Report an illegal gambling site to the ANJ: Guide to the procedure and risks
To report an illegal gambling site to the ANJ, fill out the dedicated form on anj.fr or contact the player service. The National Games Authority reviews the illegal offer and can order administrative blocking by ISPs and search engines. This procedure, strengthened by the law of March 2, 2022, protects players from financial risks and cybercrime associated with unlicensed operators.
Identify the illegal gambling offer
The first step to report an illegal gambling site to the ANJ is to identify the infringement. In France, the monopoly and licensing are strict: only operators licensed by the National Games Authority and the online offer from FDJ are legal. Any other site offering online casinos (roulette, slot machines) constitutes an illegal offer, often listed on the blacklist or operating via mirror sites to bypass administrative blocks.
Licensed operators vs. prohibited sites
An international license, such as those from Malta or Curaçao, has no legal value in France. Only sports betting, horse racing, and online poker are authorized under the strict control of the National Games Authority. This prohibition protects players from financial risks and addiction, as these illegal platforms comply with neither data protection obligations nor responsible gaming mechanisms imposed on legal operators.
Consult the official blacklist
The ANJ publishes a non-exhaustive blacklist of sites subject to administrative blocking. In 2026, thousands of URLs were blocked by administrative order. This list is not complete. A site absent from it may still constitute an illegal offer if it lacks a French license. This information must be cross-referenced with the positive list of licensed operators. If a site is not on it, it is likely an illegal offer that should be reported to accelerate its identification.
Identify mirror sites and fake licenses
Mirror sites are copies of blocked platforms, created to avoid administrative blocking by changing URLs or domain names. They attempt to appear legal by sometimes displaying false compliance statements. To identify them, check for the absence of the official ANJ logo in the footer and be wary of aggressive bonus promises typical of prohibited online casinos. These sites operate outside the French legal framework, exposing users to banking fraud risks with no recourse.
The official procedure to report a site
The recommended method uses the dedicated channel on the official website of the National Games Authority. This process allows ANJ services to identify an illegal offer and initiate an administrative procedure. By providing tangible evidence, you assist the authorized investigator in processing the case, which can lead to a formal notice to the operator or a technical block on accessing the site from France.
Use the form on anj.fr
The National Games Authority provides a specific channel to register unlicensed platforms. You can report an illegal gambling site directly via the "Fight against illegal offers" section on anj.fr. This report contributes to protecting players from fraud and personal data loss risks.
Evidence to provide
For an authorized investigator to quickly qualify the infringement, your report must be supported by concrete evidence. The ANJ reviews cases to decide whether to send a formal notice to the site publisher or order administrative blocking. Although internal procedures remain confidential, providing the exact URL, screenshots of the payment interface, and proof of the absence of French legal mentions accelerates the process. These elements help distinguish a technical error from the deliberate exploitation of an illegal offer aimed at bypassing French regulation.
Distinguish between ANJ and DGCCRF competencies
It is necessary to distinguish between the competencies of the National Games Authority and those of the DGCCRF. The ANJ handles the illegality of the offer itself (lack of license), while the DGCCRF, via signal.conso.gouv.fr, manages commercial disputes or misleading practices. If you have suffered financial harm on an unlicensed site, reporting to the ANJ aims to have the platform blocked, but does not guarantee reimbursement of lost funds, as no legal protection applies to gambling on prohibited sites.
Consequences of reporting: blocking and de-listing
Your report feeds into an accelerated administrative blocking procedure. Since the law of March 2, 2022, the President of the ANJ can directly order ISPs and search engines to cut off access or de-list unlicensed platforms, reducing processing times to about two months.
The law of March 2, 2022 and the powers of the ANJ
The law of March 2, 2022 transformed the legal arsenal of the National Games Authority by granting it direct administrative power, distinct from the heaviness of previous judicial procedures. This reform allows the ANJ President to order the blocking of illegal content without going through a judge, aligning French regulation with digital realities. In 2026, this efficiency resulted in the issuance of hundreds of orders targeting thousands of URLs, demonstrating a reaction capacity far superior to older mechanisms that took six to nine months. This legal framework strengthens player protection by accelerating the neutralization of dangerous offers.
