SPORTS BETTING AND POKER DRIVE FRENCH IGAMING GROWTH IN THIRD QUARTER

France’s regulated online betting and gaming market grew by 10 per cent compared to a year ago as total gross gaming revenue (GGR) reached €444m during the third quarter of 2021.

Following record quarterly performances in the first two quarters of this year, French gambling regulator l’Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ) said that the third quarter marked a return to form after Covid disruptions last year, with GGR climbing 28 per cent and active player numbers rising 31 per cent to 2,774,000 compared to Q3 2019.

The country’s fifteen licensed online operators grew sports betting GGR during the period, despite a 2 per cent fall in turnover to €1.60bn in Q3.

Buoyed by a 2 per cent increase in active sports bettors to 2,238,000, GGR from sports betting increased by 16 per cent versus a year ago to €264m, lower than the previous two quarters but 23 per cent higher than Q3 2019.

Online horse race betting stakes fell by 9 per cent compared to a year ago to €332m, as active players fell by 3 per cent to 335,000, with GGR from France’s six licensed horse race betting operators down 7 per cent at €81m.

Online poker GGR increased by 10 per cent versus a year ago to €99m, despite a 7 per cent drop in active poker players to 823,000. Compared to Q3 2019, poker GGR climbed by more than 50 per cent.