French Gambling Revenue Rises to €14 Billion in 2024 Driven by Online Sports Betting

Online Sports Betting Drives Record Year

The online gambling market reached €2.6 billion in GGR, up 12% year-on-year. Sports betting alone contributed nearly €1.8 billion – an increase of 19% – and now accounts for more than 12% of France’s total gambling revenue. It was responsible for 43% of the sector’s overall growth.

In contrast, online horse betting grew marginally by around 1%, while online poker saw a 2% decline after steady gains between 2021 and 2023.

Online gambling also saw a rebound in user engagement. Active player accounts rose 11% to 5.7 million, with 3.9 million unique users – an 8% increase. Notably, 30% of online sports bettors are aged between 18 and 24, and the demographic has become more gender-diverse.

Beyond the sporting calendar, the market’s momentum was fueled by aggressive commercial strategies. Operators ramped up advertising budgets, maintained high levels of financial rewards, and expanded cross-selling efforts across verticals.

Four sports dominated betting volumes: football (€5.63 billion), tennis (€2.27 billion), basketball (€914 million), and rugby (€186 million). Combined, these represented 87.5% of total online sports betting stakes. Lesser-known sports such as volleyball, handball, cycling, and ice hockey also experienced significant growth (+31%).

FDJ United Strengthens Its Market Leadership

With nearly 50% of total market share, FDJ United remains the dominant operator in France. Its GGR surpassed €7 billion for the first time (+6%), largely thanks to the lottery segment, which alone contributed €5.8 billion (+5%).

The PMU, which operates under a monopoly for horse betting, posted €1.7 billion in GGR and €6.6 billion in total stakes, a 2% decrease from the previous year. Despite this decline, its net income remained stable at €837 million, allowing it to continue supporting the French horse racing industry.

The PMU’s share of total gambling GGR fell to 12%, surpassed for the first time by online sports betting. However, the number of PMU players rose by 6% to 3.5 million, returning to pre-pandemic levels.

Casinos reported slight growth in 2024, with GGR reaching €2.7 billion (+1.2%). Entry numbers held steady at 31 million. In contrast, the GGR for gaming clubs slowed to €123 million.

Growth Amid Regulatory Uncertainty

While the sector shows no signs of slowing down, 2025 could be a more volatile year. Operators are expected to maintain high advertising pressure, with promotional budgets already up by 11% – despite the absence of major sports events.

Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, President of the ANJ, said:

“The French market is growing at a rate comparable to the major European markets. While operators were particularly active in 2024 due to major sporting events, the first few months of 2025 confirm this growth dynamic. Against this backdrop, the regulator stresses two major challenges: the need to reorient the sector’s business model towards less intensive gambling that is less focused on high-risk players; and the need to mobilise all stakeholders to change the representations associated with gambling, which have led to it becoming commonplace in French society”

Renewed competition between leading operators may intensify marketing practices, increasing risks for vulnerable players. At the same time, changes to gambling taxation, including a new 15% levy on commercial communications for sports betting operators, may curb advertising in the second half of the year.

Additionally, France is preparing for the launch of the experimental market for games with monetizable digital objects (JONUM), as authorized by the SREN law of May 2024. The ANJ will closely monitor these activities to ensure they remain clearly separated from traditional gambling.