In an encouraging development for the French gambling market, gross gaming revenue (GGR) rose by 3.5% year-on-year, reaching €5.7 billion in the first half of 2025. This growth was primarily fueled by the robust performance of the online sports betting sector.
The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), the national regulator, reported that revenue surpassed the €5.5 billion recorded during the same period last year. It is important to note that these figures exclude land-based casinos and gaming clubs, for which separate results were published.
France’s gambling revenue has consistently grown over the past few years, particularly in the online sector. The online gambling market alone saw a 6% increase, bringing in €1.4 billion in revenue. However, the ANJ cautioned that these figures conceal certain underlying market trends that merit attention.
A standout performer in this period was the online sports betting segment, which experienced a remarkable 10% surge in revenue, totaling €961 million. This was accompanied by a significant 15% increase in stakes, which reached €6 billion. Additionally, the number of unique player accounts rose by 10%, illustrating the expanding player base in the online sports betting space.
The ANJ highlighted that this growth was achieved despite the absence of any major global sporting events during the first half of 2025. This was in contrast to 2024, when the early stages of the Euro 2024 football tournament buoyed betting activity. Football continues to dominate as the most popular sport for bettors, capturing 52% of all online stakes. Following football, tennis attracted 26% of bets, basketball secured 9%, and rugby accounted for 2%. The remaining 11% of wagers were distributed among various other sports.
Conversely, other areas of online gambling did not share the same level of growth. Internet poker revenue saw a 4% decline to €246 million. Cash game poker revenue dropped significantly by 15% to €47 million, although other poker formats remained stable. The overall decline in poker revenue persisted despite a 10% increase in unique players, a trend that ANJ attributed to effective cross-selling strategies.
In the realm of online horse racing betting, revenue remained flat at €174 million. The stakes in this segment rose by a modest 1% to €795 million, a slower rate compared to the growth observed in the first halves of the previous two years. Additionally, there was a 3% decrease in the number of unique online horse racing bettors.
La Française des Jeux (FDJ) also reported strong figures, following its acquisition of Kindred Group in October of the previous year. FDJ’s revenue surged by 19% in the first half of 2025, reaching €4.4 billion. Sports betting continued to be the cornerstone of its revenue, contributing €3.5 billion, an increase of 4% from the previous year. The acquisition of Kindred played a crucial role in boosting online betting and gaming revenue by a staggering 458%, reaching €703 million. However, international lottery revenue experienced a 9% decline, settling at €168 million.
Meanwhile, Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU), which also reported its figures separately, faced some challenges. Its revenue in the first half of 2025 stood at €830 million, a decrease of 2.6% compared to the same period in 2024. Stakes fell by 4.2% to €3.2 billion. The first quarter was particularly challenging for PMU, with a 4% drop in revenue and a 5.5% decrease in stakes. However, the second quarter showed some stabilization, although revenue was still down by 1.3% and stakes by 3%.
Despite these challenges in segments such as internet poker and horse racing, the overall increase in GGR highlights the resilience and adaptability of the French gambling market. The continued expansion of online sports betting signals a shift in consumer preferences, reflecting broader global trends towards digital and online gaming experiences.
Still, some industry observers question whether reliance on online sports betting is sustainable in the long term. Concerns about market saturation and regulatory pressures loom on the horizon. As one might consider, while the current growth trajectory is impressive, maintaining it will require innovation and strategic foresight.
As France’s gambling industry navigates these dynamics, the focus will likely remain on capitalizing on digital opportunities while addressing areas of concern to ensure balanced, sustained growth in the future.