ANJ Black List of Blocked Sites 2026: Complete Guide, Verification and Risks

The 2026 ANJ black list of blocked sites catalogs illicit gambling platforms subject to administrative blocking orders and de-listing. The National Games Authority regularly updates this registry to protect players from fraud, addiction, and non-payment. Only licensed operators such as FDJ, PMU, Betclic, Winamax, Bwin, or Unibet are authorized to operate in France.

Consult the ANJ Black List of Blocked Sites in 2026

The 2026 ANJ black list of blocked sites groups together gaming platforms subject to administrative blocking orders. This Black List, published by the ANJ (National Games Authority), protects players from financial risks and addiction associated with illegal gambling and games of chance websites. This registry is not exhaustive. It is updated with new URLs as reports or detections arise. The absence of a domain name on this list of illicit gaming sites does not guarantee its legality. For optimal security, this information should be cross-referenced with the positive registry of licensed operators.

How to Access the Official List of Banned Sites

The ANJ makes this list of illicit gaming sites available to the public on its institutional portal. It is important to understand that this registry is not exhaustive. It is regularly updated with new reported or detected URLs. Consequently, the absence of a domain name on this list of illicit gaming sites does not constitute a guarantee of legality. For optimal security, this information should be cross-referenced with the positive registry of licensed operators.

What is the difference between the black list and the list of licensed operators?

These two lists serve opposite functions. The Black List identifies gambling and games of chance sites specifically blocked by the ANJ due to proven illegality. Conversely, the list of licensed operators (such as FDJ, PMU, Bwin, or Unibet) represents the only positive reference for legality in France. Playing on a site not on the white list exposes you to major risks, even if it has not yet appeared on the list of illicit gaming sites.

Is the ANJ black list updated in real time?

Yes, the ANJ regularly updates the Black List to include new gambling and games of chance sites identified as dangerous. The technical process of administrative blocking, which involves ISPs and de-listing, takes some time. Thus, the list of illicit gaming sites reflects ongoing actions, but a time lag may exist between the detection of an illegal site and its actual appearance in the public list.

Understanding Administrative Blocking and the Role of ISPs

The 2026 ANJ black list of blocked sites is not a simple static directory. It reflects an active and binding administrative blocking procedure. This legal mechanism requires Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to filter access to illegal gambling and games of chance platforms. This protects French players from unlicensed operators who evade the protection and security obligations mandated by national regulation.

How does the ANJ enforce the blocking of illegal sites?

The National Games Authority (ANJ) has enhanced administrative police powers to combat illicit offerings. Before the entry into force of the Law on Securing and Regulating the Digital Space (2022), site blocking required a lengthy judicial procedure before the Paris court. This resulted in delays of 4 to 6 months between the identification of an offense and the judge's decision. This latency allowed illegal sites to continue operating and attracting players.

Currently, the ANJ president can directly order blocking, under the supervision of the administrative judge, without going through a prior judicial instance. This legislative evolution continues the framework of Law No. 2010-476 of May 12, 2010, which opened the market while establishing a strict framework for licensed operators. By replacing judicial slowness with administrative responsiveness, the ANJ can act quickly to withdraw access to sites offering unauthorized gambling or promoting it illegally.

What is the role of ISPs and the Ministry of the Interior?

ISPs (such as Orange, SFR, Free, or Bouygues) are the technical executors of this regulatory policy. They are legally required to implement the filtering measures ordered by the ANJ. In practice, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) block access to listed URLs using DNS filtering or IP address techniques.

This collaboration is based on the Internal Security Code, which governs administrative blocking measures to protect public order and citizens. The Ministry of the Interior also plays a coordination role with law enforcement to identify criminal networks behind certain illicit sites. When a site is added to the black list, ISPs must prevent French users from accessing it directly from their home connection. This system aims to reduce the visibility and accessibility of offshore operators who do not comply with French player protection standards, such as age verification or deposit limits.

De-listing and the Fight Against Illicit Advertising

De-listing and administrative blocking are two complementary but distinct levers. De-listing, achieved through ANJ collaboration with search engines like Google and Bing, removes illegal sites from organic search results. This significantly reduces their organic visibility for players searching for platforms via a search engine.

At the same time, the ANJ actively fights illicit advertising. Blocked sites are not allowed to advertise in France. Any promotion, even indirect, via influencers or third-party sites, is penalized. De-listing does not prevent direct access if the user knows the exact URL. This is where technical blocking by ISPs comes into play: it cuts the connection to the server, making the site inaccessible even if the address is known. Although workarounds exist, this double barrier (reduced visibility + cut technical access) constitutes the ANJ's main strategy to dry up the audience of unlicensed sites. Always verify official licensing, as absence from the black list does not guarantee a site's legality.

