How to bypass ANJ administrative blocking: risks and legal solutions

Using a VPN or changing your DNS to bypass the ANJ administrative block is technically feasible, but illegal. This practice exposes the player to the total loss of their money. The only reliable method to play online is to check if the site is on the official ANJ list or, if you are registered, to request the removal of your personal ban.

Why technical bypass methods fail

Trying to bypass the ANJ administrative blocking with technical tools does not guarantee access to gaming. Above all, it puts your money at risk. French ISPs use sophisticated detection systems that make these solutions unstable. Worse still, playing on an illegal site deprives you of all legal protection. In the event of a dispute, you will not be able to recover your winnings or benefit from addiction prevention measures. Every bet then becomes a direct risk to your financial stability.

The ineffectiveness of VPNs and DNS changes

VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) are often sold as miracle solutions. Yet they fail when faced with current ISP infrastructures. These providers no longer just filter IP addresses. They analyze traffic signatures using Deep Packet Inspection (DPI). This technology identifies encrypted flows typical of VPNs, even if the IP Address appears legitimate.

Our tests show that this detection makes the connection unstable. The ANJ updates its blacklist in real time, and illegal operators often change servers. When connecting a VPN to an ISP, it is noted that the blocking often persists. The access provider identifies the tunneling protocol rather than the final destination. This technological race leaves the player with a cut connection at the critical moment of a withdrawal or a bet.

Changing your DNS (Domain Name System) settings is a popular but insufficient method for how to bypass ANJ administrative blocking. DNS acts as a directory to translate domain names into IP addresses. However, French ISPs now block access at the IP address level itself, and no longer just via name resolution.

Thus, changing the DNS is not enough if the ISP directly filters the target site's IP Address. This manipulation also exposes the user to security risks. Unverified DNS servers can intercept connection data. The LCEN law requires providers to block access to sites on the ANJ list. This relationship between the ISP and the administrative blocking makes DNS bypasses obsolete in the face of robust IP filtering.

The traceability of the player's digital footprint

The player's digital footprint allows them to be tracked, beyond the simple IP address. This footprint groups unique data about the device: browser configuration, screen resolution, installed plugins. Even with a VPN, this digital footprint remains identifiable by operators and regulators.

The ANJ and licensed operators use this data to detect fraud attempts, particularly to bypass a personal gambling ban. If a player attempts to mask their identity via a proxy while keeping the same digital footprint, they risk account closure and confiscation of funds. This traceability proves that technology does not protect the user. It places them outside the legal framework, with no recourse in the event of a problem.

Site blocking vs. Personal ban: understanding the nuance

A distinction must be made between administrative blocking and a personal ban to know how to bypass the ANJ administrative blocking without committing an offense. The former targets the infrastructure of an illegal offer on French territory. The latter concerns the status of the player registered in the Gambling Ban File. Attempting to bypass a site block via a VPN does not lift a Voluntary Gambling Ban, a Judicial Gambling Ban, or an Administrative Gambling Ban. The player then exposes themselves to aggravated penalties and the total loss of their funds.

When the block concerns the operator and not the player

Why is my gaming account blocked by the ANJ when I did nothing? Often, it is not a block on your personal account, but a restriction of access to the site itself. Administrative blocking now replaces the heavy judicial procedure to fight against unlicensed sites. The ANJ, the regulatory authority, orders ISPs (Internet Service Providers) to cut access to these platforms after a formal notice remains without effect.

This measure, resulting from recent legislative developments (incorporating the provisions of the amended law of May 12, 2010), aims to protect players from illegal offers that do not respect French safety standards. If you can no longer access a site, it is probably because it is on the blacklist of sites subject to an administrative block, and not because you are personally banned from gambling.

The three types of gambling bans in France

What is the difference between voluntary, judicial, and administrative bans? There are three distinct regimes managed via the Gambling Ban File:

Voluntary Gambling Ban: A proactive step by the player to protect themselves against addiction, requested directly from the ANJ or operators. Judicial Gambling Ban: Pronounced by a judge as part of a criminal or civil procedure, often linked to debts or behavioral disorders. Administrative Gambling Ban: Decided by the ANJ for players identified as presenting a serious risk, regardless of their will.

Unlike administrative blocking which targets sites, these bans are nominative. A mirror site may attempt to evade the administrative block, but it cannot bypass your registration in the ban file if the operator performs the required identity checks.

How to know if you are registered with the ANJ

What procedure should be followed to check one's status in the gambling ban file? Only the ANJ holds the precise information regarding your registration. To clear up any doubt, you must make an official request for the lifting of the ban or verification of status.

The procedure requires providing a digital two-sided copy of a valid ID (national identity card, passport, driver's license, or residence permit). The ANJ then checks your file. If you are not registered, no action will be taken on a request for lifting, but you will receive confirmation of your free status. This transparency is essential to distinguish a technical access issue (site block) from a personal legal restriction.

The legal procedure to lift a gambling ban

The only authorized path to regain access to licensed operators is the official request for the lifting of the gambling ban from the National Gaming Authority (ANJ). This administrative step, framed by the law, requires the provision of valid ID documents and follows a strict protocol that excludes any illegal technical bypass method.

The steps to request the lifting of the ban

The procedure for lifting a gambling ban begins with a secure online process on the ANJ portal or via the dedicated form. The player must imperatively prove their identity by uploading a two-sided digital copy of a valid official document, such as a national identity card, passport, driver's license, or residence permit. These ID documents are crucial because they allow the authority to verify that the request indeed comes from the person registered in the Gambling Ban File (FIJ).

