French Gaming Authority Assesses Challenges and Future of Horse Racing Bets
In a recent interview, Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, President of the French National Gaming Authority (ANJ), discussed the current state of horse racing bets in comparison to other forms of gambling in France. She highlighted the challenges facing the sector, potential solutions, and the ANJ’s role in regulating the industry.
A Stagnant Market
Falque-Pierrotin described horse racing bets as the “most delicate segment” of the gambling market. She pointed to stagnant or declining offerings and customer base as primary concerns. In 2024, horse racing bets generated approximately €2 billion in gross gaming revenue (PBJ), with 80% coming from physical locations and 20% from online platforms. This contrasts sharply with sports betting, where online platforms drive growth.
“The profile of the horse racing bettor is, in my opinion, directly impacted by the global economic crisis. They are generally older, male, and from a modest socioeconomic background.”
She noted a slight recovery in the number of online horse racing bettors in 2024, but emphasized its fragility. The traditional horse racing betting model now represents only 12% of the overall gaming market share, down from approximately 20% in 2020.
Economic Factors and Limited Innovation
Falque-Pierrotin attributed the decline in horse racing bets to several factors, including the economic crisis impacting the typical horse racing bettor. She described this bettor as older, male, and from a modest socioeconomic background. She also noted that this demographic is less receptive to multi-activity marketing strategies.
Innovation in horse racing betting has been limited, with new betting options failing to gain traction. While the legislature has approved new options like bets on past races and live betting, Falque-Pierrotin expressed concerns about their operational limitations and potential overlap with the state lottery’s monopoly.
Fixed Odds vs. Pari-Mutuel
The interview touched on the potential of fixed-odds betting, which is popular in the UK. Falque-Pierrotin suggested that introducing fixed-odds betting in France could attract more experienced international operators. The current pari-mutuel system protects the French market, but it only appeals to a specific clientele who may not understand the system as well as fixed odds.
Player Identification and Addiction
Falque-Pierrotin addressed the issue of anonymous gambling in physical locations, which hinders efforts to identify and assist problem gamblers. The ANJ has launched pilot programs with the FDJ and PMU to test identification methods in retail outlets. However, the PMU+’s identification program has not yet met its objectives, with only 50,000 people identified.
The ANJ also monitors betting odds for suspicious activity and has the authority to suspend bets on races if manipulation is suspected. The agency reviews operators’ promotional strategies to ensure they comply with responsible gambling guidelines.
Shared Database for Problem Gamblers
Currently, there is no shared database of problem gamblers across different operators. The ANJ is developing an algorithm to standardize the indicators used to identify problem gamblers, which will be made available to operators in the coming months.
ANJ’s Role and Future Outlook
The ANJ plays a limited role in the development of the horse racing calendar, but it ensures that races adhere to certain principles, such as avoiding online races throughout the night. The agency also scrutinizes the integrity of international races.
Falque-Pierrotin acknowledged that horse racing operators have made progress in combating addiction, but they still face challenges in attracting new customers without targeting vulnerable individuals. She highlighted the high rate of problem gambling among horse racing bettors, particularly young people.
Online Casinos: A Potential Game Changer
The interview concluded with a discussion about the potential opening of online casinos in France. Falque-Pierrotin emphasized that this would be a political decision with significant implications for the gaming market and public health. She warned that online casinos are the most addictive form of gambling and that strict restrictions would be necessary to protect vulnerable populations, especially young adults.
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