France Authorises Three-Year Trial Decree for Games with Monetisable Digital Objects
•February 19, 2026
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Why It Matters
The decree establishes a European benchmark for regulating play‑to‑earn and crypto‑linked games, balancing innovation with robust consumer safeguards.
Key Takeaways
- •Three-year trial for JONUM games under ANJ supervision.
- •Mandatory identity verification and weekly spend/playtime caps.
- •Rewards limited: €1,000 non‑cash, 20% revenue crypto cap.
- •Six approved game categories; casino‑like mechanics prohibited.
- •Self‑exclusion tools required, immediate lockout on limit breach.
Pulse Analysis
France’s new decree builds on the 2024 digital security law, targeting the fast‑growing niche of play‑to‑earn titles that monetize in‑game assets. By classifying these games as JONUM, regulators can apply gambling‑type oversight without stifling Web3 experimentation. The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) now holds direct authority, signalling a shift toward more granular digital‑gaming governance that other EU members are watching closely. This move reflects broader concerns about crypto‑driven economies and the need for clear legal frameworks that distinguish entertainment from gambling.
Consumer protection sits at the heart of the experiment. Players must submit full identity details before account creation, and minors are barred entirely. Weekly caps on spending and playtime, coupled with real‑time warnings at 75% usage, aim to curb addictive behaviours. Self‑exclusion options ranging from 24 hours to a year are mandatory, and any limit adjustments are subject to a 48‑hour cooling period for increases. Reward structures are tightly bounded: non‑cash prizes cannot exceed €1,000 per year, and crypto payouts are limited to 20% of a game’s revenue and €25,000 per player, preventing a slide into unregulated gambling.
The decree could become a template for the EU’s approach to crypto‑gaming. By trialling strict safeguards while allowing innovation, France offers a pragmatic path that balances market growth with public policy goals. Operators will need to adapt compliance systems, potentially increasing costs but also gaining regulatory clarity. If the experiment proves successful, lawmakers may codify these measures permanently, influencing how other jurisdictions craft their own digital‑gaming statutes and shaping the future landscape of Web3 entertainment.
France authorises three-year trial decree for games with monetisable digital objects
Image credit: Shutterstock
France has officially approved a three-year experimental framework allowing games with monetisable digital objects, known locally as JONUM (Jeux à Objets Numériques Monétisable), to operate under strict supervision.
The decree, signed on February 4th, 2026, and published in the official journal, is now fully active and is being enforced.
Regulation of the sector has been placed directly under the Autorité Nationale des Jeux, the country’s national gambling regulator. The move is based on Articles 40 and 41 of the 2024 digital security law, which aims to regulate emerging online sectors while protecting consumers.
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Identity Verification and Personal Limits to Protect Players
French authorities explained that the goal is to support Web3 innovation while keeping tight consumer protections in place, particularly for minors. The framework is temporary and will run for three years as a live experiment before lawmakers decide whether to make it permanent.
Notably, the decree places strong emphasis on player protection from the very beginning. Before opening an account for affected games, users must provide full identity details, including birth name, date and place of birth, and home address.
Operators are required to verify age and identity, and minors are strictly prohibited from registering.
Additionally, players must also set two personal limits before they can start playing: a weekly spending cap in euros and a weekly playtime cap. Companies are not allowed to impose preset limits on users.
If a player chooses to increase their limit, the change only takes effect after 48 hours. However, if they lower it, the change applies immediately.
Strict Player Controls and Reward Limits for Safe Gaming
Image credit: Shutterstock
According to the framework, operators must issue warnings once 75% of a limit is reached and must automatically block gameplay access once the cap is exceeded.
Self-exclusion tools are mandatory and must remain accessible at all times. Players can lock themselves out for periods ranging from 24 hours up to 12 months, with the restriction taking effect instantly.
Meanwhile, companies are required to collect and store detailed transaction data, including crypto activity converted into euro value at the time of each transaction.
France has also drawn a clear line around rewards. Non-cash prizes cannot exceed €1,000 per player per game each year. For crypto asset rewards, the total amount distributed by a game must not surpass 20% of its annual revenue.
On top of that, individual players cannot receive more than €25,000 per year per game in crypto-linked rewards. Officials believe these ceilings will prevent JONUM titles from becoming a full-scale gambling territory.
Game Categories, Gambling Limits, and Regulatory Watch
The decree outlines six authorised game categories, including action games, fantasy sports, adventure titles, racing games, breeding games, and management games.
However, it clearly bans mechanics similar to casino gambling, except in limited cases such as fantasy horse racing formats. To guide operators, the ANJ will host an information session on February 19th, 2026.
French regulators have been closely monitoring digital games for years, previously pressuring companies like Sorare to adjust tournaments and entry systems to comply with local rules and avoid gambling classification, which the company has since implemented.
The post France authorises three-year trial decree for games with monetisable digital objects appeared first on Esports Insider.
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