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Advertising and gambling: the ANJ launches a broad public consultation of different stakeholders

Published

4 years ago

September 22, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

During the UEFA European Football Championship, some abuses had been noted concerning advertising pressure from sports betting operators. These abuses are likely to call the regulatory model implemented for 10 years into question. That is the reason why the ANJ launches a broad public consultation on gambling operators’ practices in terms of advertising.

Gambling operators’ advertising practices questioned during the European Football Championship

In France, the online gambling market is strictly regulated because gambling is not like any other product; it carries important risks of abuse (over-indebtedness), or of public health (addiction and isolation) for the player and those around him. That is the reason why gambling needs to stay a recreational and measured activity. Though, the advertising pressure that has been observed during the European Football Championship, the targeting of young audiences, as well as messages that maintain the illusion of easy money are particularly problematic.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

According to a Harris Interactive study* conducted during the European Football Championship for the ANJ, more than half of the people who had seen sports betting’s ads feels that they are too numerous, and close to eight French people out of ten who had seen these ads consider that they can contain a risk of addiction.

Faced with the same situation, some European States have already taken measures in order to limit the quantity of advertising or to provide a stricter framework of its content.

The public consultation process

It is in this context that the ANJ has decided to organise a broad public consultation on the advertising practices of gambling operators (in particular for sports betting). This consultation, which will take place in September and October, has the following objectives:

To produce a situational analysis on how gambling ads are perceived by different actors and the risks associated with them;
To evaluate the ANJ advertising regulation tools and, where required, to imagine additional avenues that would enable the ANJ to better ensure compliance with the principle of recreational gambling that underpins the French model, particularly with regard to young audiences and vulnerable populations.

General public sequences

An online questionnaire is available on the ANJ website from 20 September for a period of one month. It allows to all those who wish to provide a feedback of their impressions and suggestions;
Two citizen dialogue workshops will be organised at a local level to try to assess the social acceptability of advertising and to reflect on possible recommendations.
A debate focused on the issue of young people targeting.

Sequences with professional stakeholders

A call for contributions from professional stakeholders (gambling operators, health professionals, competent public authorities, care associations, etc.);
A debate at a local level allowing to cross the point of views of different communities concerned by the subject (gambling operators, addiction professionals, academics, educational community, etc.);
A workshop co-organised by the ANJ and the ARPP (Professional Advertising Regulation Authority) gathering gambling operators and advertising stakeholders.

The various contributions obtained during this consultation and the synthesis that the ANJ will make of them will enable it to build common diagnoses, then to formalise guidelines relating to gambling advertising and, where required, to propose by the end of the year new measures to public authorities likely to enforce the recreational gambling model.

For Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, ANJ Chairwoman: “In order to question the permanence of a consensus around the French gambling model and the evolutions that could possibly be made in terms of advertising, the ANJ has chosen to favour the path of a consultation open to all publics. Indeed, gambling advertising concerns us all: players, non-players, parents, educators, operators, etc. Everyone will be able to express their views on the acceptable balance to find between gambling advertising and the maintenance of a recreational gambling. It will then be up to the regulator to make balanced and effective recommendations, based on a social pact shared by all“.

Digital Footprints

Digital Footprints Shortlisted for Three Prestigious EGR B2B Awards

Published

8 hours ago

May 5, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

digital-footprints-shortlisted-for-three-prestigious-egr-b2b-awards

Digital Footprints, a leading full-service iGaming marketing agency, is proud to announce its shortlisting in three major categories at the upcoming EGR B2B Awards 2025. The agency has been recognised for excellence in the following categories:

Marketing Services Supplier
Corporate Services Supplier
Best Customer Service

The EGR B2B Awards are widely regarded as the benchmark for performance and innovation within the online gaming industry, celebrating the very best service providers across all verticals.

