Addictions France urges stricter rules on sports betting ads during World Cup

During the 2026 World Cup, Addictions France documented a record level of sports-betting marketing, with operators such as Betclic, Winamax and Parions Sport/Unibet delivering an average of nine television ads per match and 671 social-media posts. The campaign was described as “permanent and unavoidable,” reaching commuters in Seine-Saint-Denis every two minutes and targeting young audiences in suburban areas. Betclic, a sponsor of the French team, installed red domes in six cities that encouraged passersby, including children, to bet on the national side’s victory.

Although broadcasters had pledged to air prevention messages under an ARCOM charter, none did, despite Addictions France offering a spot to major channels. The association blames a permissive regulatory framework and limited oversight by the Autorité nationale des jeux, and calls on parliament to place deputy Emmanuel Duplessy’s bill on betting-marketing restrictions on the agenda.