France: World Cup 2026, ANJ warns over sports betting risks
In France, the build-up to the 2026 World Cup is not just about the French national team’s performance on the pitch. There is football, of course, with all the passion, expectations and media attention that entails. But there is another front, far less spectacular and increasingly central to the authorities: sports betting. The issue forms part of an already heated debate in France, which has resurfaced with the Mbappé case and betting adverts, as well as tensions with the French Football Federation (FFF) over the use of players’ images in sports betting campaigns.
A few days before the start of the World Cup, scheduled for 11 June to 19 July 2026, the French regulator has raised the alert level. The ANJ has launched the “Zone à risques” campaign, designed to raise public awareness of the dangers of excessive gambling and behaviours that can turn an occasional bet into a real problem.
The timing of the campaign is not entirely coincidental. Major football events have always been periods of intense activity for the betting market. More matches, more promotions, more online discussions, more emotional pressure. In this context, for many users, placing a bet can become an integral part of the sporting experience. It is precisely here, according to the ANJ, that the most sensitive area comes into play.
Football dominates the betting market in France
Football remains the main driver of French betting. In 2025, according to ANJ data, online sports betting stakes exceeded €6 billion, accounting for around 55 per cent of the online sports betting market in France. No other discipline comes close to the same level of appeal, although tennis and basketball continue to hold significant weight.
With the 2026 World Cup, betting volumes could rise further. Estimates indicate that total stakes during the tournament could reach around €1.2 billion, surpassing the levels recorded for Qatar 2022. This is a forecast, not an established figure, and will also depend heavily on the progress of the French national team. The longer Les Bleus remain central to the tournament, the more likely interest from bettors will increase.
The new World Cup format, to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, adds another factor. The expanded calendar means more matches and, as a result, more opportunities to gamble. For licensed operators, this is a clear commercial opportunity. For the regulator, it is also a reason to strengthen prevention.
More French people are willing to bet
A Toluna-Harris Interactive study commissioned by the ANJ shows the extent to which the World Cup is already on French consumers’ radar. Some 57 per cent of respondents say they intend to follow the competition. Among those planning to follow the tournament, 41 per cent expect to bet money with licensed operators. The figure is higher than at the most recent major football events: five points above the 2022 World Cup and six points above Euro 2024. This is not, therefore, a marginal trend. Sports betting appears to be increasingly linked to how the event is consumed, almost as an extension of supporting a team.
The trend is even more visible among young people. In the under-35 age group, the intention to bet reaches 54 per cent. This figure clearly illustrates the ANJ’s concern. Young people are more exposed to digital communications, social media dynamics, and the speed of online platforms. These are all factors that can make the boundary between recreational gambling and risky behaviour thinner.
When betting stops being entertainment
For the French regulator, the issue is not gambling in itself. The question is understanding when betting loses its occasional nature and begins to affect a person’s behaviour. Data from the French Observatory of Drugs and Addictive Tendencies indicate that 15.3 per cent of sports bettors show problematic gambling profiles.
Another figure helps to clarify the phenomenon. According to the Toluna-Harris Interactive study, 37 per cent of regular bettors say they have already felt that they were losing control. Among under-25s, the proportion rises to 67 per cent. This is perhaps the most sensitive figure because it measures not only the frequency of betting or the amounts staked, but also a personal perception of a relationship that risks slipping out of control.
“Zone à risques” campaign
With “Zone à risques”, the ANJ has chosen a highly recognisable form of communication. The campaign adopts the yellow strip used for legal warnings, already present in gambling advertisements, and turns it into a danger signal. It is no longer just a mandatory notice, often ignored by the public, but a symbolic line not to be crossed.
The message is, quite simply, this: when gambling becomes excessive, you enter dangerous territory. The campaign highlights the potential consequences of sports betting addiction: from financial losses to repeated attempts to recoup losses, from anger to a loss of control, and even withdrawal from others.
The initiative is also accompanied by public installations and refers users to the Evalujeu platform, the tool promoted by the ANJ to help players assess their relationship with gambling. The site offers self-assessment questionnaires, personalised advice, and information on available support services. It is aimed not only at players but also at family members and people close to someone who may be experiencing difficulties.
A test for responsible gambling
ANJ president Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin has warned that the arrival of the World Cup places France in a real “risk zone”. The increase in betting opportunities, advertising pressure, and the vulnerability of young people make more visible and forceful prevention work necessary. For the regulated market, the issue remains a priority. The 2026 World Cup promises significant figures and strong public engagement. But the growth of betting cannot be separated from operators’ responsibility and authorities’ ability to protect the most vulnerable consumers.
The point is not to dampen interest in football, nor to criminalise those who gamble responsibly. The real challenge is to prevent the emotion of the match from being absorbed by the logic of the bet. When the sporting result matters less than the need to recover a loss, gambling has already changed in nature. In France, the ANJ has chosen to intervene before kick-off. It is a clear political and regulatory signal: the World Cup will be a major showcase for football and for betting, but also a test of the maturity of the French responsible gambling system, which is increasingly focused on prevention.
This article was originally published on the Italian SiGMA News page on 9 June 2026.
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