SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Médiateur des Jeux, the consumer ombudsman for French gambling, will now be led by its new Director, Jérôme Gallot.
The appointment was made by Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, President of l’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), the regulatory authority for French gambling, in recognition of the need for strong oversight in consumer mediation.
Gallot was chosen from a list of esteemed legal scholars to take on the role of mediator and safeguard the consumer rights of French gambling patrons.
A member of the Court of Auditors since 1985, Gallot has spent much of his career outside the institution, notably within the Ministry of Economy and Finance. From 1997 to 2003, he served as Director-General of the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Control (DGCCRF).
The ANJ’s gaming mediation process is designed to resolve disputes between players and gaming operators, including those holding exclusive rights, such as Française des Jeux and PMU. Consumers must first attempt to resolve their complaints directly with the operator by submitting a written claim. If the operator does not respond within 20 days or if the response is unsatisfactory, players may escalate their case to the mediator.
In 2023, Médiateur handled 1,523 mediation requests, with 91% related to sports betting. However, 752 requests were deemed inadmissible, primarily because the consumers had not first submitted a written claim to the operator (89%). Approximately one-third of the admissible cases achieved partial or full resolution for complainants.
As the new mediator, Gallot is expected to leverage his extensive expertise in consumer and competition law to enhance the effectiveness of the ANJ’s dispute resolution framework. His appointment underscores the ANJ’s commitment to “protecting player rights and fostering fair practices in the gaming sector.
