2025 Gambling Industry Overview: Expansion Fueled by Online Platforms, Lottery, and Casino Activity

French Gambling Market Grows by +3.0% in 2025, with Total GGR Reaching €14.1 Billion

The French gambling and betting market grew by +3.0% in 2025, reaching a total Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) of €14.1 billion. This performance places France in line with the European Top 5, comparable to the United Kingdom (+4.3%) and Italy (+1.9%). In the online segment, French market growth (+8.6%) is also consistent with other major European markets.

Strong Online Growth Driven by Sports Betting

Online GGR reached €2.617 billion (+8.5%), now accounting for 18.5% of total GGR compared to 12.8% in 2019. All three online segments—sports betting, horse racing, and poker—grew despite a less favorable sports calendar than in 2024, showing the market’s ability to expand independently of major sporting events.

Sports betting online generated €1.766 billion (+10.4%), representing two-thirds of online GGR, with stakes totaling €11.517 billion (+12.0%). Football remains the leading sport with €6.32 billion in wagers, while the revamped Champions League format (+41%) helped offset the absence of national team competitions. Tennis emerged as the second growth driver, with stakes rising to €2.65 billion.

Poker returned to strong growth (€525 million, +6.5%), while online horse racing also increased (€326 million, +2.5%). The online player base expanded to 4.2 million unique players (+7.7%) and 6.1 million active accounts (+7.1%). Multi-activity is rising, with players active across all three segments up +25%, while single-segment players declined proportionally.

FDJ United Driven by Lottery

FDJ’s exclusive rights activities (lottery and retail sports betting) continued to represent nearly half of the market (49.2% of total GGR), with €6.95 billion (+2.8%), supported by lottery growth (+3.4%). At group level, including Kindred for the first full year, FDJ United posted €8.706 billion in GGR (+0.8% on a comparable basis). While FDJ United showed positive momentum in France, its European online betting and gaming activities declined (-8%), particularly in the UK and Netherlands.

PMU Continues to Decline

PMU’s exclusive rights activities saw further contraction, with stakes down -3.3% to €6.4 billion in 2025 (after -2.6% in 2024) and GGR down -2.8% to €1.651 billion (after -2.2% in 2024). The player base, which briefly recovered to pre-pandemic levels in 2024 (3.5 million), fell -5.7% to 3.3 million in 2025.

Casinos Grow, Gaming Clubs Hit by Closures

Casinos returned to growth, with GGR reaching €2.816 billion (+3.4%) and 31.6 million entries (+2%). In contrast, Paris gaming clubs, impacted by two months of closure early in the year, recorded a sharp decline (-21% GGR, down to €97 million).

Outlook for 2026

The year 2026 will be pivotal across all segments. Online gambling now represents nearly one-fifth of total GGR, and multi-activity among players is a structural trend expected to continue. New market entrants will sustain competitive pressure. The FIFA World Cup in summer 2026, with its expanded format, will test whether major international events still deliver their traditional boost to the market.

Tax changes introduced in July 2025 have only impacted half a year; their full-year effect will be closely monitored in 2026. FDJ United faces challenges in maintaining lottery momentum, consolidating Kindred’s integration, and reviving European online betting. PMU’s declining stakes, GGR, and player base raise questions about the effectiveness of the upcoming “PMU Pact 2030” and governance renewal. The permanent legalization of Paris gaming clubs secures their activity but opens new debates on expanding game offerings. Finally, the emerging JONUM sector, under its experimental framework launched in early 2026, will be closely watched to ensure clear distinction from traditional gambling.