Key Moments:
- The Médiateur des jeux reported a significant rise in fraud-related gambling disputes in France.
- Operators have imposed stricter account closure rules and increased deductions from suspected fraudulent accounts.
- Cases submitted for mediation grew 20 per cent in 2025, with most involving sports betting account issues.
Rise in Fraud Cases Triggers Policy Changes
French gaming companies are tightening terms and conditions for player accounts in response to a notable uptick in fraudulent activities. According to the Médiateur des jeux’s 2025 annual report, the volume of proven or suspected fraud cases has grown sharply, largely due to both a higher incidence of fraudulent players and improved detection by operators.
Account Closure Measures and Player Impact
Revised operator policies have been most apparent in the handling of account closures. The Médiateur des jeux highlighted instances where players have contested account closures related to behaviors like account sharing or coordinated account usage. In certain cases, operators have deducted up to 50 per cent of account balances as incident fees prior to closure, placing remaining funds in reserve. The report states, “Faced with this resurgence, some operators have changed their terms and conditions and now deduct significant sums.” The mediator generally accepts these measures as consistent with operators’ policies when evidence of fraud is provided, but does not make a determination on their legality.
| Year | Requests to Mediator | Percentage Increase |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,541 | – |
| 2025 | 1,856 | 20% |
Transparency and Confidentiality Challenges
Players affected by account restrictions are often not given the full details behind suspicions, as operators typically provide evidence only to the mediator. To maintain the integrity of fraud prevention systems, certain details are not disclosed to players. According to the report, “for reasons of confidentiality and in order not to compromise their fraud-fighting systems, the mediator cannot reveal some of these elements to players.”
Regulatory Guidance and Mediation Statistics
The Autorité Nationale des Jeux is preparing updated guidance on fraud, as described by ANJ president Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, who pointed to the upcoming release of a new guide to good practices. Requests to the Médiateur des jeux rose 20 per cent in 2025, increasing from 1,541 to 1,856. The majority of these admissible cases related to sports betting, with account access and withdrawals being common concerns.
Industry and ADR Perspectives
Jérôme Gallot, the mediator, expressed a firm position: “I therefore firmly invite players to give up any fraud because, not only will it not be favourable to them, but, in addition, it may heavily penalise them. In the event of fraud, deposits and losses are generally not reimbursed, and the balance may be placed in reserve.” The report also discusses industry debate over the balance between effective anti-fraud controls and customer fairness. As Oliver De Bono, CEO of Quantum Gaming, stated, “What we’re talking about is a framework that protects players, and in some cases operators, to ensure that before reaching a serious legal dispute, there is an intermediary.” Duncan Garvie added, “We need to build trust with players by facilitating an easier route to managing friction.”
Ongoing Tension Between Controls and Customer Rights
The enforcement of stricter fraud measures has brought new friction between gambling operators and their customers in France. Operators rely on strong controls to deter abuse, while players seek transparency when access to their funds is restricted. The Médiateur des jeux occupies a mediating position, requiring detailed evidence from operators and cautioning players that actions like account sharing, falsifying documents, or circumventing bans can result in account closures and frozen funds.
- Author
Daniel Williams
