ANJ – France’s unified gambling regulator – has partnered with children’s news journal Mon Quotidien to publish ‘Jeux d’argent et protection des mineurs’ (‘Gambling and the Protection of Minors’).

 The special edition of Mon Quotidien sees ANJ launch its first education-specific campaign targeting children aged 10-to-14, whilst further raising awareness of gambling behaviours amongst families and schools of the journal’s target audience. 

Founded in 1995 by PlayBac Presse, the Mon Quotidien journal is distributed across France’s 38,000 public (state) schools. ANJ’s edition will feature interviews and testimonials from “gamblers who discovered gambling at a minor age” and “cartoons and infographics showcasing gambling risks”. 

The ANJ’s campaign has been launched following research by Harris Interactive that found that “41% of parents had suggested that their children play or participate in a gambling game” – a trend noted specifically during the Christmas’ festive period.

Meanwhile, research by OFDT – France’s addiction observatory underlined that 39% of under-17s had already participated in gambling for money be it through scratch cards (78%), lottery draws (48%) or placing a sports bet (28%).

ANJ has begun work with UNAF – the National Union of Family Associations to raise awareness of children’s engagement with gambling products, specifically alerting families of the 13-to-14 age group, when minors begin their first experiences with gambling.

Launching its first children’s specific campaign, ANJ stated that “Gambling is never child’s play”, as educational stakeholders must be prepared to intervene on children’s gambling behaviours at their most formative ages, to prevent negative outcomes.