ANJ online casino blacklist 2026: prohibited sites, risks and verification

The ANJ online casino blacklist 2026 lists illegal gambling sites in France subject to administrative blocking. The National Gaming Authority (ANJ) bans access to online casinos, as only sports betting, horse racing betting, and poker are licensed. Consulting this official list helps avoid fraud, non-payment, and addiction linked to operators without a French license.

Legality of online gambling and the role of the ANJ

The ANJ online casino blacklist 2026 lists illegal platforms operating without a license on French territory. The National Gaming Authority (ANJ) administratively blocks these sites to protect players against fraud and the lack of legal recourse. Only operators holding an official license can offer sports betting, horse racing betting, or poker, while online casinos remain strictly prohibited by law.

The legal framework of the prohibition

Law No. 2010-476 of May 12, 2010, constitutes the legal foundation regulating gambling in France. This legislative text opened the market to competition solely for three specific categories: sports betting, horse racing betting, and club games such as poker. Online casinos, including slot machines and roulette, remain explicitly excluded from this legal framework. This exclusion is based on a public health rationale: the legislator considers that these games present a higher risk of addiction, requiring reinforced player protection. Consequently, any online casino offer provided by an operator, even one holding a foreign license, is illegal on French soil. The ANJ ensures compliance with this ban by regularly publishing updates to its blacklist.

Licensed operators and license distinction

To identify a legal site, you must check for the presence of a License (Agrément) issued by the ANJ. In 2026, the legal offer is limited to around twenty licensed operators and the Française des Jeux (FDJ), which holds a monopoly on lotteries. Major players like Winamax, PMU, or Betclic are among these authorized operators, but only for their betting and poker sections. The presence of a "casino" or "slots" section on the site of an operator licensed for sports betting constitutes a serious non-compliance. The ANJ maintains an official register that is publicly accessible. If a site does not appear there, it is considered unauthorized and exposes the user to major financial risks, such as non-payment of winnings.

A license issued by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) or Curaçao eGaming offers no legal validity in France. The ANJ only recognizes its own national license. Sites operating under these foreign jurisdictions are systematically registered on the ANJ online casino blacklist 2026 if they target the French public without authorization. Unlike licensed operators, these platforms are not subject to player protection obligations, such as voluntary self-exclusion or mandatory deposit limits. Furthermore, French banks collaborate with the ANJ to block transactions to these illegal entities, making deposits and withdrawals particularly risky.

Consulting and checking the list of prohibited sites

The ANJ online casino blacklist 2026 lists platforms that have been subject to administrative blocking for illegality. The ANJ publishes this non-exhaustive register of illegal sites, while the DGCCRF collaborates in market surveillance to protect consumers. The absence of a URL from this list does not guarantee its legality. Only the register of licensed operators is authoritative.

Access to the official register and verification

To consult the blacklist, go to the official ANJ website in the section dedicated to illegal sites. A CSV file, updated regularly, allows you to identify illegal sites subject to administrative blocking. Cross-reference this information with the register of authorized operators to avoid illegal sites that exploit this update delay.

Administrative blocking specifically targets platforms without a French license. To verify the legality of a site, consult the official register on anj.fr. Foreign licenses (Curaçao, MGA) offer no legal protection in France and do not prevent the administrative blocking imposed by the ANJ. A legal operator clearly displays its licensing status, valid for five years, unlike illegal sites that operate in the shadows.

Reporting suspicious platforms

If you identify a suspicious platform, report it directly to the ANJ via their online form. This report triggers an investigation that can lead to immediate administrative blocking. You can also alert the DGCCRF, which works in close collaboration with the ANJ to fight against misleading commercial practices and illegal sites. This collective vigilance strengthens player protection against fraud and addiction.

Major risks and player protection

The ANJ online casino blacklist 2026 identifies platforms operating illegally in France, exposing players to major financial and legal risks. Unlike licensed operators, these sites escape the control of the National Gaming Authority, making any protection of funds or legal recourse impossible in the event of a dispute.

Fraud, personal data, and money laundering

The lack of French regulation fosters cybercrime on these unsecure platforms. Players expose themselves to the theft of bank details and the resale of their personal information, as these sites comply with neither the GDPR nor the standards of the National Commission on Informatics and Liberty (CNIL). In the event of non-payment of winnings, no recourse is possible with the DGCCRF or the ANJ, as foreign licenses like Curacao have no legal value in the country.

