French igaming sees “spectacular recovery”

Revenue for Q3 climbed by 17.1 per cent year-on-year after a challenging second quarter. 

France.- The gaming regulator L’Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ) has hailed a “spectacular recovery” for igaming in France as revenue from the three months ending September 30 climbed by 17.1 per cent year-on-year.

Total revenue reached €405m, which represents a 25.4 per cent increase on the second quarter, which saw sports betting revenues plunge due to the cancellation of the French Ligue 1 football and other sporting events.

The regulator said there was also a 29.3 per cent increase in active player accounts, which reached 2.7 million. 

Sports betting contributed the majority of revenue at €228m, up 6.5 per cent year-on-year. Stakes reached €1.62bn, with football responsible for €1.03bn.

The Bayern Munich versus Paris Saint-Germain Champions League final alone generated €31m, the second highest handle on a single event in France.

Poker also continued to perform well, with revenue of €90m. That’s a 36.4 per cent rise year-on-year but marks a decline of 36.6% from the peak of €142m seen in Q2 during France’s initial lockdown restrictions.

ANJ president Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin told licensees to ensure player protection is prioritised during France’s ongoing second Covid-19 lockdown.

She said: “The online gambling market’s recovery must be accompanied by greater accountability from operators.

“Unlike the first lockdown, sports and horse race betting offers are widely available and this situation can create a breeding ground for the development of excessive or risky practices for people affected by this unprecedented context.”

Earlier this week, the French horseracing body France Galop warned that it would post a loss this year if France’s Covid-19 restrictions continue into December.