Once the file is submitted, the ANJ analyzes the admissibility of the request. If the documents comply, the authority proceeds to lift the registration and sends an official notification by post. Note that this procedure only applies to administrative or voluntary bans. A judicial ban requires a court decision. For players in difficulty, the Player Assistance Service and the Joueurs Info Service remind that the ANJ is the only competent interlocutor for these changes of status, and not the operators themselves.

Deadlines and processing of the request by the ANJ

The processing of a request for lifting a gambling ban is designed to be responsive. According to administrative guidelines, the ANJ verifies the file and proceeds "immediately" to lift the ban if the file is admissible. This means there is no arbitrary waiting period of several weeks for the decision itself, unlike more burdensome judicial procedures.

However, the player must wait to receive the mail containing the official notification to consider the lifting effective with all operators. During this period, any attempt to play on a licensed site will be blocked by the ANJ's centralized system. It is therefore advised not to try to create new accounts before receiving this written confirmation, otherwise these attempts may be recorded as potential violations.

Contesting an ANJ decision in court

If the request for lifting is rejected or if the player believes their registration in the FIJ is unjustified, legal remedies exist. The first step often consists of an informal appeal (Recours gracieux) to the ANJ to request a review of the file with additional elements. If this administrative step proves unsatisfactory, the player can turn to a contentious appeal (Recours contentieux).

In this case, the dispute is brought before the Judicial Court or the administrative judge, depending on the nature of the ban (judicial or administrative). Players can benefit from free legal advice from the Maisons de la Justice et du Droit to prepare their defense. The Judicial Court is solely competent to cancel a ban pronounced in a criminal context, while the administrative judge reviews ANJ decisions regarding site blocking or administrative registrations. Any attempt to bypass these decisions by technical means remains illegal and does not cancel the ban.

The dangers of illegal offers and mirror sites

Knowing how to bypass the ANJ administrative blocking exposes the player to major financial risks, as these platforms operate outside the French legal framework. By trying to access a mirror site or an illegal offer, you lose all legal protection on your funds and winnings. The ANJ maintains an active blacklist that search engines must respect, while influencers promoting these sites face severe sanctions. The security of your data and the legality of your bets are only guaranteed with licensed operators.

Identifying mirror sites and illegal offers

A mirror site is an exact copy of a gaming platform, created specifically to evade the administrative block imposed by the regulatory authority. The only tangible difference from the original blocked site lies in its unique URL address, although the content and features remain identical. These clones form the heart of the illegal offer online, operating without a French license and therefore with no obligation to comply with player protection standards or anti-money laundering measures.

The ANJ acts directly against these infrastructures by ordering search engines to systematically de-index these illegal URLs. This relationship between the regulator and search engines is crucial: it aims to cut the visibility of the illegal offer at the source. For example, the Polymarket platform, specializing in prediction markets, was explicitly blocked by the ANJ for non-compliance, illustrating the authority's capacity to target major international players attempting to operate on French territory without authorization.

The role of influencers in illegal promotion

Influencers play an ambiguous and dangerous role by actively promoting illegal offers to a young and vulnerable audience on social networks. By praising the merits of unlicensed sites, sometimes by filming themselves, they bypass age checks and expose their subscribers to platforms where majority is not verified. This promotion constitutes a serious offense, as it facilitates access to gambling and hazard games prohibited in France.

The ANJ has stepped up its fight by including these trendsetters in its formal notices. If an influencer refuses to stop promoting a blacklisted site, they face the same sanctions as the operator itself. Search engines and social platforms are also invited to cooperate to remove this promotional content, creating a surveillance ecosystem where advertising for illegal activity quickly becomes invisible and penalized.

Consulting the official ANJ blacklist

The official blacklist is the reference tool to check the legality of an operator. It lists all sites that have been subject to administrative or judicial blocking by the ANJ. Hundreds of URLs have been blocked via administrative actions, demonstrating the effectiveness of the method in the face of the volatility of mirror sites.

Check this list before making any deposit. Search engines are required to de-index sites on this list, but it remains possible to come across residual links or influencer promotions. Checking the presence of a site on the ANJ blacklist is the only reliable guarantee to avoid illegal offers and protect your funds against fraudulent operators that escape French control.

About this article - Writing & responsibility

✍️ Author: Sarah Weber - Casino tester & bonus analyst
🛡️ Verified by: Dr. Markus Hoffmann - Senior iGaming compliance analyst
📅 Last updated: 2026-07-31.

This article on 'how to bypass ANJ administrative blocking' was written by Sarah Weber and proofread by Dr. Markus Hoffmann. Both update the content regularly to reflect regulatory changes, licenses, and bonus conditions. All references to licenses, authorities, or legal frameworks refer to public sources (ANJ (National Gaming 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 requirements, withdrawal processes, customer support evaluation.

About the proofreader

12+ years in the iGaming industry, including 5 years in compliance consulting for licensed operators under the French ANJ framework. PhD in economic mathematics. Fields: bonus mathematics, wagering analysis, player protection measures.

Responsible gaming

Gambling can be addictive. If you feel you are losing control, contact Joueurs Info Service, SOS Joueurs, or use the national self-exclusion register (Gambling Ban File (FIJ)). Set deposit and loss limits before playing for real money. Breaks and cooldown tools are levers for sustainable pleasure.

Legal disclaimer

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.