Euro 2016, which will take place from June 10 to July 10, is a highly anticipated sporting event for the French public and soccer fans alike. With the tournament comes a surge in opportunities and temptations to bet on the outcomes of these matches, whether online or at retail locations. Players or their support networks seeking help or information can turn to the Joueurs Info Service, whose dedicated website has been expanded in the run-up to this major sporting event.

4 new videos to better understand the risks

These videos, produced by Santé publique France and available on the Joueurs Info Service website, address key topics for understanding problem gambling: warning signs, misconceptions, the causes of gambling addiction, and finally, resources to help stop. Their purpose is to support gamblers in difficulty and their loved ones by providing answers to the allure of gambling. Healthcare professionals (psychologists, addiction specialists, psychiatrists, social workers) and gamblers struggling with gambling share their insights and personal stories to help identify the signs of pathological gambling and offer advice on how to break the cycle.

Joueurs Info Service: Support for Gamblers and Their Loved Ones

The Joueurs Info Service program provides personalized help and advice to anyone struggling with gambling, through:

• The website joueurs-info-service.fr, which received nearly 2,300,000 visits in 2015, offers a space for personalized Q&A, chat, forums, and testimonials.

• The helpline, 09 74 75 13 13 (no surcharge), responded to more than 18,000 calls from the public in 2015.

Between 2010 and 2014, the proportion of French people (aged 15 to 75) who had gambled in the past twelve months increased significantly, rising from 46% to 56%¹. According to this survey:

• Online gambling is practiced by 4% of the population, or approximately 2 million people.

• The prevalence of moderate-risk gamblers is 2.2%, or 1 million people, and there are nearly 0.5% of problem gamblers, or 200,000 French people.