France secures 10th place among world’s largest gambling markets
In 2024, France consolidated its position as the fourth-largest gambling market in Europe and the tenth-largest worldwide, with gross gaming revenue (GGR) reaching €14 billion—a 4.7% increase compared to 2023, according to the latest annual report from the French National Gambling Authority (ANJ). The growth was particularly driven by the online segment and the exceptional sporting calendar that included the Euro 2024 football championship and the Paris Olympic Games.
“In the wake of a particularly favourable sporting calendar with the Euro de football and the JO de Paris, the online market had a record year with a PBJ reaching €2.6 billion, up 12% compared to 2023,” the report notes.
France holds its own in the global market
On the global stage, gambling revenue reached €544 billion in 2024, a 10% increase — though notably slower than the post-pandemic boom years. The ANJ places the French market in perspective, noting that France ranks as the 10th largest gambling market globally. However, “A comparative study of the growth of the French and European gambling markets positions France in the lower range of growth observed across Europe as a whole,” .
Nevertheless, France’s online market saw a respectable growth of 12%, compared to 14.5% for the European online market overall. The report also notes: “The French results are in line with its European peers,” adding that Spain and the United Kingdom posted particularly strong performances.
Online gambling hits record €2.6 billion — driven by sport and Olympics
Online sports betting proved to be the standout performer, accounting for nearly €1.8 billion in GGR, marking a 19% year-on-year growth. The ANJ commented: “With a market share of more than 12% of the total gambling market, online sports betting is the second-largest contributor to market growth, accounting for 43% of it.”
Football, unsurprisingly, dominated the betting landscape with €5.63 billion in wagers, followed by tennis (€2.27 billion), basketball (€914 million) and rugby (€186 million). Together, these four sports represented 87.5% of all online sports betting turnover.
The regulator also pointed to the expansion of other sports, stating: “Sports such as volleyball, ice hockey, badminton, handball, and cycling also experienced significant growth in wagers, up 31% between 2023 and 2024.”
A younger, more diverse player base
The online market’s vitality extended beyond revenue figures. According to the ANJ, “After two years of decline, the online gambling market recorded significant growth in the number of active player accounts, with 5.7 million active player accounts — an increase of 11% compared to 2023.”
Importantly, the profile of players is evolving: “The population of sports bettors has become younger (30% of sports bettors are aged between 18 and 24) and also more female,” the report reveals.
FDJ United breaks €7 billion barrier
The dominant position of FDJ United, the group formed by France’s leading lottery operator, is a major driver behind the sector’s growth. “With nearly 50% market share, FDJ United is the largest contributor to market growth and consolidates its position as the market leader with a GGR exceeding €7 billion (+6% compared to 2023),” the report states.
The lottery sector alone generated €5.8 billion in GGR for FDJ United, a 5% increase.
Meanwhile, PMU, the operator of France’s horse racing betting monopoly, reported €6.6 billion in wagers and €1.7 billion in GGR. Though this marked a slight 2% decline in GGR, the player base is expanding: “The PMU’s player pool grew by 6% in 2024 (3.5 million players), returning to 2019 levels before the health crisis,” the ANJ points out.
Steady performance in 바카라s
France’s land-based 바카라 industry saw moderate but stable growth. “The year 2024 seems to mark a consolidation for 바카라s, with GGR slightly up 1.2% to €2.7 billion and stable attendance at 31 million entries,” the ANJ report outlines.
Outlook for 2025
Despite no major sporting events on the horizon, operators remain bullish, with advertising budgets set to rise by nearly 11%. The regulator is now preparing for the challenges ahead, as France celebrates five years since the ANJ’s creation.
“The orientations of the regulator taken since 2020 must translate into concrete progress for the gambling market in a context of continued market growth,” the ANJ concludes.
