Pascal Chevremont Appointed ANJ Chair as France Holds Position on Online Casinos
Pascal Chevremont Appointed ANJ Chair – France Maintains Cautious Approach to Online Casino Regulation
Key Takeaways
- Pascal Chevremont has been appointed Chair of France’s gambling regulator, the ANJ, following a hearing before the National Assembly.
- He stated that any move to legalise online casinos must be led by the government and debated in parliament.
- A previous proposal to regulate online casinos was withdrawn after opposition from land-based casinos and public health advocates.
- The ANJ has previously stressed that any potential online casino market would need to be highly controlled to limit public health risks.
New ANJ Leadership and the Role of the Regulator
Pascal Chevremont will replace Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin as Chair of France’s gambling authority, the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), after being nominated by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and questioned by a committee of the National Assembly. His appointment comes at a time when the future of online casino regulation remains under discussion in France.
During his hearing before Members of Parliament, Chevremont was asked directly about the potential legalisation of online casinos. He made clear that the ANJ does not initiate legislative change. According to his statements, the authority’s role is to inform parliament if a debate on legalisation takes place. Any reform of the current framework would have to be driven by the government and approved through the legislative process.
Chevremont emphasised that parliamentary debate would be central if the issue were formally examined. He said that such a discussion would allow legislators to consider the various regulatory challenges, while the ANJ would provide technical input on how supervision of a potentially legalised sector could function.
Online Casino Regulation Previously Proposed and Withdrawn
The question of online casino regulation is not new in France. The government proposed opening the market as an amendment to the country’s 2025 budget. However, the proposal was later withdrawn.
The withdrawal followed opposition from two main groups. Representatives of France’s land-based casino sector raised concerns about the potential impact on their businesses. Public health advocates also expressed reservations, focusing on the possible effects on gambling addiction rates.
During that period, the ANJ publicly stated that any opening of the online casino market would need to occur in a highly controlled manner. The regulator highlighted the importance of mitigating public health risks, reflecting the sensitivity of online casino products within broader gambling policy.
For international users and operators monitoring the French market, the withdrawal signaled that political consensus on online casino regulation has not yet been reached. As of now, online casinos remain outside the regulated framework in France.
Focus on Protecting the Regulated Market and Addressing Illegal Offerings
In his responses to lawmakers, Chevremont focused on the protection of the existing regulated market and on limiting the influence of illegal operators. He stated that a key objective should be to ensure that the legal offer becomes more attractive than the illegal one.
This objective reflects an ongoing challenge for regulators. In the absence of a regulated online casino framework, players may seek alternatives outside the licensed environment. According to the discussion referenced during his questioning, the lack of regulation in this vertical represents a structural issue when it comes to channeling demand into supervised offerings.
Chevremont’s comments suggest that, from the regulator’s perspective, the balance between consumer protection, market attractiveness, and enforcement against illegal operators remains central. However, he did not outline a specific roadmap or endorse a concrete legislative initiative.
Outgoing Chair Warns Legalisation Is Not a Complete Solution
Before leaving office, Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin addressed the broader implications of potentially legalising online casinos. In remarks made ahead of her departure, she stated that introducing a regulated online casino market would not automatically eliminate the illegal sector.
She pointed to the example of online sports betting in France, where a regulated market exists alongside illegal offerings. Her comments indicate that even in segments already open to licensed operators, unlicensed activity can persist.
Falque-Pierrotin also noted that while legalisation could generate tax revenues, lawmakers would need to assess the potential impact on land-based casinos. She described the decision as comparable in importance to the market opening that took place in 2010.
In addition, she highlighted the addictive nature of online casino products, calling them among the most addictive in the gambling market. This factor, according to her remarks, requires careful consideration before any regulatory shift.
Current Position of the French Market
As it stands, France does not regulate online casinos within its national gambling framework. The debate over whether to change this position remains open but unresolved. The government’s earlier attempt to introduce regulation through a budget amendment demonstrates that the issue has reached the political agenda, yet resistance from industry stakeholders and public health groups has slowed progress.
With Chevremont now formally in office, the ANJ’s position remains that it will support lawmakers with expertise if the topic returns to parliament. No legislative timetable has been announced, and no new proposal has been introduced at this stage.
For users and operators observing the French market, the regulatory environment remains unchanged for now, with online casinos still outside the licensed system and subject to ongoing political debate.
Our Assessment
Pascal Chevremont’s appointment as ANJ Chair confirms continuity in the regulator’s cautious approach to online casino regulation. Any change to France’s legal framework would require government initiative and parliamentary approval. A previous attempt to introduce regulation was withdrawn following opposition from land-based casinos and public health advocates. The ANJ maintains that, if legalisation is considered, it would need to be implemented under strict controls and would not automatically eliminate illegal market activity.
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