How to bypass ANJ France blocking: Methods, Risks, and Alternatives

It is technically possible to bypass ANJ blocking by using a VPN, modifying your DNS settings, or going through brokers. These maneuvers allow access to foreign sites, but they expose the player to serious legal and financial risks. The National Games Authority requires internet service providers (ISPs) to block illegal sites. If you manage to access them, nothing protects you from the seizure of your funds or a report to TRACFIN for suspected money laundering.

Understanding the ANJ administrative blocking mechanism

The ANJ blocking is a technical measure that requires ISPs to cut off access to illegal gaming offers. This administrative block does not target the player personally, but the infrastructure of the unapproved site. The Law of March 2, 2022, granted more power to the ANJ, allowing it to act faster than before, without going through lengthy judicial procedures.

Why is my betting site blocked by the ANJ?

The block targets only operators without a French license, as their offer is considered illegal. The ANJ, which regulates the sector, orders ISPs (Internet Service Providers) to prevent access to these domain names. This procedure, accelerated by the Law of March 2, 2022, is much more effective than the former judicial system. In 2024, over 1,300 URLs were blocked administratively.

Difference between blocked site and voluntary ban

Do not confuse administrative blocking with voluntary gaming bans. The former is a sanction against an illegal operator. The latter is a protective measure requested by the player themselves to combat addiction. The ANJ manages both aspects: it blocks fraudulent sites and maintains the national registry of voluntary bans. Mixing up the two concepts creates misunderstandings about how to lift restrictions.

The phenomenon of mirror sites

To counter administrative blocking, illegal operators create mirror sites. These exact copies of the original site use a new URL address to temporarily evade the ANJ blacklist. This strategy remains fragile. The ANJ quickly identifies and blocks these mirror sites through new administrative orders. This cat-and-mouse game exposes players to higher financial risks, as these platforms operate outside the protective French framework.

Bypass techniques: VPN, DNS, and Brokers

To bet with foreign bookmakers, players use technical tools that mask their geolocation or facilitate payments. A VPN changes the visible IP address, while a Broker acts as a financial intermediary. These methods provide access to foreign bookmakers, but they carry a risk of fund freezing if withdrawals to France are detected.

Using a VPN to mask your IP address

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts traffic and routes it through a remote server. By changing the displayed IP address, it makes the bookmaker believe the connection originates from abroad. This bypasses administrative blocking based on geolocation. VPNs are legal and easy to install, but they don't solve everything. The ANJ and operators can detect anomalies during withdrawals. If you use a French bank card to fund an account played via VPN, the risk of your winnings being blocked remains high.

Bypassing blocking without a VPN: DNS and Proxy

The DNS (Domain Name System) converts domain names into IP addresses. Changing your DNS settings or using a web proxy offers a lighter alternative to a VPN. The DNS sometimes helps avoid superficial ISP blocks by encrypting requests, although this method holds up less well against the ANJ's deep blocking. A web proxy acts as an intermediary for the browser and partially masks the origin of the request. Unlike a VPN, a web proxy does not always encrypt all traffic. Therefore, your real IP address may remain visible to advanced monitoring tools.

crypto-monnaies">The role of brokers and cryptocurrencies

A Broker is an intermediary that facilitates access to foreign bookmakers and virtual payment services. The Broker allows bypassing traditional banking restrictions by using e-wallets or cryptocurrencies. This makes transactions less traceable by French banks. This approach is often combined with a VPN for total anonymization. However, the ANJ is strengthening its fight against these illegal ecosystems. The lack of legal protection exposes players to the total loss of their funds in case of a dispute.

Major risks: Legal, Financial, and Security

Attempting to bypass ANJ blocking exposes the player to concrete dangers, far beyond a simple access denial. By playing on unapproved platforms, you lose French legal protection. You risk fund confiscation in case of an audit or dispute with the operator. Furthermore, sending identity documents to these sites constitutes document fraud that could potentially be exploited for criminal purposes. Financial transactions may be viewed as money laundering and monitored by TRACFIN.