“This recognition from EGR reflects the dedication, creativity, and expertise of our team,” said Sharon McFarlane, Managing Director at Digital Footprints. “Being shortlisted across three highly competitive categories not only validates the results we’ve achieved for our clients, but also showcases our commitment to exceptional service and forward-thinking strategy in the iGaming space.”

A Testament to Innovation and Service Excellence

Digital Footprints has consistently delivered high-impact marketing solutions to some of the industry’s most recognisable brands, combining data-driven strategies with creative execution to drive measurable results. The agency’s inclusion in the Marketing Services Supplier category underlines its reputation for cutting-edge campaign management, performance marketing, and brand development tailored specifically to iGaming audiences.

The Corporate Services Supplier nomination recognises Digital Footprints’ ability to deliver robust support solutions that help clients scale sustainably and compliantly in an increasingly regulated environment.

Meanwhile, the Best Customer Service shortlist position reflects the agency’s people-first approach and relentless focus on providing transparent, responsive, and personalised support to every partner.

Looking Ahead

Winners of the EGR B2B Awards 2025 will be announced at the official awards ceremony on 2nd July, where industry leaders will gather to celebrate innovation and service excellence across the iGaming ecosystem.

Digital Footprints is honoured to stand alongside the industry’s top performers and remains committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in iGaming marketing.

Media Contact:
Sharon McFarlane
Managing Director
Digital Footprints
[email protected]
+44 7885 910 472
www.digital-footprints.co.uk

The post Digital Footprints Shortlisted for Three Prestigious EGR B2B Awards appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

Compliance Updates

EGBA boosts regulatory monitoring with compliance workspace Letzz

Published

8 hours ago

May 5, 2025

George Miller

egba-boosts-regulatory-monitoring-with-compliance-workspace-letzz

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is pleased to announce a partnership with Letzz, an AI-powered compliance workspace designed for online gambling, to modernise regulatory monitoring and enhance strategic compliance across Europe’s fragmented online gambling landscape.

Through this partnership, EGBA will implement Letzz‘s AI-powered tool to enhance its own regulatory monitoring capabilities. Launching this week, the Letzz platform offers operators real-time, expert-validated insights and automated regulatory news scanning, creating a single, reliable source of information for compliance management.

“We are committed to promoting the highest standards of compliance across Europe’s online gambling sector,” said Maarten Haijer, Secretary General at EGBA. “With 27 countries in the EU, each with their own gambling laws and a myriad of requirements, accessible tools like Letzz can help both associations like EGBA and operators better understand the complex landscape of regulatory obligations.”

“We founded Letzz with the belief that compliance should be a competitive advantage, not just a necessity,” said Daniel Gambin, Co-Founder and CEO at Letzz. “Our partnership with EGBA allows us to bring this vision to a wider audience of operators who share our commitment to excellence in regulatory compliance. By transforming compliance from a challenge into a strategic business asset, we’re helping operators stay abreast of the latest regulatory changes.”

The collaboration reflects EGBA’s commitment to promoting a well-regulated online gambling market with the highest compliance standards.

Source: egba.eu

The post EGBA boosts regulatory monitoring with compliance workspace Letzz appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Conferences in Europe

Portside Game Assembly announces talks and roundtables for June 27th’s premiere of the conference for indie game leaders

Published

9 hours ago

May 5, 2025

George Miller

portside-game-assembly-announces-talks-and-roundtables-for-june-27th’s-premiere-of-the-conference-for-indie-game-leaders

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Gamecity Hamburg is setting sail with the premiere edition of Portside Game Assembly – a dedicated B2B conference for international indie game leaders – taking place aboard a ship cruising Hamburg’s famous harbour on June 27. With a carefully curated program of keynotes, impulse talks, and roundtables, the conference offers a rare opportunity for studio directors and decision makers to connect in a focused and collaborative setting. Designed to spark fresh perspectives and actionable insights, the event brings together voices from acclaimed indie studios worldwide like Benjamin Laulan (COO & Co-Founder Evil Empire), Philomena Schwab (Founder Stray Fawn Studio), Søren Lundgaard (CEO Ghost Ship Games), Mauricio García (Studio Director The Game Kitchen), Kevin Zuhn (Creative Director & Co-Founder Young Horses Inc.), and more speakers. Tickets for the full conference experience, including a Networking Brunch and the Games Industry Party, are available at portsideassembly.com.

