French Regulator ANJ Releases Findings on Teen Use of Hybrid Digital Games

Study Scope and Partnership Details

ANJ conducted the work under the ENJEU-Mineurs 2025 research framework in direct collaboration with ARPEJ, which allowed the team to gather responses focused specifically on hybrid digital games rather than traditional gambling products. The survey targeted French residents between 15 and 17 years old and asked about activities over a full year, giving a broad window into patterns that might otherwise stay hidden in shorter reporting periods. Figures reveal that hybrid games often sit at the intersection of entertainment and chance-based mechanics, which explains why regulators have begun tracking them separately from either pure video games or licensed gambling platforms.

Those who reviewed the raw data noted that participation rates remained consistent across different regions of France, suggesting the trend is not limited to urban centers or particular socioeconomic groups. The partnership between ANJ and ARPEJ ensured standardized questions and validated risk-assessment tools were applied uniformly, which strengthens the reliability of the comparisons drawn between mixed players and those who stuck to one type of activity.

Breakdown of Game Types and Spending Patterns

Video games that incorporate casino-style features topped the list at 26.3 percent, while free demo versions of casino games attracted 18.1 percent and social casino titles drew 16.6 percent. These categories overlap for some users, yet the study tracked each format independently so that totals could reflect multiple exposures without double-counting individuals. Nearly 16 percent of all players who tried any hybrid format reported making purchases tied to those games, whether through in-app buys, virtual currency packs, or direct payments for additional features.

Mixed players, defined as those who combined hybrid digital games with other forms of gambling, posted significantly higher scores on standard gambling risk instruments. The difference appeared across several metrics, including frequency of play, amount spent relative to income, and self-reported difficulty stopping once started. Observers note that the presence of gambling-like loops inside video game environments may lower the barrier for later transitions into paid gambling activities, although the study itself stops short of claiming direct causation.

Context Within Broader Regulatory Monitoring

ANJ has maintained ongoing oversight of emerging digital products that blur lines between gaming and gambling, and this latest release adds concrete numbers to earlier qualitative reports. The 39 percent participation rate among 15-to-17-year-olds stands as a benchmark that future surveys can track over time, especially as new titles continue to enter the market with similar mechanics. Data indicates that free-to-play models often serve as entry points, which then convert a subset of users into paying participants at the reported 16 percent level.

Because the research focused exclusively on the 15-17 age bracket, it leaves open questions about younger children or those who have recently turned 18, yet the findings still supply regulators with actionable information for the group closest to legal gambling age. ARPEJ contributed specialized expertise in adolescent behavior studies, which helped shape the risk-score calculations and ensured the instruments aligned with established psychological scales.

Conclusion

The ANJ and ARPEJ study supplies a detailed snapshot of how hybrid digital games intersect with teenage routines in France, anchored by the 39 percent participation figure and the accompanying breakdowns by game type and spending. Those figures, together with the elevated risk scores among mixed players, give regulators and researchers a factual baseline for continued monitoring as digital entertainment evolves. The report titled "Pratique des jeux numériques hybrides chez les 15-17 ANS : Résultats de la Recherche ENJEU-Mineurs 2025" remains available through official channels for anyone seeking the full dataset and methodology notes.