French Gambling Market Hits Record High in 2024, Fueled by Sports Events
France’s gambling market experienced an unprecedented surge in 2024, reaching a historic high, according to the annual report released by the National Gambling Authority (ANJ) this Wednesday. The surge was largely driven by a vibrant sporting calendar.
The year 2024 will be remembered as a landmark year for gambling in France. The ANJ’s report reveals that the sector’s turnover, measured by the gross gaming revenue (GGR), reached €14 billion, a 4.7% increase compared to 2023. This impressive performance was primarily fueled by the exceptional dynamism of sports betting, boosted by the Euro football championship and the Paris Olympic Games.
Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, president of the ANJ, stated in a press release that the French market is growing at a rate comparable to major European markets. She noted that while operators were particularly active in 2024 due to major sporting events, the first months of 2025 confirm this growth dynamic. However, she emphasized two priorities: the need to reorient the sector’s economic model towards less intensive gambling, less focused on at-risk players, and the mobilization of all stakeholders to change perceptions associated with gambling.
Online gambling continues to thrive, with a GGR of €2.6 billion, a 12% year-on-year increase. Online sports betting alone accounts for nearly €1.8 billion (+19%), representing 43% of the total market growth. The number of active player accounts jumped to 5.7 million (+11%), with a younger and more feminized population. 30% of bettors are between 18 and 24 years old. Poker experienced a slight decline (-2%), while horse race betting saw modest growth (+1%).
Key Factors Driving Growth
The online growth dynamic is also based on aggressive commercial strategies, with increased advertising spending and a proliferation of promotional offers. The ANJ notes that maintaining a high level of financial incentives and deploying cross-selling strategies have contributed to the intensification of gambling practices. Last year, football, tennis, basketball, and rugby alone accounted for 87.5% of online sports betting stakes.
FDJ United consolidates its position as the leader in France with a market share close to 50%. Its GGR exceeded €7 billion (+6%) for the first time, mainly thanks to the lottery (€5.8 billion). In contrast, PMU recorded a slight decline in its GGR (-2%), although its player base is up 6% in 2024 (3.5 million players), returning to its pre-health crisis level. Land-based casinos experienced a more stable year, with a GGR of €2.7 billion (+1.2%) and 31 million entries. Gaming clubs, on the other hand, showed a slowdown in their activity to €123 million in GGR.
Looking ahead to 2025, the regulator warns against the risk of intensifying practices, despite the absence of major sporting events. A new tax on operators’ advertising spending will come into effect on July 1st, while an experiment around monetizable digital objects games (JONUM) will begin in September. The ANJ calls for collective mobilization to change perceptions around gambling and steer the sector towards a more moderate practice.
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