Regulatory Developments

The 2026 Professional Sport Act and Gambling

New ANJ powers and loss controls for 18 to 25 year-olds

Last verified: 2026-10-05

Act No. 2026-725 of 3 August 2026 on professional sport also changed gambling law: a new version of CSI art. L. 320-9-1 applies from 5 August 2026 and loss controls for 18 to 25 year-olds are due from 1 January 2027, with the final wording still to be confirmed.

The 2026 Professional Sport Act and gambling

Overview

Act No. 2026-725 of 3 August 2026, published in the Journal officiel of 4 August 2026, is mainly about the governance and financing of professional sport but also amends gambling law. Légifrance shows a new version of Internal Security Code article L. 320-9-1 in force since 5 August 2026, and shows the current article L. 320-11, which sets operators’ player-protection duties, in force only until 1 January 2027.

At committee stage, the National Assembly proposed a one-month minimum waiting period. The promulgated law instead provides that the waiting period will be fixed by decree and cannot be shorter than two weeks. From 1 January 2027, players aged 18 to 25 will therefore face a decree-defined waiting period before increasing their selected limits, and the ANJ may by reasoned decision limit their losses for up to one year. From 5 August 2026, the ANJ president also has powers concerning digital intermediary circumvention services and the prohibition of transfers of funds to or from accounts identified as belonging to illegal gambling operators.

The Senate’s legislative file with promulgation and adoption dates. [1]

Légifrance version history of the Code. [2]

The committee report on the 18 to 25 loss-control provision. [3]

The amendment behind that provision. [4]

Key facts

  • Verified

    Act No. 2026-725 of 3 August 2026 on the organisation, management and financing of professional sport was promulgated on 3 August and published in the Journal officiel of 4 August 2026, after final adoption by the National Assembly on 20 July and the Senate on 21 July 2026; Légifrance shows a new version of CSI art. L. 320-9-1 in force since 5 August 2026 (modified by article 37) and the current art. L. 320-11 in force only until 1 January 2027.

    Sénat, Légifrance (Direction de l’information légale et administrative), Légifrance (Direction de l’information légale et administrative), Légifrance (Direction de l’information légale et administrative)

  • Verified

    At committee stage in the National Assembly, the draft article amending CSI art. L. 320-11 would have extended operators’ self-limitation tools to losses, required players aged 18 to 25 to wait a period set by decree, not shorter than one month, before raising their limits, and allowed the ANJ to cap the losses they may incur, by reasoned decision, for up to one year; the justification noted that 99% of the €11.5 billion staked on sports betting in 2025 related to professional sport.

    Assemblée nationale, Assemblée nationale

  • Verified

    From 1 January 2027, players aged 18 to 25 will be subject to a waiting period fixed by decree before they can increase their selected limits; the statutory minimum is two weeks. The ANJ may also, by reasoned decision, limit the losses that such players may incur for a period of up to one year.

    Kohen Avocats, L’Officiel des métiers, Assemblée nationale

  • Verified

    From 5 August 2026, the ANJ president has powers concerning digital intermediary circumvention services used to circumvent restrictions on access to illegal gambling offers. The legal framework also permits the prohibition of transfers of funds to or from accounts identified as belonging to illegal gambling operators for renewable six-month periods.

    Kohen Avocats, L’Officiel des métiers

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Sources

  1. SénatPrimary source — Organisation, gestion et financement du sport professionnel (dossier législatif) — https://www.senat.fr/dossier-legislatif/ppl24-456.html
  2. Légifrance (Direction de l’information légale et administrative)Primary source — Code de la sécurité intérieure, Titre II (articles L320-1 à L324-16), version history — https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/section_lc/LEGITEXT000025503132/LEGISCTA000025505690/
  3. Assemblée nationalePrimary source — Rapport n° 2797 (commission de la culture et de l’éducation) sur la proposition de loi relative au sport professionnel — https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/opendata/RAPPANR5L17B2797.html
  4. Assemblée nationalePrimary source — Amendement n° AC203 à la proposition de loi n° 1560 (rapporteur Belkhir Belhaddad), déposé le 8 mai 2026 — https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/17/amendements/1560/CION-CEDU/AC203