Identifying Illegal Sites: Online Casinos and Grey Areas

The 2026 ANJ black list of blocked sites catalogs platforms subject to administrative blocking orders, but it is not exhaustive. To ensure your safety, it is imperative to verify official licensing rather than relying solely on the absence of a URL from this list. In France, only operators licensed by the National Games Authority (ANJ) offer legal protection against addiction and financial fraud risks.

Why are all online casinos banned in France?

French legislation, governed by the law of May 12, 2010, establishes a strict distinction between authorized games and those considered illegal. Only three categories are licensed: sports betting, horse racing betting, and online poker (table games). Consequently, online casinos, including slot machines and roulette, remain explicitly banned on national territory.

This ban aims to protect players from offers designed to generate rapid addiction, often masked by attractive bonuses and illusory VIP status. Unlike licensed operators that impose deposit and wagering limits, illegal casino sites comply with no personal data protection or excessive gambling prevention standards.

How to Recognize an ANJ-Licensed Operator

To identify a legal platform, the most reliable method is to consult the official registry of licensed operators available on the ANJ website. A legal site must clearly display the ANJ logo and provide a link to the Joueurs Info Service help platform. The absence of these references constitutes an immediate warning signal.

The French legal market relies on 17 licensed operators and a monopoly holder for lotteries, LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX (often referred to by its acronym FDJ - Française des Jeux). LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX holds exclusivity on lottery games such as Loto and EuroMillions, while other licensed players like Bwin, Unibet, Betclic, or Winamax share the sports betting and poker markets. Verifying an operator's presence on this white list is safer than checking the black list, as a site can be illegal without yet having been technically blocked.

Are sites licensed in Curaçao or Malta legal in France?

No, a foreign license issued by jurisdictions such as Malta (MGA) or Curaçao does not replace the mandatory ANJ licensing. These platforms operate in a legal grey area. Although individual players are not systematically prosecuted criminally, they face major risks. In case of a dispute, no recourse is available with French authorities, and winnings may be withheld without justification.

Furthermore, these sites may be added to the 2026 ANJ black list of blocked sites at any time, resulting in immediate blocking by internet service providers (ISPs) and banks. Transactions to these illicit merchants may be refused, and deposited funds remain vulnerable due to the lack of local regulation. It is therefore crucial to prioritize operators with a valid French license to ensure the security of your money and data.

Major Risks of Playing on a Blocked Site

Consulting the 2026 ANJ black list of blocked sites is a crucial step, as playing on these platforms exposes you to immediate and irreversible dangers. Beyond illegality, these unregulated operators guarantee neither game fairness nor fund security. Risks include bank data theft, lack of recourse in case of non-payment, and increased exposure to Addiction, due to the absence of protection measures mandated by French law.

What are the financial and legal dangers for the player?

The lack of regulation directly exposes your assets. On an illegal site, software integrity is neither controlled nor certified by the ANJ, meaning games can be rigged against the player. Worse, you risk having your personal and banking data stolen, which could lead to identity theft or fraudulent charges that are impossible to dispute.

From a legal standpoint, involvement in opaque financial circuits exposes you to Money Laundering. In France, Tracfin (Financial Intelligence Unit) monitors suspicious flows. By using unlicensed platforms, you could inadvertently become a link in these illicit circuits, resulting in bank account freezes and potential investigations. Unlike licensed operators who segregate player funds, blocked sites offer no refund guarantees.

How do illegal sites exploit gambling addiction?

Sites listed on the 2026 ANJ black list of blocked sites deliberately bypass player protection obligations. They apply no mandatory deposit limits, nor cooling-off periods before increasing wagers, thereby encouraging excessive gambling and social isolation. This lack of safeguards turns leisure into a dangerous compulsive behavior.

Addiction is exacerbated by aggressive, unregulated promotional offers designed to trap players in a cycle of losses. Without the cross-operator self-exclusion tools mandated for legal operators, it is difficult to stop. For any gambling-related difficulties, it is imperative to contact Joueurs Info Service, which offers anonymous listening and referrals to specialized care, a resource that illegal sites completely ignore.

What to do in case of a dispute with an unlicensed gaming site?

If you encounter a problem with an illegal operator, know that the ANJ and the Gaming Mediator are not competent to handle your complaint. You are legally alone against an entity often located outside the European Union. The only administrative route is to report the facts to the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) via the signal.conso.gouv.fr platform.

However, recourse remains limited and the chances of recovering your funds are slim. This is why prevention remains the best protection: always verify the operator's license before any deposit. Do not rely solely on the absence of a site from the black list, as it is not exhaustive. Always prioritize the positive list of authorized operators published by the ANJ.

About this article - Editorial & 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 the "2026 ANJ black list of blocked sites" 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 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. Fields: bonus mathematics, wager analysis, player protection mechanisms.

Responsible Gambling

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 Gamblers (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 regulations.