France Gambling Statistics
The gambling industry in France is highly regulated and diverse, encompassing several sectors including:
- land-based casinos,
- online gambling,
- sports betting,
- horse race wagering,
- lotteries,
- poker
Notably France is one of the very few European countries to have an explicit ban on any forms of online casino gambling.
In 2023, the total gross gaming revenue (GGR) for the French gambling market reached €13.4 billion, marking an increase of 3.5% from 2022.
Market Regulation and Operator Landscape
Gambling in France is heavily regulated in order to prevent addiction, to protect consumers, and to ensure fair play for all gamblers. The National Gaming Authority (ANJ) oversees all regulatory activities, ensuring compliance and promoting responsible gambling practices.
All statistics on this page are the latest figures published by ANJ.
Gambling Companies Operating in France
The French gambling market consists of 18 licensed online gambling operators, in addition to the FDJ and PMU, which hold exclusive rights for certain betting activities (June 2024).
| License Holder | Websites |
|---|---|
| BCFR1 | partouchesport.fr |
| BCFR2 | barrierebet.fr circusbet.fr |
| B.E.S. SAS | bwin.fr partypoker.fr |
| BETSSON FRANCE SA | betsson.fr |
| Betclic Enterprises Limited | betclic.fr |
| Feeling Publishing | feelingbet.fr |
| FP Opérateur | france-pari.fr france-pari-sportif.fr olybet.fr |
| GENYBET | genybet.fr |
| La Française des Jeux (FDJ) | parionsweb.fr parionsweb.fdj.fr enligne.parionssport.fdj.fr |
| Netbet FR SAS | netbet.fr netbetsport.fr |
| Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU) | pmu.fr |
| Reel Malta Limited | pokerstars.fr pokerstarsmobile.fr betstars.fr pokerstarssports.fr |
| SPS Betting France Limited | unibet.fr |
| VBET France | vbet.fr |
| Winamax | winamax.fr |
| Zeturf France Limited | zeturf.fr zebet.fr |
Exclusive Rights Holders
- La Française des Jeux (FDJ)
- Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU)
Land-Based Gambling
Casinos
- Revenue: The GGR for casinos in 2023 was €2.7 billion, an 8.1% increase from the previous year.
- Key Segment: Slot machines continue to dominate, contributing over 80% to the total casino revenue.
- Clubs de Jeux: These clubs reported a GGR of €119 million, a 10.9% rise compared to 2022.
Horse Race Wagering
In 2023, the land-based revenue for in-person horse race wagering in France, managed primarily by PMU (Pari Mutuel Urbain), reached approximately €1.7 billion. This marked a slight increase of 1% compared to the previous year, indicating a return to pre-pandemic levels of activity.
Online Gambling
Sports Betting
- Revenue: The online sports betting sector generated a GGR of €1.5 billion in 2023, with total bets amounting to €8.49 billion, up by 2.2%.
- Demographics: 64% of online sports bettors are aged between 18 and 34.
- Popular Sports: Football led with €4.443 billion in bets, followed by tennis (€1.923 billion) and basketball (€899 million).
Poker
- Revenue: The online poker market achieved a record GGR of €504 million, growing by 14.1% over the previous year.
- Customer Activity: The number of unique poker players increased significantly to 1.35 million in 2023, a 16% increase on 2022.
Horse Race Betting
- Revenue: Online horse race betting saw a GGR of €353 million in 2023, with a total of €1.513 billion wagered, reflecting a growth of 5.1%.
- Customer Activity: Unique active player accounts in online horse race betting reached approximately 484,000, reflecting a 4.5% increase from the previous year.
Lottery
Revenue: The Française des Jeux (FDJ) reported a GGR of €6.6 billion in 2023, with lottery games accounting for the majority of this revenue.
Growth: Lottery games saw a 10.2% increase in GGR from 2022, demonstrating strong market performance.
Summary of Key Figures
- Total GGR (2023): €13.4 billion
- Casino GGR: €2.7 billion
- Online Sports Betting GGR: €1.5 billion
- Online Poker GGR: €504 million
- Online Horse Race Betting GGR: €353 million
- Lottery GGR: €6.6 billion
Responsible Gambling & Problem Gambling in France
Responsible Gambling Initiatives
The ANJ (Autorité Nationale des Jeux) actively promotes responsible gambling practices to ensure player safety and well-being. The agency offers several resources and tools aimed at helping players control their gambling habits.
- Evalujeu Platform: Provides tools for players to evaluate their gambling behavior and receive personalized advice. The platform is anonymous, free, and accessible online.
- Self-Exclusion Services: Players can voluntarily request to be excluded from all gambling activities for a period ranging from 24 hours to 12 months. This measure is designed to help individuals regain control over their gambling habits.
- Awareness Campaigns: The ANJ runs campaigns to raise awareness about the risks of gambling addiction, especially during major sporting events like the Euro football championship.
Problem Gambling Statistics
Studies and surveys conducted by the ANJ reveal significant insights into the prevalence and demographics of problem gambling in France.
- Prevalence: It is estimated that around 1.4 million people in France are at risk of gambling addiction, with approximately 400,000 individuals classified as pathological gamblers.
- High-Risk Activities: Sports betting is identified as the most problematic gambling activity, with 5.9% of sports bettors exhibiting signs of excessive gambling. This rate is significantly higher compared to other forms of gambling, such as lotteries.
Support and Resources
For individuals struggling with gambling addiction, several support services are available:
- Joueurs Info Service: This service provides information, support, and counseling for gamblers and their families. It includes access to specialized treatment centers and hotlines for immediate assistance.
- CSAPA (Centers for Care, Support, and Prevention in Addictology): These centers offer comprehensive support and treatment programs tailored to individuals suffering from gambling addiction.
Gambling Spend and Demographics
The distribution of gambling spend among different demographic groups highlights key trends in the French gambling market.
- Age and Gender: The majority of sports bettors are young men, with 89% of sports bettors being male and 72% under the age of 35.
- Average Spend: On average, each active gambling account spends approximately €1,982 annually on sports betting.
- Participation Rates: Approximately 27 million French people engaged with Française des Jeux (FDJ) products in 2023, reflecting a 6% increase from the previous year.
Ciaran has been working within the Gambling Industry as a deep analyst since 2019. His deep knowledge and understanding of all the gambling regulations, and processes makes him a true asset, and an always valuable point of view for Gambling Industry News, allowing us to cover every topics from a brand new perspective.
