France Online Gambling Revenue Grows in 2018, Say the Latest Figures

The biggest driving force behind 2018 results was the FIFA World Cup.

Online gambling revenue in France recorded a 25% growth in 2018, reveal the latest data posted by the country’s regulatory body ARJEL.

The report includes both Q4 and full-year figures and points out that the market continues to record growth.

Betting Went Up

During the last three months of the previous year, sports betting revenue improved by 51% to €1.06 billion, which represents a record-breaking result since the launch of the French regulated market back in 2010. At the same time, betting revenue went up by 32% to €215 million, while the number of active bettors on a week level increased by 39%, reaching €546,000.

Betting on football went up by 54% in Q4, resulting in €663 million in revenue, followed by basketball (€162.7 million, +35%) and tennis (€111.4 million, +70%). Volleyball more than doubled its betting revenue, earning €18.8 million in the year’s final quarter.

For the entire year, betting turnover reaches €3.9 billion, 56% more than in 2017. This is also the biggest annual increase since the market was launched nine years ago. Betting revenue improved by 46% to €691 million, which is the first time it has exceeded other verticals.

The biggest driving force behind 2018 results was the FIFA World Cup, though the last quarter proves that pace of growth is not slowing down.

Other Verticals Were a Bit Behind

Unfortunately, online poker was down by 1% to €65 million in Q4, although both cash game stakes and tournament fees both went up by 5% to €1.035 billion and €577 million respectively. Also, the number of active players went up by 2% to 256,000 per week. Poker revenue was up by 5% for 2018, reaching €256 million, with cash games stakes going up by 15% and tournament fees by 11%.

Horse racing sector improved in Q4. Online betting wagers increased by 2% to €275 million, with corresponding revenue improving by 1% to €67 million. For 2018, both race betting stakes and revenue each improved (by 5% to €1.05 billion and €256 million respectively), which is the second year in a row that this vertical recorded growth.

All in all, the country’s online market revenue reached €1.205 billion in 2018, with the number of active bettor rising by 40%.

The French market could face a change in its online tax regime soon, as ARJEL believes a reasonable tax rate could help level the local market with others in the European Union.