France’s ANJ Introduces a New Legal Framework for Web3 Gaming Content

About ANJ’s Initiative

The new legal framework, called Jeux à Objets Numériques Monétisables (JONUM), will be implemented through a 3-year trial program. It covers amusement activities that blend classic gaming content with digital assets.

France’s authorities plan to oversee the most frequent blockchain-based financial transactions, such as buying decentralised coins, receiving NFTs or other rewards, and various other payment processes.

The framework governing the implementation of the mechanism is delineated in the Security and Digital Space Regulation (SREN) Act, enacted in May 2024.

The document establishes a distinct category for Internet-based projects that encompass:

• financial wagers;
• an embedded component of luck;
• resellable Web3 tokens without transfers in legal tender.

JONUM’s Key Requests and Provisions

Under the new system, products classified as digital assets cannot be promoted as cash rewards, akin to winnings from traditional casinos. The country enforces rules on distributing these prizes, including typical betting limits and a cap on the total coin value an individual can amass.

Obligatory conditions for projects that involve raffling NFTs and other blockchain items:

• age verification;
• user identity confirmation;
• instruments for responsible participation;
• specified session time and spending limits;
• provision of information about customer self-exclusion.

Brands intending to launch JONUM products are obliged to notify the ANJ and submit comprehensive reports on decentralised operations upon the supervisor's demand. The regulatory authority retains the right to require the maintenance of activity logs and access to oversee financial transactions as part of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) efforts.

Latest Shifts: Global Outlook

National initiative positions France as one of the pioneering jurisdictions to establish an autonomous legal framework for projects involving monetisable assets. This measure systematically streamlines the hybrid sector, which previously existed between conventional casino content and the Web3 economy.

By discarding obsolete standards and implementing a distinct model, the government aims to prevent disorderly market self-regulation and to uphold oversight of cross-border capital movements. For niche companies, this step provides clearer operational guidelines and diminishes long-term supervisory uncertainty. Should this approach prove successful, it may serve as a model for other leading jurisdictions.

As of now, European strategies for handling contiguous segments are scattered:

1. Belgium completely bans loot box-related activities.
2. The UK’s regulator is making targeted amendments to existing gambling laws.
3. Poland’s authorities are developing unique rules tailored to the country’s specific needs.

France’s system could serve as a benchmark for creating a more unified legal approach to managing virtual assets.