French Online Gambling Search Demand More Than Doubles in October
France.- 4 November 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Interest in online gambling in France increased significantly during October 2026, according to new research from Blask, an iGaming market intelligence company.
The analysis found that average daily online gambling search demand more than doubled between mid-September and early October.
However, the increase primarily benefited brands classified by Blask as offshore operators, whose share of search demand reached 83.9%, while companies licensed by the French regulator recorded considerably slower growth.
Online Gambling Interest More Than Doubles
Blask compared two 14-day periods to assess changes in French consumer interest.
The analysis covered:
- First period: 7–20 September 2026.
- Second period: 29 September–12 October 2026.
- Result: average daily online gambling search demand increased by more than 100%.
The strongest activity was recorded during the opening days of October.
Although search interest subsequently declined, the distribution of demand between different operator categories changed considerably.
Offshore Brands Capture 83.9% of Search Demand
One of the study’s principal findings was the increasing prominence of brands classified as offshore.
During the first period, these companies accounted for 67.5% of France’s Blask Index.
Between 29 September and 12 October, their share increased to 83.9%.
This represents a rise of 16.4 percentage points.
The figures indicate that most of the growth in consumer search interest was directed towards brands without French gambling licences, although some may hold authorisations in other jurisdictions.
Leon and gtBet Drive Much of the Increase
The report identified Leon and gtBet as two of the principal contributors to the surge.
According to Blask, the two brands accounted for approximately half of the overall increase between the periods analysed.
In particular:
- Leon: recorded a more than tenfold increase in its daily Blask Index.
- gtBet: first appeared in Blask’s French market dataset on 29 September.
Nevertheless, the increase extended beyond these two operators.
Even when gtBet was excluded, overall French online gambling search demand still nearly doubled.
This suggests broader growth across numerous offshore casino brands.
Licensed Operators Record 25% Growth
Companies authorised by France’s Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) also experienced an increase in search interest, although their growth was considerably smaller.
According to the report, absolute search demand for licensed operators rose by approximately 25%.
However, their activity remained below the levels recorded during August.
The difference highlights contrasting trends between operators licensed in France and brands operating outside the country’s domestic licensing framework.
Online Casino Games Remain Prohibited in France
France’s regulatory framework is central to understanding the results.
The country currently permits specific forms of online gambling under ANJ supervision:
- Sports betting.
- Horse-race betting.
- Online poker.
However, online casino games and digital slots are not authorised in the French market.
According to Blask, these restrictions contribute to French consumer interest in online casino products being directed towards platforms licensed in other jurisdictions.
The findings highlight the difference between consumer search preferences and the gambling products legally available through France’s regulated market.
Social Unrest Coincides with Search Surge
The increase in searches coincided with a period of nationwide demonstrations and public-sector unrest in France.
Protests began in late September and included school blockades.
Blask identified a temporal overlap between these developments and the rise in online gambling search interest.
However, the findings do not establish that the demonstrations caused the increase in searches.
Indeed, gambling-related search activity had already begun declining when further demonstrations took place on 17 and 24 October.
The timing should therefore be considered contextual rather than evidence of a confirmed causal relationship.
Blask Index Does Not Measure Gambling Revenue
Blask emphasised that its index measures relative online search demand using a methodology based on Share of Search.
Consequently, the reported percentages do not represent:
- Gross gaming revenue (GGR).
- Numbers of active players.
- Actual platform traffic.
- Financial market share.
The index is also distinct from raw Google Trends data.
The 83.9% offshore figure refers exclusively to the share of measured search demand, rather than the proportion of French gambling revenue generated by offshore operators.
This distinction is essential when interpreting the research.
Market Trends and Next Steps
The study identifies a substantial increase in French online gambling search interest, concentrated primarily among brands without domestic licences.
Blask also found that October represented the global peak in iGaming activity during 2025, providing context for possible seasonal influences.
The latest results offer further insight into the relationship between regulatory restrictions, brand visibility and consumer search preferences.
With search demand increasing by more than 100% and offshore brands accounting for 83.9% of the Blask Index, France is experiencing a significant gap between consumer interest and the products available within its regulated gambling market.
The findings raise further questions about the evolution of digital gambling demand and competition between licensed and offshore platforms.
Edited by: @fonta