Role of ISPs and search engines
The effectiveness of the system relies on the mandatory cooperation of technical intermediaries. ISPs (Internet Service Providers) are required to execute administrative blocking orders to prevent access to sites from French territory. Meanwhile, search engines must de-list the relevant URLs, making illegal platforms invisible in natural search results. This dual action cuts off the illicit offer at the source: technical access is blocked by ISPs, while commercial visibility is removed by search engines, isolating the unlicensed operator from the French market.
Fighting mirror sites
Despite these measures, illegal operators bypass blocking via mirror sites, which copy the interface and logo of the initially blocked site while changing the URL. The ANJ addresses this proliferation by quickly identifying these clones: in 2026, a large portion of blocked URLs were mirror sites. The administrative procedure allows for a cascading response, blocking these new URLs as soon as they are detected. However, vigilance remains necessary, as a site absent from the blacklist may still be illegal if it does not appear on the list of licensed operators.
Risks of playing on an unregulated site
The dangers are severe: the illegal offer exposes players to systemic risks such as non-payment of winnings, theft of personal data, and direct exposure to cybercrime. These platforms, often linked to money laundering, protect neither minors nor vulnerable players. In case of difficulty, organizations like Joueurs Info Service or SOS Joueurs can provide listening and support, but they cannot intervene in financial disputes with illegal sites.
Lack of winnings protection and rigging
On unlicensed sites, the lack of software certification by the National Games Authority means randomness is not guaranteed. Cheating is structural: the site can be programmed to be systematically winning, making the player a guaranteed loser. Unlike legal operators in France, these platforms comply with no transparency obligations regarding return rates. Winnings are rarely paid, and in case of dispute, the player has no legal recourse against the publisher. This total impunity also facilitates money laundering, as financial flows are neither tracked nor controlled by competent authorities.
Danger to banking data and identity
The theft of personal data is one of the most immediate risks. These illegal sites collect your banking and identity information without securing it according to European standards. This vulnerability opens the door to cybercrime: fraudulent use of your bank card without your knowledge, unauthorized charges, and resale of your details on the dark web. As Sylvie, a trapped player, testifies, large debits can appear without consent, with no way to obtain a refund or recourse from the fraudulent site. By providing your details to these actors, you inadvertently fuel organized criminal networks.
Lack of protection for minors and vulnerable players
Illegal sites ignore protection obligations for minors. No age verification is performed during registration, exposing adolescents to addiction and financial losses. Furthermore, these platforms offer no self-exclusion or bet-limiting mechanisms, drastically increasing the risk of over-indebtedness. Aggressive advertising on social media often targets these vulnerable audiences, promising VIP bonuses to encourage excessive play without a safety net. The lack of regulation means no authority monitors compliance with the under-18 gambling ban, leaving families helpless against the damage caused by these predatory operators.
About this article - Authorship & Liability
Author: Sarah Weber - Casino tester & bonus analyst Verified by: Dr. Markus Hoffmann - Senior iGaming compliance analyst Last updated: 2026-07-30.
This article on "reporting an illegal gambling site to the ANJ" was written by Sarah Weber and reviewed by Dr. Markus Hoffmann. Both regularly update the content to reflect regulatory changes, licenses, and bonus terms. All references to licenses, authorities, or legal frameworks refer to public sources (ANJ (National Games Authority), Law of May 12, 2010 on the opening of online gambling).
About the author
8+ years of casino testing, 200+ platforms personally tested in the EU and internationally. Former member of the eCOGRA Player Advocacy Program (2018-2022). Specialization: wagering conditions, withdrawal processes, customer support evaluation.
About the reviewer
12+ years in the iGaming industry, including 5 years in compliance consulting for operators licensed under the French ANJ framework. PhD in economic mathematics. Fields: bonus mathematics, wager analysis, player protection mechanisms.
Responsible gaming
Gambling can become addictive. If you feel you are losing control, contact Joueurs Info Service, SOS Joueurs, or use the national self-exclusion registry (File of Banned Gamblers (FIJ)). Set deposit and loss limits before playing for real money. Breaks and cooldown tools are levers for sustainable enjoyment.
Legal notice
The information in this article is provided for editorial and comparative purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Players remain responsible for complying with local regulations.