French Gambling Market Sees Growth, Driven by Sports Betting

The French National Gaming Authority (ANJ), led by Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, has released its 2024 annual report on the gambling market. The report covers both regulated physical locations (PMU, FDJ, and casinos) and online platforms in France.

The Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR), which is the amount wagered minus winnings, reached €14 billion, with €2.6 billion generated online. This represents a 4.7% increase, primarily driven by sports betting and lottery games.

Key Findings of the 2024 Report

• One in two French people participate in gambling activities.
• The number of horse race bettors increased by 6% in 2024, reaching 3.5 million.
• Online horse race betting grew by 3.6% in 2024, totaling €1.56 billion.
• However, the PMU’s GGR decreased by 2.2% to €1.7 billion.
• Physical points of sale experienced a decline in activity each quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year.

“Unlike the online segment, physical points of sale are seeing their activity decline each quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year,” the ANJ report states.

PMU Performance: A Closer Look

The PMU recorded €6.6 billion in stakes and €1.7 billion in GGR in 2024, marking a 2% decrease compared to the previous year. Despite this, the PMU maintained a stable net profit of €837 million (compared to €835 million in 2023), allowing it to continue funding the horse racing industry.

Although the PMU’s market share slightly decreased (12% of the market’s GGR, surpassed by online sports betting for the first time), its player base grew by 6% in 2024, reaching 3.5 million players. This brings the PMU back to its pre-pandemic levels of 2019.