Key Takeaways
- Fédération Addiction has proposed 15 regulatory changes to France’s sports betting landscape before the 2026 FIFA World Cup
- Recommendations include eliminating gambling sponsorships, restricting live match advertising, and banning athletes from betting promotions
- Approximately 600,000 French citizens are believed to be problem gamblers, generating about 60% of total gross gaming revenue
- The French gambling industry produced €2 billion in gross gaming revenue during the latter half of 2025
- Fédération Addiction advocates for halting sports betting market expansion until enhanced safeguards are implemented
A prominent French addiction advocacy organization is urging government officials to strengthen sports betting regulations in advance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Fédération Addiction has introduced 15 recommended measures focused on how gambling products are marketed and distributed throughout France. The organization insists that regulatory action must occur before the next major sporting event triggers another wave of betting participation.
During the most recent World Cup, French online betting reached nearly €600 million throughout the competition. This figure represented a 50% increase compared to betting volumes from the prior tournament.
With another international championship on the horizon, the advocacy group emphasizes that immediate intervention is essential.
Key Elements of the Proposed Reforms
The recommended measures seek to eliminate gambling sponsorships within sporting events, limit advertising broadcasts during live competitions, and prohibit promotional incentives that encourage increased wagering.
Additionally, the proposals would ban sports personalities and professional athletes from participating in any betting-related marketing campaigns.
Fédération Addiction contends that gambling operators have woven themselves into the fabric of sports entertainment. Via sponsorship agreements, digital marketing initiatives, and celebrity endorsements, betting is progressively portrayed as an integral component of sports viewership.
The advocacy network highlights that young men, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, face targeted marketing from betting companies. Concerns also exist regarding underage exposure to gambling advertising despite existing legal prohibitions against youth participation.
The organization demands that French authorities freeze all sports betting market growth until comprehensive prevention strategies and consumer safeguards are established.
Statistical Evidence Supporting Reform Efforts
France’s gambling oversight body estimates approximately 600,000 individuals are engaging in excessive gambling behavior. Though representing a small percentage of total participants, these players contribute roughly 60% of overall gross gaming revenue.
During just the second half of 2025, France’s gambling industry generated €2 billion in gross gaming revenue. Approximately €1.2 billion of this total originated from participants identified as high-risk gamblers.
Clinicians at treatment facilities report rising numbers of individuals requesting assistance for gambling-related issues. They caution that therapeutic resources have not expanded proportionally with market growth.
France currently operates one of Europe’s most heavily taxed gambling environments. Online sports betting platforms face tax rates of 59.3% on gross gaming revenue. Traditional land-based betting operations are taxed at 42.1%.
Despite these stringent regulations, the market continues attracting major international operators. Bet365’s recent market entry demonstrates that France remains commercially viable even with restrictive regulatory frameworks.
Reports have also emerged that French football stars, including Kylian Mbappé and Rayan Cherki, contacted the French Football Federation after training photographs were purportedly utilized by operator Betclic without obtaining proper authorization.
Fédération Addiction advocates for reclassifying gambling harm as a public health priority, recommending coordinated efforts among health agencies, educational institutions, and youth service organizations.
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