Responsible betting
Betting should stay a pastime bounded by a budget decided in advance. The moment it stops being that, free tools and helplines exist — here they are, and here is how to use them.
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09 74 75 13 13
Joueurs Info Service — free, anonymous helpline, every day from 8am to 2am. Standard rate call.
1. No under-18s
Sports betting is strictly forbidden to anyone under 18 in France, without exception. Licensed operators verify identity and age when an account is opened. If a minor has access to your device, switch on parental controls: jeprotegemonenfant.gouv.fr.
2. Six simple rules
- Decide a monthly budget before your first stake, and treat it as already spent.
- Never stake money meant for rent, food or loan repayments.
- Never try to “win back” a loss: that is the mechanism that builds debt.
- Set a maximum session length and stick to it.
- Do not bet under the influence of alcohol, tiredness or frustration.
- Keep other pastimes: a single pastime quickly becomes a problem.
3. Tools every licensed operator must offer
| Tool | What it does | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit limit | Caps the amount paid in over a period. Any increase is subject to a cooling-off delay. | Account area → Controls |
| Stake limit | Caps the total staked, regardless of the balance available. | Account area → Controls |
| Session reminder | Warns or logs you out after a chosen length of time. | Account area → Controls |
| Temporary exclusion | Blocks access from 7 days to several months with the operator concerned. | Account area → Account |
| National betting ban | A 3-year block across all operators licensed in France, irrevocable before it expires. | Request made to the ANJ |
4. Recognising a warning sign
Answer honestly. More than two “yes” answers are reason enough to speak to a professional:
- You stake growing amounts to feel the same thing.
- You think about it at work, at meals or at night.
- You hide your bets from the people around you.
- You have borrowed money in order to bet.
- You become irritable when you try to stop.
- You have gone back to betting to recover a loss.
5. Where to find help
- Joueurs Info Service — 09 74 75 13 13, chat and moderated forum: joueurs-info-service.fr
- ANJ — the regulator, and where to request a betting ban: anj.fr
- SOS Joueurs — support for those affected and for their families: sos-joueurs.org
- EvaluJeu — the ANJ’s official self-assessment test: evalujeu.fr
- BeGambleAware — information and support resources: begambleaware.org
- Your own doctor or an addiction treatment centre (CSAPA), present in every French département.
6. For family and friends
Those closest are often the first to see the problem. Avoid paying off the debts on the person’s behalf: it delays the moment of realisation. Protect your own accounts first, then suggest outside support. SOS Joueurs and Joueurs Info Service also take calls from family and friends.