French Gambling Sector Hits Record GGR In 2023

The French gambling sector has demonstrated resilience and growth, with gross gaming revenues reaching a new high of €13.4 billion in 2023. This represents a positive trajectory after a period of stabilization in 2022 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. ANJ highlighted that the GGR achieved in 2023 is the highest level of activity ever recorded in the sector.

Despite being slightly below the European market growth rate of 5.5%, the French operators’ 3.5% growth is on par with other major European countries such as Germany, the UK, and Spain. ANJ emphasized that this growth is evidence that demanding regulation does not hinder development in the industry.

Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, President of ANJ, stated that the growth in the sector aligns with the objective of reducing excessive gambling practices, which ANJ has prioritized in its future plans.

The majority of the overall GGR in the French gambling sector is generated by Francaise des Jeux (FDJ) and PMU. FDJ contributed €6.6 billion, while PMU generated €1.7 billion, collectively accounting for 62.7% of the total GGR.

FDJ experienced a remarkable growth of 10.4% in land-based and online sports betting, reaching €1 billion. This segment now constitutes 16.2% of FDJ’s total GGR. ANJ highlighted FDJ’s expansion into various online gaming segments, including the integration of the online horse racing tote operator ZEturf in Q3.

PMU, on the other hand, experienced a more modest growth of 1% in 2023, bringing its GGR to €1.7 billion. This growth marks a return to pre-pandemic levels for PMU. The company implemented strategic modifications to five of its products and optimized its racing calendar to stimulate further growth.

French casino operators witnessed a remarkable 8% increase in GGR, reaching a record €2.7 billion. ANJ reported that nearly 74% of the country’s 200 land-based establishments returned to higher levels than in 2019. Slot machines played a significant role, contributing more than 80% of the GGR. In the capital city of Paris, the seven gaming clubs recorded an 11% rise in GGR, reaching €119 million in 2023.

Online operators experienced a steady growth rate of 7.2%, accumulating a total GGR of €2.3 billion, which accounts for 17.5% of the overall market. The digital segment is primarily driven by sports betting, which constitutes 63.3% of online operators’ GGR. Online poker and online horse racing tote betting contribute 21.6% and 15%, respectively.

Despite online sports betting being the only segment that did not witness an increase in the number of active accounts (-3.9%), its GGR still grew by 6.4% to €1.5 billion. Furthermore, stakes increased by 2.2% to reach €8.5 billion. ANJ hypothesized that the absence of major sporting events led to a decrease in the number of unique players (-7.3%). However, the average stakes per active account increased by 6.3% to €1,982, which may lead to more intensive gambling practices.

Online horse race betting experienced a positive turnaround, with a GGR increase of almost 2% to €353 million. Stakes rose by 5% to reach €1.5 billion, and the number of activities and unique players also increased. ANJ highlighted the attraction of new players to horse racing tote betting.

Online poker demonstrated significant growth, surpassing previous records set during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its GGR increased by 14% to €504 million. ANJ emphasized that the segment has maintained an impressive average annual GGR growth rate of 16.6% from 2019 to 2023. Additionally, the number of active players increased by 7.7% to 1.9 million.

Despite the overall growth and success of the French gambling sector, ANJ has raised concerns about the potential intensification of gambling practices in the future. With major sporting events like the Euro 2024 football tournament and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games approaching, ANJ advises operators to be particularly attentive to the gambling habits of punters. ANJ aims to ensure that the intensification of playing patterns does not accelerate, especially among the 18-34 year-old age group, which accounts for nearly 30% of online players.

ANJ highlighted that the absence of major sporting events in recent times has led to a decrease in the pool of unique players. This decrease has been offset by an increase in average stakes per active account. ANJ emphasizes the need for online bookmakers to closely monitor gambling practices and prevent the acceleration of intensive playing patterns.