ANJ administrative blocking: procedure, deadlines, and appeals in 2026

The ANJ administrative blocking is an accelerated procedure established by the law of March 2, 2022. It allows the National Gaming Authority (ANJ) to order ISPs and search engines to block access to illegal offering sites. This administrative mechanism replaces the former judicial route and reduces processing times to approximately two months. It primarily targets mirror sites and unlicensed online casinos to protect French players.

Legal basis and progress of the blocking procedure

Administrative blocking constitutes the main tool of the ANJ in 2026. It allows the National Gaming Authority to restrict access to illegal offers without taking legal action. This evolution, anchored in the law of March 2, 2022, replaces the previous system with a responsive administrative framework. The ANJ issues a formal notice to illegal operators before ordering ISPs to filter them. This step ensures respect for the right of defense while protecting players from the financial and addictive risks associated with unlicensed sites.

From judicial blocking to the administrative power of the ANJ

Administrative blocking has replaced the previous system. Previously, the ANJ had to initiate a lengthy and costly judicial procedure. It took up to six months to obtain a court ruling. This delay was not suited to the volatility of illegal sites, which quickly changed addresses to evade sanctions. The law of March 2, 2022, transferred this authority directly to the administrative agency, which considerably reduced intervention times.

This increased efficiency is visible in the figures. In two and a half years, the ANJ has blocked nearly twice as many URLs via the administrative route than in twelve years of judicial litigation. The goal is not merely censorship. It is about protecting players from operators that respect neither mandatory deposit limits nor fair gaming rules. By acting directly, the ANJ responds faster to the proliferation of mirror sites. These carbon copies of blocked platforms appear under new URLs.

Key steps: finding, formal notice, and blocking order

The procedure follows a strict legal framework to ensure its legality. It begins with a finding of the illegal offer, often reported by players or detected by ANJ services. The central step is the formal notice. The ANJ notifies the illegal operator, its host, or advertising providers (such as social networks) of their obligation to cease access to the site in France.

Recipients of this formal notice have a strict deadline of five days to submit their observations. This adversarial phase is essential to respect the right of defense. If the observations are deemed insufficient or if the operator fails to respond, the President of the ANJ issues a blocking order addressed to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and search engines. In 2024, this mechanism led to the sending of 232 orders concerning over 1,300 URLs. This demonstrates the authority's capacity to act on a massive scale against the illegal ecosystem.

Legal basis, sanctions, and the role of the OCLCTIC

The legal basis for this action relies primarily on the law of March 2, 2022. This text amended the Internal Security Code to integrate the specific powers of the ANJ. It coordinates with the Law for Confidence in the Digital Economy (LCEN). This law imposes an obligation on hosting providers and technical intermediaries to remove illegal content once notified.

The ANJ does not possess arbitrary power. Each blocking decision must respect the general principles of law, particularly the right of defense mentioned above. The administrative judge also monitors the legality of the procedure. In the event of a serious breach, the ANJ Sanctions Commission can impose a financial penalty on recalcitrant operators or intermediaries, which strengthens deterrence. Furthermore, the ANJ collaborates closely with the Central Office for the Fight against Information and Communication Technology Crime (OCLCTIC) to identify the criminal networks behind illegal sites. This double guarantee—an internal adversarial procedure and external judicial review—ensures that administrative blocking remains a proportionate regulatory tool.

Targeting of the illegal offer and the mirror sites phenomenon

The ANJ administrative blocking procedure in 2026 specifically targets the illegal gambling offer. It differs from authorized sports betting or poker. This measure aims to protect players against the risks of fraud and addiction inherent in unlicensed online casinos. It also combats the proliferation of mirror sites attempting to bypass the ANJ blacklist.

Why online casinos and slot machines are prohibited

The strict prohibition of online casinos in France is based on the law regulating online games of chance and gambling. Only sports betting, horse race betting, and poker are authorized. Table games like roulette, blackjack, or slot machines are specifically targeted. They present a higher risk of addiction and are often associated with money laundering practices. Unlike the legal offer supervised by the ANJ, these illegal platforms offer no guarantee of reliability. They do not offer any player protection mechanisms such as age verification or deposit limits. A player exposed to this illegal offer has no recourse in the event of a financial dispute. This justifies rapid intervention by the regulatory authority to preserve public order and the economic integrity of the sector.

The strategy of mirror sites to bypass blockings

In the face of blocking decisions, illegal operators deploy a bypass strategy via mirror sites. These are carbon copies of the original site. They differ only by a new URL address, allowing a rapid reappearance after an administrative closure. This technique makes the fight complex, as blocking a URL does not eliminate the legal entity behind the illegal offer. To counter this resilience, the ANJ no longer contents itself with administrative blocking alone. It intervenes along the entire value chain, including payment providers, hosting services, and search engines. The goal is to cut off the financial flows and visibility of these mirror sites. This global approach aims to economically suffocate the operators exploiting these technical loopholes to maintain their access to the French market.

Statistics of the illegal offer and impact on players

The scale of this parallel market remains significant despite regulatory efforts. According to the ANJ Annual Report and a PwC study, between 3 and 4 million online players visited the illegal offer in the past twelve months. This figure highlights the persistence of a demand for prohibited casino games. Moreover, one in two consumers is unaware that this activity is illegal in France. The typical profile of these players is a 35-year-old man, executive or employee. He may be attracted by aggressive bonuses that are absent from the legal offer. This massive turnout exposes users to increased risks of cheating and scams. This reinforces the need for the ANJ to keep the ANJ blacklist up to date and to communicate actively on the dangers of unregulated online games of chance and gambling.

