France is moving to regulate games that use blockchain technology and digital items that can be traded for money. The government has sent a draft regulation to the European Commission, detailing the format for company data files required by the national regulator. Although technical, officials regard this as a significant foundation for new digital gaming rules.
The proposal explains how companies will send information to the Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ), France’s national gambling regulator. This is part of a broader plan to regulate games that use monetisable digital objects (Jeux à Objets Numériques Monétisables, JONUM). These games combine traditional video gaming with economic features based on unique digital tokens stored on blockchain networks to verify ownership and transactions.
France has sent the proposal to the European Commission via the TRIS system (Technical Regulation Information System), enabling other EU Member States to assess whether it complies with European law and the single market.
This measure falls under a broader French law on digital issues, establishing a three-year trial for games using monetisable digital objects.
French lawmakers aim to address the growth of online games in which players can obtain digital assets such as NFTs or in-game tokens with real economic value that can be traded on secondary platforms.
French authorities view these products as distinct from both traditional gambling and standard video games. They established a regulated trial under ANJ supervision.
The framework allows companies to create blockchain and Web3 games, setting rules to prevent abuse, money laundering, and unfair practices.
The draft focuses on standardising the data companies must send to the regulator for effective oversight.
French Decree No. 2026-60 requires operators with monetisable digital objects to provide the ANJ with detailed platform and user interaction data.
Among the requirements, companies will have to provide data on player profiles, gaming sessions and what happens during play. They must also record and report financial transactions linked to buying, exchanging or transferring monetisable digital objects. The decree also defines the technical format of the files used to transmit these datasets. The system will rely on a standardised format that can be easily analysed by regulatory monitoring tools, improving supervisory efficiency and supporting cooperation between operators and regulators.
Notification to the European Commission is required under Directive (EU) 2015/1535. This obliges Member States to inform the Commission of technical digital service regulations.
The JONUM framework is designed to clarify the boundary between digital gaming and gambling.
In these games, players do not win cash. Instead, they can receive monetisable digital objects. These are often NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, which are digital certificates proving ownership of a unique asset stored on blockchain networks. Other blockchain-based tokens can also be used as rewards.
French rules allow these digital assets to be the main game prize. Other legal digital or physical prizes may also be offered.
A key rule bans cash prizes directly from play, keeping JONUM games separate from regulated gambling in France.
France’s new rules aim to support innovation while protecting users.
In recent years, more games have adopted blockchain technology and ‘play-to-earn’ models. Blockchain is a digital system for securely recording transactions. ‘Play-to-earn’ games allow players to earn digital assets with real value as they play. Regulators are monitoring these developments, concerned about speculation, money laundering, and the need for consumer protection.
With the JONUM rules and new data requirements, France seeks clear regulations and aims to be a testing ground for Web3 gaming in Europe.
If successful, the trial could serve as a model for other European countries seeking to regulate the sector. Sending the proposal to the European Commission is another step towards clearer rules for digital gaming. Blockchain technology and digital tokens are changing the online entertainment industry.
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