The sports betting industry in France has experienced substantial growth, with a remarkable 24% increase in wagers during the first half of 2024. According to the latest data from the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), French bettors placed a staggering €5bn (£4.2bn/$5.4bn) on sports events, highlighting a thriving market despite certain challenges.
France recorded €5.2bn in bets during H1 2024, marking a 24% year-on-year increase. Gross gaming revenue (GGR) also saw a significant rise, up 16% from the same period in 2023, reaching €871m. This growth is indicative of the increasing popularity and acceptance of sports betting within the country.
Online betting continues to be a major contributor to the French sports betting market. The online sector experienced a 10% year-on-year increase in H1, contributing over €1.3bn in GGR. The number of online active player accounts (APAs) rose by 13% compared to H1 2023. June, in particular, saw a substantial boost, driven by the early stages of Euro 2024, with over 2 million APAs, up from 1.25 million in June the previous year.
Despite the overall growth, the amount wagered on the Euros fell short of the ANJ’s €1bn expectation, coming in at €650m. This shortfall was attributed to the French national team’s lackluster performance and the distraction caused by the French General Election in June. In contrast, the 2022 tournament generated €900m in total stakes.
In response to the increased interest in betting, the ANJ launched a new problem gambling prevention campaign in June to raise awareness about the risks of excessive betting during the Euros. The regulator also called for moderation in gambling marketing around the tournament, a request that operators largely respected.
With Paris hosting the current Olympic Games, the ANJ predicts up to €240m in wagers, a 100% increase from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. A recent Toluna-Harris Interactive survey revealed that 59% of French people will follow the event, with about a quarter planning to place bets. Of those, 74% cited Paris hosting the Games as a key reason for their interest. Bettors will have the opportunity to wager on over 80% of the Olympic events.
The threat of the illegal betting market remains a significant concern. France has developed a national platform to counter sports manipulation, being the first host country to do so. During Euro 2024, the French online gaming association, l’Association Française des Jeux En Ligne (AFJEL), warned that the illegal market was outpacing the legal one. In 2023, four million players bet through illegal sites compared to 3.6 million via regulated platforms. AFJEL also noted that around half of the ANJ’s €1bn prediction was wagered on Euro 2024, with stakes down by 25% compared to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
