France: Online Gambling Revenue Rises 11% to €1.45 Billion
France.- 20 October 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com The French National Gaming Authority (ANJ) has published its first-half 2026 market report, revealing an 11% increase in online gross gaming revenue (GGR) to €1.45 billion.
Released on 15 October, the report highlights the strong performance of online sports betting, while traditional lottery and horse racing operations experienced weaker results.
France’s gambling market, excluding land-based casinos and gaming clubs, generated €5.66 billion in GGR, representing year-on-year growth of just 0.5%.
Sports Betting Drives Online Growth
Online sports betting remains the primary driver of France’s digital gambling market.
Key first-half figures include:
- €6.6 billion in sports betting stakes, up 10.6%.
- 5.85 million active player accounts across the online market, an increase of 24%.
- €290 million in online poker GGR, growing 13.4%.
- €920 million in online horse racing stakes, up 16%.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup had a significant impact on betting activity.
In June, sports betting stakes increased by 47% year-on-year, while active player accounts rose by 69%.
The ANJ also reported that customer acquisition bonuses almost quadrupled compared with June 2025.
FDJ United and PMU Report Declines
While online gambling continues expanding, traditional operators face a different market environment.
FDJ United recorded €3.43 billion in French GGR during the first half, representing a 2% decline compared with 2025.
The decrease was primarily associated with weaker lottery performance, particularly EuroMillions draws.
Meanwhile, Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU) reported a 5.8% reduction in GGR to €782 million, while betting stakes declined by 3.8%.
These results underline the contrasting performance of online and traditional gambling activities.
ANJ Highlights Excessive Gambling Risks
The report also examines player protection concerns within specific sports betting markets.
According to the ANJ, more than 80% of wagers placed on football leagues in Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Australia came from players classified as excessive or clearly excessive gamblers.
The regulator clarified that this does not necessarily indicate that these competitions are inherently more addictive. Instead, the figures partly reflect lower participation among recreational bettors.
Similarly, between 80% and 89% of certain wagers on individual periods of sporting events were placed by players in these categories during the second quarter.
The findings highlight the importance of reviewing player protection measures across authorised betting platforms.
Next Steps and Impact
Online gambling now accounts for 25.6% of France’s gambling GGR, excluding land-based casinos and gaming clubs.
The ANJ emphasises the importance of combining market growth with effective supervision and responsible gambling safeguards.
The figures reveal a changing industry, where sports betting, online poker and digital consumer behaviour continue driving expansion, while traditional operators face growing challenges.
Editó: @fonta
