French gambling operators tighten account rules as fraud disputes rise

(AsiaGameHub) –   French gambling operators are tightening their terms and conditions as disputes related to player fraud rise, per the most recent report from the Médiateur des jeux.

The 2025 report points out that instances of suspected or confirmed fraud have “grown significantly,” fueled by both an uptick in fraudulent behavior and better detection techniques employed by operators.

Account management practices are now implementing stricter disciplinary measures. Players have challenged the closure of multiple accounts due to issues like account sharing or links to other users (duplicate accounts). Certain operators have deducted 50% of players’ account balances, citing incident-related reasons, and in many cases, this money remains withheld.

Yet, players don’t always get access to all the information submitted to the mediator for evaluation. Operators supply the mediator with evidence backing their claims against players, but because of party confidentiality, “the mediator can’t share some of these specifics with players.”

Operators have implemented stricter measures as the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) prepares to release new fraud guidelines. Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, ANJ’s president, confirmed that an updated “best practices” manual will be published before summer 2023.

Requests for dispute resolution to mediators have also risen overall. In 2025, a total of 1,856 requests were submitted to the mediator, marking a 20% year-over-year increase. Most requests involved sports betting firms — one of France’s few regulated sports betting verticals — with the main issues being blocked accounts and funds held by operators due to unresolved withdrawals.

As a result, there remains tension between robust fraud controls and maintaining fair customer relations, and industry stakeholders believe the dispute resolution process should address both parties’ needs equally.

Oliver De Bono, CEO of Quantum Gaming, said:

We’re discussing a framework that safeguards players — and in some instances, operators — to make sure there’s an intermediary before a serious legal dispute arises.

In France, the conversation is increasingly centered on fraud: operators are bolstering protections, while players call for more transparency when funds are limited. The Médiateur des jeux stays at the heart of this conflict, reviewing cases and cautioning that violations like shared accounts, fake documents, or attempts to get around restrictions can result in account closures and frozen balances.