Sanctions Committee: 7 Warnings and a Financial Penalty for Exceeding the Player Return Rate Cap

April 26, 2023 | Government

Recently renewed, the sanctions commission of the National Gaming Authority (ANJ) met for the first time on March 30, 2023. On this occasion, it examined the procedures transmitted by the college of the ANJ concerning seven operators’ games that would have exceeded the 85% return player rate (RTR) cap. The commission confirmed the breaches noted and issued seven warnings and a financial penalty.

PARIS, France (April 24, 2023) — Meeting on September 22, 2022, the members of the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) college decided to open seven procedures before the Sanctions Committee against operators who were accused of exceeding the player return rate (TRJ) ceiling.

The amended law of May 12, 2010 (art. 13-II) and the decree of November 4, 2020 (art. 27) prohibit online sports betting operators from redistributing to players more than 85% of the stakes they have engaged with them. This limitation is intended to prevent excessive or pathological gambling and to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. In a communication dated April 1, 2021, the ANJ specified the rules for calculating the TRJ. This calculation is made over the year.

For the year 2021, the ANJ college estimated that seven operators had exceeded this ceiling rate of 85% and therefore decided to open sanction proceedings against them.

In its decisions, the Sanctions Committee first states that such an overrun constitutes a breach by the operator of its obligations and confirms the existence of the overruns noted by the Board of the ANJ. The commission then decides to pronounce seven warnings. An operator is also given a pecuniary penalty, given the extent of the overrun of the TRJ observed (more than ten points).

The Sanctions Committee has decided not to accompany these sanctions with publicity measures.

These decisions may be subject to appeal before the Council of State within two months of their notification.

SOURCE: Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ).