At the trade association’s General Assembly, Béraud was unanimously chosen to again lead it, with Winamax founder Alexandre Roos appointed director and vice president.

AFJEL said under the president’s leadership it intends to continue to promote the development of a legal, ethical, innovative and responsible online gaming offering.

Béraud said: “I am honoured to be able to continue to speak for our members at such an important time for our industry. Now strengthened by the arrival of Winamax, AFJEL is the only professional association to represent online gaming tech companies.

“Its members are essential strategic partners in protecting players, fighting cybercrime and the scourge of the illegal market, and securing the digital space with demanding technological standards.”

AFJEL looks to intensify black market fight

The group said it intended to intensify the fight against the black market, highlighting its “massive expansion” as representing unfair and dangerous competition for companies in the sector.

Illegal online gambling, AFJEL further argued, also harms public health by affecting 4 million players and works to undermine France’s digital security.

Strengthening player protection by adopting high tech and regulatory standards was also highlighted by the lobbying organisation as one of its goals.

This, it argued, would be accomplished with the aim of establishing fair and balanced market conditions to boost its members’ tech-intensive companies as strategic assets for state policy.

Roos added: “I am very happy and honoured to have been elected vice president of AFJEL in order to support the action of the members to lay the foundations of a favourable framework for gaming tech companies which are very strategic for the evolution of the sector.

“As a pioneering French tech company and industry leader, Winamax will contribute its expertise and strengthen the association’s work at a time when the industry is facing major challenges such as securing the digital space for French players, in the face of the ever-increasing threat of the illegal market.

“The future of the industry and the cybersecurity of players depends on tech companies at the forefront of innovation, resilient and agile to support a virtuous and responsible French ecosystem.”