Risk of confiscation of winnings and funds

Fund confiscation is the most feared financial sanction. On an illegal site, the operator respects neither French jurisdiction nor ANJ guarantees. In case of suspicion, the balance can be blocked and seized under the pretext of violating the Terms and Conditions (T&C). This unilateral appropriation leaves the player without effective recourse, as they themselves broke the law by accessing a prohibited offer.

Document and identity fraud

To validate an account or withdraw winnings, unregulated sites often request identity documents. Providing these documents constitutes document fraud if the information does not exactly match the player's reality. This is a common practice to attempt to bypass gaming bans. Without the protection of the GDPR strictly enforced in France, these sensitive data can be resold or used to steal your identity. You remain exposed to lasting security risks, long after the gaming account is closed.

Payment method blocking and money laundering

French payment providers are legally required to cease services to illegal operators to avoid being complicit in handling stolen goods. By attempting to fund these accounts, the player exposes themselves to an immediate block on their transactions. Worse, these undeclared financial flows can be interpreted by authorities, particularly TRACFIN, as money laundering attempts. This activity falls under the offense of illegal gambling. It engages the criminal liability of the player who knowingly participates in an unregulated financial circuit, beyond the operator's sole liability.

Legal alternatives and lifting of bans

For those seeking a lasting solution, the answer lies not in technical evasion, but in administrative regularization or choosing compliant operators. The voluntary gaming ban is a reversible protection measure under strict conditions. Approved platforms like Winamax or PMU guarantee legal access without the risk of ISP blocking. Prioritizing these official channels ensures fund security and access to support mechanisms like Joueurs Info Service or CSAPAs in case of difficulty.

How to lift your voluntary gaming ban?

Lifting the voluntary gaming ban, a protective measure related to addiction risks, is not immediate. According to the ANJ, this personal and confidential process requires a minimum registration period of three years, automatically renewable. It is impossible to interrupt this protection during this initial period.

To initiate the procedure, the player must use the dedicated online service of the National Games Authority. The process involves two verified steps: Filling out the digital form and uploading a front-and-back copy of a valid ID (national ID card, passport, or driver's license). Verification by the ANJ, which, if the file is acceptable, proceeds with the lifting and sends an official notification by postal mail.

This administrative rigor aims to prevent rapid relapse by ensuring that the request to return to gaming is considered and not impulsive.

Choosing approved operators in France

Rather than attempting to bypass blocking via offshore sites, it is safer to turn to regulated entities. Platforms like Winamax or PMU are among the approved operators that make up the French legal market. Unlike foreign sites unregulated by the ANJ, these entities comply with player protection obligations, including the ban on overly addictive games and transaction security.

The Online Gambling Regulatory Authority (ARJEL), now integrated into the ANJ, structured this framework so that entities like Winamax operate under strict supervision. By playing on these sites, users benefit from recourse in case of a dispute. This protection is absent on illegal platforms where public funds do not guarantee your winnings, but where fraud is more frequent.

Getting help in case of addiction

If gambling becomes problematic, specialized structures offer free support. Joueurs Info Service, the operational arm of Santé Publique France, assists individuals facing difficulties related to gambling addiction. Although this service does not manage site regulations, it directs users to appropriate solutions, including contacting the ANJ for disputes.

Meanwhile, CSAPAs (Care, Support, and Prevention Centers for Addictology) offer confidential medical and psychological consultations. These organizations work in conjunction with measures like the voluntary gaming ban to provide comprehensive care, sometimes including legal advice via Houses of Justice and Law for associated over-indebtedness situations.

About this article - Authorship & Responsibility

Author: Sarah Weber - Casino tester & bonus analyst Reviewed by: Dr. Markus Hoffmann - Senior iGaming compliance analyst Last updated: 2026-07-02.

This article on "how to bypass ANJ France blocking" 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 Games 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 conditions, 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. Fields: bonus mathematics, wager analysis, player protection mechanisms.

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 registry (file of banned players (FIJ)). Set deposit and loss limits before playing for real money. Breaks and cooldown tools are levers for lasting 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.