Role of ISPs, search engines, and intermediaries

The ANJ administrative blocking procedure 2026 is based on a legal obligation imposed on Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and search engines. They must filter access to the illegal sites listed by the regulatory authority. This measure, faster than the former judicial path, forces technical intermediaries to prevent the visibility of the illegal offer. Non-compliance leads to heavy criminal and administrative penalties provided by law.

Legal obligations of ISPs and search engines

Internet Service Providers (ISPs), commercial entities providing network connectivity to individuals, are the first links in this compliance chain. Their role is not limited to data transmission. They act as gatekeepers bound by the decision of the President of the ANJ. When the ANJ identifies an illegal offer, it issues a formal notice to publishers and hosts, then orders ISPs to block access if the former do not comply.

This obligation falls within the strict framework of the LCEN (Law for Confidence in the Digital Economy). In the event of non-compliance with blocking orders, ISPs expose themselves to the penalties of Section VI of Article 6 of the LCEN. This includes significant fines and, for the responsible individuals, prison sentences. Search engines share this responsibility. They must de-index the concerned URLs to prevent any indexing in French search results. Most actors execute these requests spontaneously to avoid legal risks. However, they retain the possibility of contesting the decision before the administrative judge.

Blocking techniques: DNS, IP, and technical limits

The technical implementation of the blocking varies according to the infrastructure. It relies primarily on two methods: DNS filtering and IP blocking. The Domain Name System (DNS) translates site names into IP addresses. By blocking the DNS resolution of an illegal domain, the ISP prevents the browser from locating the target server. This method has limitations against the volatility of mirror sites, which frequently change URL addresses while keeping the same interface.

IP address blocking is more robust but can affect legitimate sites hosted on the same shared servers. The effectiveness of these technical measures is constantly evaluated against the rapid reappearance of carbon copies of blocked sites. The ANJ adapts its strategy by issuing massive blocking orders. In 2024, 1,337 URLs were affected by 232 orders, most of which were mirror sites. This technical approach requires close cooperation between the regulatory authority and technical operators to maintain the integrity of the filtering.

The use of VPNs and blocking bypass

Bypassing blocking constitutes the main technical challenge of regulation in 2026. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) allow users to mask their real IP address and simulate a connection from another country. This makes DNS or IP filtering based on French geolocation ineffective. The use of a VPN is not illegal in itself, but it mechanically neutralizes the protection measures implemented by ISPs.

The ANJ implicitly recognizes this technical limitation by diversifying its actions beyond simple access blocking. The authority now intervenes with all intermediaries, including payment providers and social networks. The goal is to cut off the financial and advertising flows that fuel these sites, even if technical access remains possible via a VPN. This global strategy aims to make the gaming experience on unlicensed sites sufficiently complex and risky to discourage players. It complements the technical blocking mechanism with increased economic and legal pressure.

2026 review and increased vigilance around major events

The ANJ administrative blocking procedure intensifies in 2026 in the face of multiplying illegal offers. The National Gaming Authority (ANJ) and the DGCCRF coordinate their actions to neutralize unlicensed sites. They also penalize illegal advertising for gambling broadcast by influencers on social networks, particularly during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Reinforced vigilance during the 2026 World Cup

The 2026 football World Cup constitutes a major catalyst for the illegal sports betting offer. As this global event approaches, the ANJ and the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) issued a joint call for vigilance in June 2026. These two public authorities specifically warn about the proliferation of sports betting tips sites operating without a French license. This collaboration between the DGCCRF and the ANJ aims to protect consumers from the financial and addictive risks linked to these unregulated platforms. Vigilance is crucial as these sites exploit the enthusiasm for the competition to capture a vulnerable audience, often unaware of the illegality of their offer.

Fight against illicit promotion by influencers

Social networks have become the main channel for illegal gambling advertising in France. The ANJ has intensified its contact with the operators of these platforms to combat the promotion of illegal sites. Influencers, who often promote these illegal offers to their subscribers, are now directly targeted by the regulatory authority's formal notices. Within the framework of the administrative procedure, the ANJ can order anyone carrying out advertising, including influencers on social networks, to prevent access to the illegal site. This measure is part of a broader strategy aimed at drying up the visibility of the illegal offer, complementing the technical blocking by ISPs.

About this article - Writing & responsibility

Author: Sarah Weber - Casino tester & bonus analyst

Verified by: Dr. Markus Hoffmann - Senior iGaming compliance analyst

Last updated: 2026-07-10.

This article on "ANJ administrative blocking procedure 2026" was written by Sarah Weber and reviewed by Dr. Markus Hoffmann. Both update the content regularly to reflect regulatory changes, licensing, and bonus conditions. 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 licensed operators under the French ANJ framework. PhD in economic mathematics. Areas of expertise: bonus mathematics, wager analysis, player protection systems.

Responsible gaming

Gambling can become addictive. If you feel you are losing control, contact Joueurs Info Service, SOS Joueurs, or use the national self-exclusion register (gambling ban file (FIJ)). Set deposit and loss limits before playing for real money. Pauses 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 regulations.