French decree initiates new gambling regulator

France’s primary online gambling authority, ARJEL, is to be superseded by L’Autorité nationale des Jeux (ANJ) after a legislative decree formalised a transition of regulatory powers in March.

While ARJEL was principally responsible for the online sector, a newly enshrined ANJ will now be responsible for all gambling activities, including online, betting, land-based casinos racing and lotteries.

The ANJ’s president, Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin – who previously served as state councillor for France’s National Commission for Data Protections – will oversee all licensing and enforcement activities, and continue to publish regulatory updates, decisions and rulings online.

The move comes soon after a change to the tax structure in the French market, from a stifling tax on turnover to a more normative revenue-based levy.

According to experts at Wiggin, the changes from 1 January 2020, are not thought to materially alter the regulatory position or the scope of services that operators are permitted to offer.