These platforms often serve as vectors for money laundering, escaping the oversight of Tracfin (Intelligence Processing and Action Against Clandestine Financial Circuits). The ANJ is reinforcing its actions against these illicit financial networks, as the lack of rigorous identity verification allows criminal networks to conceal the origin of funds. Playing on these sites therefore indirectly exposes the user to investigations for complicity in money laundering.

Absence of a safety net against addiction

Illegal sites ignore the addiction prevention measures imposed in France. They do not transmit data to the gambling self-exclusion file, rendering voluntary self-exclusion ineffective. Without mandatory deposit limits or moderation tools, vulnerable players are exposed to excessive gambling without a safety net, unlike licensed operators who must integrate these protections. For any gambling-related difficulties, Joueurs Info Service offers free listening and support, a crucial resource that is absent from illegal platforms.

Blocking mechanisms and technical limits

The ANJ online casino blacklist 2026 is not limited to a simple static inventory, but triggers an active administrative blocking imposed on Internet Service Providers (ISPs). In 2026, the National Gaming Authority orders the technical cutoff of access to illegal sites, an essential protection measure for French players against unlicensed operators who escape national controls.

DNS and financial blocking by ISPs

Does the ANJ block foreign casino sites in 2026 via internet service providers? Yes, the regulator exercises its administrative policing power by notifying the main Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to restrict access to domains identified as illegal. Major operators like Orange, SFR, Free, and Bouygues Telecom are required to implement these technical restrictions, making the sites on the ANJ online casino blacklist 2026 inaccessible from French territory without bypassing tools.

This administrative blocking constitutes the first line of technical defense. It is directly linked to the blacklist published by the ANJ, which serves as a legal reference to identify the URLs to be filtered. Although this list is non-exhaustive and regularly updated, it allows ISPs to adjust their filters in real time to protect consumers against platforms operating without a license.

Mirror sites and VPNs: a false security

Do VPNs and mirror sites allow safe gaming on blacklisted sites? No. Although a virtual private network (VPN) can technically bypass the administrative blocking imposed by ISPs, it offers no legal or financial guarantee. Playing on a site listed on the blacklist exposes the player to major risks: lack of protection in the event of a dispute, non-payment of winnings, and risk of fraud.

Technical bypass does not compensate for the lack of a protective legal framework for deposited funds. Illegal sites, often based under foreign licenses (Curaçao, MGA) not recognized in France, are not subject to ANJ obligations. The use of these tools hides the IP address but does not regularize the operator's status.

Voluntary self-exclusion from gambling

How does voluntary self-exclusion from gambling prevent access to licensed and physical sites? Voluntary self-exclusion from gambling is a personal and confidential process allowing players to protect themselves from addiction. In 2026, the ANJ simplified this process with a renovated online service, reducing the effective registration time to one day thanks to reinforced identity checks.

Unlike the technical blocking of illegal sites, this measure applies across the board to all licensed operators in France. It bans access to physical casinos, gaming clubs, and legal online sites for a minimum period of three years, which is irrevocable during this initial period. This protection is crucial because it prevents the opening of accounts on regulated platforms, offering an effective legal barrier where administrative blocking only targets outlawed sites.

About this article - Writing & responsibility

Author: Sarah Weber - Casino tester & bonus analyst

Verified by: Dr. Markus Hoffmann - Senior iGaming Compliance Analyst

Last updated: 2026-07-02.

This article on “ANJ online casino blacklist 2026” was written by Sarah Weber and reviewed by Dr. Markus Hoffmann. Both regularly update the content to reflect regulatory changes, licensing, and bonus conditions. All references to licenses, authorities, or legal frameworks refer to public sources (ANJ (National Gaming Authority), Law of May 12, 2010, on the opening of online gambling).

About the author

8+ years of casino testing, 200+ platforms personally tested in the EU and internationally. Former member of the eCOGRA Player Advocacy Program (2018-2022). Specialization: wagering requirements, withdrawal processes, customer support evaluation.

About the reviewer

12+ years in the iGaming industry, including 5 years in compliance consulting for licensed operators under the French ANJ framework. PhD in economic mathematics. Fields: bonus mathematics, wagering analysis, player protection measures.

Responsible gaming

Gambling can become addictive. If you feel you are losing control, contact Joueurs Info Service, SOS Joueurs, or use the national self-exclusion register (fichier des interdits de jeux (FIJ)). Set deposit and loss limits before playing for real money. Breaks and cooldown tools are levers for sustainable enjoyment.

Legal disclaimer

The information in this article is provided for editorial and comparative purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Players remain responsible for complying with local regulations.