The French Council of State has maintained the National Gaming Authority’s (ANJ) authority to oversee national lottery operator La Française des Jeux’s (FDJ) advertising strategy.
The supreme administrative court issued two verdicts after FDJ challenged the regulator’s limits on its 2024 gaming and betting scheme, alleging that they were unreasonable and damaging to its operations.
In its decision, the Council of State supported the ANJ’s restrictions, citing the need to reduce excessive gambling and protect vulnerable players, especially minors.
The court ruled that the regulator was authorized in implementing limits based on symptoms of problem gambling, such as an increase in high-risk players and intensified gaming behavior.
It also acknowledged the existence of illegal gaming alternatives, emphasizing the significance of a regulated and responsible legal environment.
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One of the major sources of dispute was the ANJ’s decision to restrict the proliferation of scratch card games and online betting options.
The regulator mandated the stabilisation of scratch card games in physical distribution networks, changes to online game varieties, and the removal or modification of high-risk gambling items.
The FDJ claimed that these measures were unduly restrictive and harmful to its business interests, but the court concluded that they were appropriate and proportionate considering the public health risks connected with excessive gaming.
Furthermore, the Council of State recognized the ANJ’s ability to control the marketing methods of monopoly operators.
It specifically affirmed a restriction on advertising activities that link gambling earnings to public-interest projects, such as the FDJ’s financial support for the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The court emphasized that such advertising strategies may encourage gambling behavior beyond what is required to direct gamers to legal options.
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