France Gambling Revenue Reaches €14.1 Billion, Online Betting Sees Growth

(AsiaGameHub) –   In 2025, France experienced another year of expansion in the gambling sector, achieving a total gross gaming revenue (GGR) of €14.1 billion. Recent figures released by the ANJ indicate continued growth in online betting, robust performance in lottery activities, and a positive contribution from casinos.

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Good to Know

• The GGR for gambling in France increased by 3% in 2025, totaling €14.1 billion.
• Revenue from online gambling surged by 8.5%, reaching €2.617 billion.
• The ANJ cautioned that higher levels of participation might lead to greater gambling-related harm.

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Online Betting and Lottery Drive Growth in French Gambling Revenue

According to the ANJ, the French regulated gambling market expanded from €13.7 billion in 2024 to €14.1 billion in 2025. This 3% growth positions France comparably to other significant European markets, trailing the UK’s 4.3% but surpassing Italy’s 1.9%.

The most significant boost came from online gambling. Revenue in the competitive online sector increased by 8.5% to €2.617 billion, raising the online segment’s share of the total market to 18.5%, an increase from 16.4% in 2023. Gains were recorded across sports betting, horse racing, and poker. Additionally, the number of unique online players grew by 7.5% to 4.2 million, and active accounts increased by 7.1% to 6.1 million. There was a 25% jump in multi-activity players, indicating a trend of users engaging with multiple verticals.

Sports betting continued to be the primary driver online. Revenue saw a 10.4% climb to €1.766 billion, while stakes increased by 12% to €11.517 billion. Football and tennis were the main contributors to this growth, accounting for 49% and 30% of the rise in stakes, respectively. Active sports betting accounts totaled 5.3 million (a 7.9% rise), and unique bettors reached 3.6 million (an 8.6% increase).

Poker also delivered a strong performance, with revenue rising by 6.5% to €525 million, driven entirely by tournament play. Active poker accounts grew by 16.5% to 2.5 million, and unique players increased by 15.1% to 1.9 million. Meanwhile, horse racing betting experienced slower growth, with revenue up by 2.4% to €326 million.

In the offline sector, FDJ United reported a GGR of €6.95 billion, a 2.8% increase that secured it 49.2% of the total market. This result was largely driven by lottery products, although European online operations—particularly in the UK and the Netherlands—declined by 8%. The casino sector also saw improvement, with GGR rising 3.4% to €2.816 billion and admissions hitting 31.6 million visits. Slot machines contributed approximately 82% of the casino GGR.

ANJ Highlights Player Protection and Risks for 2026

The ANJ also highlighted potential risks. A 2024 assessment by the French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction identified approximately 1.17 million individuals in France exhibiting problematic gambling behavior, including roughly 360,000 excessive players. The ANJ stated that operators require enhanced tools to monitor risky behavior and intervene sooner.

Currently, France ranks seventh globally and third in Europe in terms of GGR, trailing Italy and the UK. The ANJ is also monitoring new products, such as those under the JONUM regime, which now encompasses monetizable digital games featuring gambling-like mechanics, including tradeable in-game items.

Looking to the future, the ANJ noted that 2026 may bring additional pressure from tax reforms, intensified competition, and the Fifa World Cup.

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

“2026 is set to be a crucial year for the entire gambling market. Whether it involves consolidating acquisitions, rapidly reversing a growing downturn, or confronting heightened competition on the eve of the Fifa World Cup, all indicators are flashing red for the regulator.

“In this tense climate, further complicated by the rise of new betting forms, it is vital to persist with the expected shift toward a less intensive gambling model and to suggest modifications to the existing regulatory framework to mitigate the perceived risks of gambling.”