Beware of Misleading Ads for Illegal Online Gambling

The French gambling authority, Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), has issued a warning about misleading advertisements for illegal gambling offers. More than 400 such ads have been found on Facebook. Scammers use images, logos, and names of legal gambling providers to gain trust but redirect users to illegal websites.

ANJ’s Call to Action

ANJ has urged players to report illegal providers through their website or directly to Facebook. They also provide a blacklist of banned providers, although it may not be exhaustive. Players are advised to check the whitelist of licensed providers before registering with any gambling website. It is clarified that all online casino offers are illegal in France except for licensed sports betting.

The Scam Trend

This type of scam is not new, as scammers have also exploited the reputation of established casinos in the German-speaking region. For example, Casino Velden in Austria fell victim to such a scheme. It is difficult to track down the perpetrators, as they often operate through fake accounts.

Expert Perspectives

Debates continue internationally regarding the prohibition of gambling advertising. However, experts argue that a complete ban on gambling ads would hinder efforts to inform players about legitimate options. For instance, in Austria, where win2day is the sole legal online casino provider, advertising plays a crucial role in helping players distinguish legal from illegal offers.