinavian studio.

Its expanding portfolio already features at many online casinos, and as more operators and aggregators stand up and take notice, that number will increase. Collaborations like this one could help the studio’s reputation.

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What it Means for Players

Online casino gamers are the ones who will benefit the most from this partnership:

• Honest and Transparent Reviews: There is no shortage of slot reviews out there, but JohnSlots adopts a different approach to the usual brief summaries. Every review is detailed and extensive, with a 15-point system that accounts for all important metrics and features.

• Free-Play Games: There are over 1500 slot reviews on the JohnSlots platform, and 98% of these host a demo game. The same will be true for most of the Popiplay titles that its team reviews, giving players a chance to spin them risk-free and make up their own minds.

• News on the Latest Popiplay Titles: Popiplay already has a substantial following, and those fans can read reviews of the latest slots shortly after their release. Despite spending over 16 hours on each review, the JohnSlots team works quickly and gets these reviews out while there is still plenty of buzz around the slot.

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• A Cherry-Picked Selection: There are dozens of developers releasing hundreds of slots every year and giving players a seemingly endless selection. It can be overwhelming, but JohnSlots aims to narrow those releases down, highlighting the very best and showing players what makes them so special. It means that gamers can skip the filler and focus on the games that are actually worth playing.

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