France’s gambling regulator has issued guidance giving operators clearer direction when investigating suspected player fraud and deciding what should happen to affected accounts and balances.
Published on 31 August after consultations with licensed operators and the gambling mediator, the guide sets out a non-exhaustive classification of fraud cases involving online gambling accounts. It also explains how existing legal requirements apply and offers recommendations for handling accounts and remaining funds.
The document has the status of soft law, so it creates no new binding obligations. Its purpose is to address recurring operator questions and align industry practices with existing rules covering fraud, money laundering and terrorist financing.
Evidence Takes Centre Stage
The guidance stresses the standard of proof needed before operators can treat suspected misconduct as fraud. It says operators should collect evidence capable of establishing fraud, while case law illustrates the level of proof courts may expect.
The guide states: “Characterising fraud requires the collection of probative evidence, and the operator cannot refuse to pay a win or return part or all of an account balance on the basis of mere suspicions, without undermining the binding force of the gambling contract.”
The guide covers identity and payment fraud, abusive chargebacks, game-related fraud and money dumping. Where sufficient evidence exists, it recommends account closure. For deliberate multiple-account fraud, operators are advised to close every account linked to the player, including accounts held under their actual identity.
Treatment of funds can differ. If identity fraud prevents an operator from confirming that a bank account belongs to the player, French law allows the balance to be placed in reserve. Funds not directly affected by fraud may have to be returned in other circumstances.
Court Rulings Illustrate The Risks
Recent decisions show why evidence matters. In July 2025, the Paris Judicial Court found that Winamax had failed to provide enough evidence to cancel five bets. The operator was ordered to pay more than €402,000 and return €218.68 remaining in the account.
A February 2026 appeal involving Betclic produced a different result. The Paris Court of Appeal considered a shared IP address and terminal, along with 35 similar bets placed on the same days, most within five minutes. A judicial officer also confirmed that the records came from Betclic’s systems without alteration. The court accepted the evidence for account closure but required €32,785.30 to be returned.
Account Checks Come Under Scrutiny
Complaints involving account management remain significant. France’s gambling mediator received 1,856 requests in 2025, up 20% from the previous year. Sports betting represented 91.5% of admissible cases, while account management accounted for 42.4%, including blocked or closed accounts and withdrawal difficulties.
The wider regulatory approach is also moving toward earlier identity checks. Britain’s Gambling Commission recently told remote operators to complete verification as early as practicable after finding customers with incomplete or inaccurate information.
The French guidance gives operators a clearer framework for fraud investigations while stressing that suspicion alone cannot determine how player funds are handled.
Source:
“Combating fraud by gambling operators: a guide to better handling fraud cases”, anj.fr, August 31, 2026
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