As the premiere of the Portside Game Assembly on June 27 is approaching, the laser-focused program for indie game leaders takes shape.

Keynotes, impulse talks and roundtables: This is the program

By offering a confidential setting for studio directors, the Portside provides value through relevant conversations and strategic networking, which is also reflected in the diverse yet focused conference program. These are some of the program highlights:

Keynote: Benjamin Laulan (COO & Co-Founder Evil Empire): The “Triple-i Initiative Deep Dive” keynote on how to create your own announcement space and talk directly to your audience when you can’t really relate to other existing showcases.

Impulse Blocks:Impulse Blocks consist of two to three impulse talks, all of which relate to an overarching topic, followed by an open discussion about the perspectives shown and an opportunity for participants to share their own experiences. The discussions will be moderated by Mariève Beauchemin (Programs Director & Co-Founder Indie Asylum) and Andreas Suika (Creative Director & Game Designer).

Mining for Your Next Gem – How to Decide which Games to Develop

A defining and crucial decision for every indie game studio is: what of the (probably many) game ideas should be pursued? Where should studios allocate their resources – and what game will help a studio prevail? Three speakers will share their approaches to these questions in 10-minute impulse talks:

- Philomena Schwab (Founder Stray Fawn Studio): Game Idea Validation
- Jonas Tyroller (Founder Grizzly Games): You Don’t Need a Hook
- René Habermann (Director bippinbits): Don’t Ship the Wrong Game

Games Are Made by People – How to Foster a Good Company Culture

Founding and maintaining an independent game studio and managing a small to mid-size team comes with a lot of responsibility: from growing or having to downsize a team to maintaining a company culture where talent is nurtured, developed, and kept long-term.

- Mauricio García (Studio Director The Game Kitchen): Keeping the Indie Mindset while Going Big
- Kevin Zuhn (Creative Director & Co-Founder Young Horses Inc.): Hold Your Horses: Why Slow is How We Grow

From Dev to Dev – Why to Invest in Other Studios

More and more indie studios take the leap to market not only their own games but also put their resources and experiences on games from other developers. Two speakers will share their motivations and learnings from investing in games and studios that are not their own:

- Søren Lundgaard (CEO Ghost Ship Publishing): Developer by Day, Publisher by Night
- Christian Nyhus Andreasen (COO Fair Games): How to Lose 50% and Still Prosper – Angel Investment Lifestyle

Roundtables:

Roundtables have a more interactive concept than impulse blocks and encourage participants to discuss all aspects of the overarching question from the very beginning

Roundtable 1: Mobile Ports – When, Why & How? Moderated by Ali Farha (Senior Producer Star Stable Entertainment)
Roundtable 2: Stronger Together – Business Cooperations Between Indies. Moderated by Manny Hachey (Creative Director Positive Impact Games)
Roundtable 3: (Self-)Publishing – The Good, the Bad, the Ugly. Moderated by Sophie Atkin (Director & Founder Secret Sauce)
Roundtable 4: Longtail FTW – How to Make the Most out of Your Game. Moderated by Leonie Wolf (Associate Art Director Maschinen-Mensch)

The Portside Game Assembly website offers a detailed view on speakers, program topics and participating studios: https://portsideassembly.com/program/

The premiere of the Portside Game Assembly is supported by these great sponsors and partners: Photon and Twin Harbour Interactive!

Selection of already confirmed participants:

More than 60 studios from over 15 countries have already registered for the Portside Game Assembly conference on board the MS Princess. Besides already announced participants like Evil Empire, Stray Fawn Studio, The Game Kitchen, Toukana Interactive, Ghostship Publishing, and others, further acclaimed studios join the conference: