Voluntary Gaming Ban ANJ: Complete Guide, Online Procedure and Delays
The voluntary gaming ban ANJ is a personal and free procedure. It blocks access to casinos, gaming clubs, sports betting sites, online poker and FDJ/PMU player accounts. Valid for a minimum of three years, it is activated via the ANJ's secure portal with identity verification by IDnow (dynamic selfie) or by mail.
What is Voluntary Gaming Ban (VGB)?
The ANJ online voluntary gaming ban is a strictly personal and confidential process designed to protect against risks associated with excessive gambling. To initiate this procedure, the player must register on the dedicated portal, where the ANJ manages the entire access-blocking process for licensed operators. This free and secure measure prevents access to casinos, sports betting, and FDJ or PMU games with a player account.
Definition and objectives: protecting against excessive gambling
The scheme aims to isolate the player from regulated circuits to break the addictive cycle. By registering, the individual explicitly requests exclusion from the French legal offer. This comprehensive protection measure locks access to the entire offer, both physical and digital, while preserving the possibility of withdrawing remaining funds according to each operator's general terms.
Personal, confidential and free nature
The administrative process is free and requires only two main steps to be validated. Data confidentiality is ensured by the legal framework supervised by the ANJ, guaranteeing that personal information is used only for the application of the ban.
Scope of application: Which games and venues are covered?
The ANJ online voluntary gaming ban constitutes a comprehensive protection scheme. It instantly blocks entry into physical establishments and connection to licensed digital platforms.
Ban on access to physical casinos and gaming clubs
The physical scope of the ban is strict and applies uniformly across the entire national territory. Registration in the banned persons file results in a formal ban on entering a Casino, regardless of the establishment concerned. Systematic identity checks at the entrance of gaming rooms ensure immediate compliance with this measure.
This restriction also extends to Gaming Clubs, venues dedicated to slot machines and table games outside traditional casinos. Access to these establishments is prohibited.
Blocking online sports betting and poker sites
On the digital side, the ban covers all sites licensed by the National Gaming Authority. The player can no longer access Sports betting, horse racing betting or Online Poker offered by operators licensed in France. Creating new accounts is technically impossible, and existing accounts are frozen to prevent any new wagering.
It is important to note that this ban does not apply to bets placed physically on racecourses or in physical sales points not linked to a player account, nor to traditional lotteries. However, as soon as a transaction goes through an online account, the block is effective for Sports betting and Online Poker.
Impact on FDJ and PMU player accounts
Major historical operators are not exempt from this measure. The ban blocks access to Française des Jeux (FDJ) and PMU games when played via a player account, whether online or at a sales point. Française des Jeux must thus refuse access to its digital platforms for any individual registered in the central file.
This synchronization ensures that no gap remains between the different players in the regulated market. If a player tries to access their Française des Jeux or PMU account, the system rejects the connection. Funds remaining on these accounts must be withdrawn according to each operator's specific procedures, as the ban freezes activity but does not confiscate money.
How to make an online voluntary ban request?
The new digital procedure via interdictiondejeux.anj.fr
To make an ANJ voluntary gaming ban, go to the official website interdictiondejeux.anj.fr. This platform centralizes the request, replacing old paper methods with a 100% digital journey. The online form automatically pre-fills some information, thus simplifying data entry for the person concerned. This ban applies for a minimum period of three years, tacitly renewable without further action. Service-public.fr confirms that without a lifting request to the ANJ after this period, the ban remains in force indefinitely.
Biometric identity verification with IDnow and dynamic selfie
The security of the scheme relies on rigorous identity verification performed by the technological partner IDnow. During registration, the player must take a dynamic selfie via their smartphone, a technology that captures a real-time image to validate the match with the provided ID document.
This dynamic selfie allows IDnow to certify that the request is indeed made by the person themselves, thus strengthening the personal nature of the ban. The use of IDnow guarantees accelerated and secure processing, preventing identity theft. This biometric technology is essential to prevent fraud where a third party would try to register a person without their knowledge, ensuring that only the player's real will triggers the block.
Effective delay and data security
Once the identity is validated by IDnow, the registration becomes effective in the following days. The ANJ aims to reduce this delay to 24 hours for faster protection. During this technical propagation period, access to licensed gaming sites is gradually blocked.
Duration, renewal and lifting of the ban
The ANJ online voluntary gaming ban constitutes a strict protection measure, governed by Law No. 2010-476 of May 12, 2010, which imposes a minimum non-compressible duration of three years. This registration in the banned persons file blocks access to licensed operators and cannot be cancelled before the legal deadline, thus ensuring a stabilization period for the player concerned.
Legal duration of three years minimum
The legislative framework sets a floor period of 36 months, during which no revocation is possible, even in case of change of mind. This minimum ban duration aims to break immediate addictive cycles. As stipulated by Law No. 2010-476 of May 12, 2010, this measure applies uniformly across the entire national territory, including overseas, and concerns both sports betting and circle games. This period constitutes a legal and psychological security, not just a temporary administrative formality.
Procedure to cancel the ban after 3 years
Lifting the ban is not automatic. It requires proactive action by the player with the National Gaming Authority. You must complete a specific form online or by mail, attaching a valid ID. The ANJ then checks the admissibility of the file before proceeding with the removal from the banned persons file. Note that this procedure remains discouraged if addiction signs persist, as it exposes again to financial risks. It is not possible to request lifting before the end of the three years, except in very specific judicial cases not related to the standard voluntary procedure.
Tacit renewal and maintenance in the file
The system works on a principle of tacit renewal. If no request to lift the ban is made at the end of the three years, the measure remains fully effective indefinitely. This permanence ensures continuous protection without requiring tedious annual renewal. Maintenance in the banned persons file therefore persists as long as the player does not explicitly express their will to resume access to licensed sites.
Ban by a third party and protection alternatives
The ANJ online voluntary gaming ban constitutes a major protection scheme, but it is not the only lever available. While the process remains fundamentally personal, a Guardian can act for their ward, while the Ministry of the Interior imposes distinct administrative measures.
Ban request by a guardian or the courts
A guardian, as the legal representative appointed by the guardianship judge, has the authority to request a gambling ban on behalf of their adult ward under guardianship. This procedure requires providing a copy of the court decision and a valid ID, ensuring that the measure serves the interest of the vulnerable player. Although distinct from the judicial gambling ban pronounced in a criminal context, this action by the guardian activates the same central registry, blocking access to licensed operators.
Difference with administrative and judicial bans
Voluntary self-exclusion differs from the administrative gambling ban issued by the Ministry of the Interior. The latter, often linked to public order disturbances or a ban on residence, is imposed by the State and not chosen by the player. Unlike the voluntary procedure managed by the ANJ, the administrative ban falls under police jurisdiction and applies regardless of the person's will, although the technical effects (account blocking) are similar on French platforms.
Voluntary Access Limitation (LVA) as an alternative
Voluntary Access Limitation (LVA) allows setting deposit or playtime caps without causing total exclusion. Unlike a ban, which closes the doors of casinos and online sites, LVA maintains access while regulating play. To support these choices, Joueurs Info Service offers free assistance via chat or phone, helping players assess their addiction before choosing between LVA and total ban.
About this article - Writing & responsibility
Author: Sarah Weber - Casino tester & bonus analyst Verified by: Dr. Markus Hoffmann - Senior iGaming compliance analyst Last updated: 2026-07-02.
This article on "voluntary online gambling ban ANJ" was written by Sarah Weber and reviewed by Dr. Markus Hoffmann. Both regularly update the content to reflect regulatory changes, licenses, and bonus terms. All references to licenses, authorities, or legal frameworks refer to public sources (ANJ (National Gaming Authority), Law of May 12, 2010 on the opening of online gambling).
About the author
8+ years of casino testing, 200+ platforms personally tested in the EU and internationally. Former member of the eCOGRA Player Advocacy Program (2018-2022). Specialization: wagering requirements, withdrawal processes, customer support evaluation.
About the reviewer
12+ years in the iGaming industry, including 5 years in compliance consulting for operators licensed under the French ANJ framework. PhD in economic mathematics. Areas: bonus mathematics, wager analysis, player protection devices.
Responsible gaming
Gaming can become addictive. If you feel you are losing control, contact Joueurs Info Service, SOS Joueurs, or use the national self-exclusion registry (gambling ban registry (FIJ)). Set deposit and loss limits before playing for real money. Breaks and cooldown tools are levers for sustainable enjoyment.
Legal notice
The information in this article is provided for editorial and comparative purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Players remain responsible for complying with local rules.