France’s National Gambling Authority (ANJ) has placed a new emphasis on parental involvement as part of its strategy to protect children from the growing risks associated with gambling, particularly digital formats. This initiative is grounded in fresh data showing that gambling participation among minors is rising, and parental influence is a key factor in how minors access gambling.
The ANJ’s analysis, drawn from the ARPEJ youth gambling report, shows a notable uptick in engagement among 15–17‑year‑olds and highlights the need for families, educators and communities to play a more proactive role in safeguarding young people as exposure to gambling content grows.
Parents’ Role in Youth Gambling Engagement
The ARPEJ report, commissioned by the ANJ, indicates that approximately 42.6 % of 15–17‑year‑olds reported gambling in the past year, with increased participation in both lottery‑style games and scratch cards. Crucially, the research also shows that a significant share of minors access gambling via parental assistance, with more than 65 % reporting that a parent or guardian facilitated access offline, and over one‑third using a parent’s online account with permission.
This finding has alarmed regulators, who stress that easing access through parental help, even with consent, can expose children to risks of early normalisation of gambling behaviour, impulsive play, and financial harm at an age where decision‑making and risk awareness are still developing.
To help parents better manage these risks, the ANJ is encouraging open family dialogue about gambling, closer supervision of digital habits, and use of available safeguarding tools.
Rising Exposure and Normalisation of Gambling
Alongside participation rates, the ARPEJ study highlights the pervasiveness of gambling advertising among minors: 78.8 % of those surveyed reported seeing ads for gambling across media channels, while exposure was even higher among those who had gambled.
The ubiquity of gambling content on social media, video platforms and apps has concerned regulators, who believe that unrestricted advertising exposure contributes to the normalisation of gambling in young people’s everyday lives.
Parents are a key first line of defence against this trend. By understanding the media their children consume and maintaining active conversations, families can help contextualise gambling content and counteract the influence of aggressive marketing.
Parental Engagement and Professional Support
The ANJ’s focus on parental engagement complements other efforts to strengthen harm prevention within youth ecosystems. For example, the YGAM–NYA partnership in the UK aims to equip youth workers with the skills to recognise and respond to online gambling and gaming harms, highlighting the value of education and professional training in protecting young people.
Although this initiative is taken in the UK, the underlying principles underscore a shared regulatory goal: increasing awareness, training and support structures for those closest to youths, whether parents, educators or community professionals.
ANJ’s Recommendations and Tools for Families
To support families, the ANJ has published a set of guidelines and resources that include:
- Information on how minors are accessing gambling and the role of parents in supervision
- Tips for starting conversations about online risks and gambling
- Steps to set boundaries around gambling access and exposure
- Links to support services and youth counselling resources
Parents are also encouraged to implement device‑level controls, monitor online accounts, and familiarise themselves with the terms and conditions of gaming and gambling services to safeguard against unauthorised access by children.
Reinforcing Youth Protection
The ANJ’s initiative is part of a broader regulatory landscape in France focused on youth protection. Regulators have signalled that they may pursue strengthened age‑verification systems, tighten advertising restrictions, and continue to refine operator obligations to prevent youth access to gambling products.
By involving families as part of this strategy, the ANJ underscores that player protection must extend beyond operators to include the social environments where children live and learn.
With gambling products and digital entertainment increasingly intertwined, fostering parental awareness and engagement will remain a central pillar of France’s efforts to safeguard young people from evolving risks.