In the first half of 2023, the overall turnover of the gambling sector (excluding casinos) in France increased by 4% compared to the first half of 2022 to reach €5,3 billion. Growth is primarily driven by sports betting and online poker
Activities of monopoly operators (FDJ and PMU): excellent dynamics of sports betting for FDJ and stabilization of horse racing betting in points of sale for PMU
The activities of La Française Des Jeux (FDJ) and PMUs represent 78% of the total PBJ market.
The PBJ of FDJ assets reached €3,3 billion in 1H 2023, up 2% compared to 1H 2022.
These good performances are mainly due to sports betting activities in points of sale and in competitions, whose bets have increased from 13% to almost 2,3 billion euros in this period. Lottery betting they increased by 2% to 8,2 billion euros.
Usually the driving force behind the operator's PBJ growth, lottery businesses remain performing but at a slower pace than sports betting businesses, in-store and online, which have benefited from the momentum generated by the 2022 World Cup with the recruiting new bettors.
The launch of FDJ's poker business in the second half of 2022 also explains part of the increase in online activity.
The PBJ of the PMU reached 873 million euros in the 1st half of 2023, up 1% compared to the 1st half of 2022. After a first half of the year which allowed the PMU to return to a level close to that before the health crisis ( the points of sale are still very influenced by the crisis in the first half of 2022), horse racing betting activity in points of sale stabilizes.
Activities of authorized online gaming operators: significant return of momentum across the three gaming segments
In the first half of 2023, the online gaming sector has regained significant momentum with a PBJ up +10% compared to the first half of the previous year to almost 1,2 billion euros on a comparable sporting and equestrian calendar. However, this level remains lower than that observed in the 1st half of 2021, which included some specifics: Euro 2020 and the closure of many horse racing betting outlets due to the health crisis, leading to the referral of many horse racing betting players from physical outlets to the online channel.
This semester's PBJ is made up of 64% of the PBJ from betting athletic, from 21% of the PBJ from online poker and from 15% from horse betting.
The total number of CJAs increased 3% over the period to approximately 3,9 million. This increase can be observed in all game segments.
| In line | 1st semester 2021 | 1st semester 2022 | 1st semester 2023 | Var 22/23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOTAL | CJA number | 4 239 000 | 3 738 000 | 3 860 000 | 3% |
| PBJ (in M€) | 1 205 | 1 070 | 1 178 | 10% | |
| Sport bets | CJA number | 3 549 000 | 2 843 000 | 3 171 000 | 12% |
| Bets (in M€) | 4 329 | 3 969 | 4 182 | 5% | |
| PBJ (in M€) | 777 | 685 | 750 | 10% | |
| Horse betting | CJA number | 492 000 | 467 000 | 484 000 | 4% |
| Bets (in M€) | 881 | 727 | 734 | 2% | |
| PBJ (in M€) | 205 | 169 | 177 | 5% | |
| Poker | CJA number | 1 287 000 | 1 168 000 | 1 353 000 | 16% |
| PBJ (in M€) | 223 | 216 | 251 | 16% | |
SPORT BETS
At the end of the first half of 2023, the level of registered bets was around 4,2 billion euros, up 5%. Allo stesso tempo, il PBJ is rising at a rate of over 10% thanks to a TRJ (player return rate) more favorable to operators compared to half of the previous year. Indeed, changes in football competitions have been unfavorable to players with a Overall TRJ on this sport (which concentrates more than half of the bets in sports betting) 80%.
The increase in activity is linked to the 12% increase in the number of active player accounts (3.171.000 CJA). The holding of the World Cup in 2022 has pushed operators to maintain a high level of bonuses to retain players recruited in this event.
EQUESTRIAN BETTING
After experiencing a phase of decline in 2022 linked to the return of in-store horse bettors to their original gaming channel, the Online horse racing betting is regaining growth momentum, especially thanks to the arrival of new players in the segment with an increase of 4% for a total of 484.000 CJA.
The total amount of the investments amounts to 743 million, up 2% compared to 1H 2022. At the same time, the segment recorded a PBJ of 177 million euros, up 5%.
POKER ONLINE
Il PBJ of online poker reached 251 million euros, 16% more compared to the first half of the previous year. This increase in activity is directly related to the increase of the number of active player accounts in this segment compared to the previous year (+16% for reach 1.353.000 CJA). It is also partly tied upon entry of a new operator (FDJ) in this market.
The online poker business is increasingly weighing on the online gambling industry with a market share that has increased by almost 3% compared to the 1st half of 2022. This trend is the consequence of the development of increasingly innovative and attractive offers on this activity.
