ANJ operationalises three-year experimental regime

France has formally activated a new regulatory framework for monetisable digital object games, placing certain Web3 and blockchain-based titles under structured oversight.

The regime is overseen by Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) and introduces the legal category known as Jeux à Objets Numériques Monétisables (JONUM).

The model will run as a three-year experimental framework and applies to games that sit between traditional video gaming and regulated gambling.

What qualifies as JONUM?

The framework covers games that:

  • Involve a financial stake
  • Contain an element of chance
  • Offer digital objects that can be resold

These digital objects may include non-fungible tokens (NFTs) or blockchain-based items that can be traded on secondary markets.

Crucially, JONUM titles are prohibited from offering cash prizes in legal tender, distinguishing them from licensed gambling products. Caps are also imposed on the value of digital rewards an individual player may accumulate over time.

The category was first introduced under the SREN Act (Security and Digital Space Regulation Act), enacted in May 2024. Implementing decrees entered into force earlier this month, making the regime fully operational.

Strict consumer safeguards built in

Consumer protection forms a central pillar of the JONUM model.

Operators must:

  • Verify the age and identity of all players
  • Block minors from accessing JONUM games
  • Offer responsible gambling-style tools
  • Allow players to set time and spending limits
  • Provide self-exclusion mechanisms

The structure mirrors safeguards imposed on licensed gambling operators in France, even though JONUM titles do not offer traditional monetary winnings.

Compliance and reporting obligations

Before launching a JONUM product, operators must submit a declaration to the ANJ.

Ongoing compliance requirements include:

  • Transparent activity reporting
  • Submission of operational data logs
  • Blockchain tracking access when wallets are used
  • Cooperation on anti-money laundering oversight

These measures are designed to allow regulators to monitor digital asset flows and prevent misuse of blockchain-based systems.

France takes distinct path on Web3 gaming

With JONUM now live, France becomes one of the first European jurisdictions to introduce a tailored regulatory model for monetisable digital object games, rather than applying legacy gambling law by default.

The move creates a legal distinction between:

  • Traditional gambling with cash payouts
  • Blockchain-based gaming involving tradable digital assets

At the same time, it applies consumer protection measures similar to those in the regulated betting sector.

Diverging European approaches to loot boxes

Elsewhere in Europe, regulators have taken markedly different stances on comparable mechanics such as loot boxes.

In Belgium, authorities determined certain paid loot boxes breached gambling law, prompting publishers to remove or modify affected features.

Dutch regulators have similarly scrutinised chance-based in-game mechanics under existing gambling frameworks.

In the UK, the UK Gambling Commission concluded that most loot boxes fall outside the scope of the Gambling Act 2005, as virtual items cannot typically be converted directly into real-world money. Instead of formal regulation, policymakers encouraged industry-led safeguards, including age restrictions supported by UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie).

Summary

France has activated its JONUM framework, creating a dedicated legal category for games featuring monetisable digital objects such as NFTs. Overseen by the Autorité Nationale des Jeux, the three-year experimental regime prohibits cash prizes while imposing strict ID checks, spending limits, and compliance reporting.

By carving out a separate regulatory path for blockchain-based gaming, France is positioning itself at the forefront of European digital gaming oversight.