French gambling regulator ANJ, has warned sports betting operators against limiting the sports bets of their customers following a raft of complaints by local gamblers.
Gamblers have reported operators to the regulator for consistently refusing to accept wagers made at advertised odds or a refusal to accept bets on a given event. The number of complaints received has risen by 17% in the last reporting period leading the ANJ to take action and rule on the legality of such limitations and restrictions on sports betting.
French Regulator Steps in as Customers at Odds with Sports Betting Operators French Regulator Steps in as Customers at Odds with Sports Betting OperatorsIn its announcement, the ANJ stated:
French Regulator Steps in as Customers at Odds with Sports Betting Operators“An operator who advertises to the public an offer of online sports betting at specific odds cannot refuse or limit the bets of players who accept this offer, unless they have a legitimate reason.”
An operator who offers a bet to the public and who refuses to register a customer’s stakes for any reason not considered legitimate could also, depending on the circumstances, be charged with deceptive commercial practices referred to in the consumer code.
The operator may, however, refuse or limit a player’s bets for legitimate reasons. This legitimate reason may arise from the following cases:
- Prevention of excessive or pathological gambling and underage gambling
- The fight against fraud, money laundering and the financing of terrorism
Operators who persist in such betting limiting practices without justifying a legitimate reason risk being prosecuted before the Sanctions Commission of the National Gaming Authority.
