2026 FIFA World Cup Drives Record Online Sports Betting in France

Online Sports Betting Reaches Historic Highs During World Cup 2026

The 2026 FIFA World Cup marked a new milestone for France's regulated online sports betting market. During the competition, bettors placed more than EUR 1.3 billion in wagers, generating EUR 157 million in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR). These figures represent more than double the results achieved during the 2022 edition, which recorded EUR 597 million in bets and EUR 70 million in GGR.

According to the ANJ, the record performance was primarily driven by the expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams and 104 matches, alongside the continued structural growth of online sports betting and the strong performance of the French national team.

More than 3.1 million unique players, operating through 3.8 million active betting accounts, placed nearly 113 million bets throughout the tournament. Around one million betting accounts were opened during the competition alone, highlighting the event's strong acquisition power for licensed operators.

France–Spain Semifinal Sets New Betting Record

Most Bet-On Match Since 2010

The July 14 semifinal between France and Spain generated EUR 63 million in online wagers, making it the highest-betting football match in France since 2010.

It surpassed the previous record established by the 2022 World Cup final between France and Argentina, which attracted EUR 51 million in bets.

The tournament's five most popular matches all exceeded EUR 30 million in stakes and now rank among the ten most bet-on football matches in the French regulated market. Besides France–Spain, the list includes France–Morocco (EUR 46 million), Spain–Argentina in the final (EUR 38 million), Paraguay–France (EUR 35 million), and France–Sweden (EUR 33 million).

Long-Term Market Growth Continues

The World Cup records also reflect the sustained expansion of France's online sports betting sector. Annual betting turnover increased from EUR 8.5 billion in 2023 to EUR 10.3 billion in 2024, before reaching EUR 11.5 billion in 2025, despite the absence of a major international football tournament that year.

The ANJ noted that the increasingly crowded football calendar, including the expanded World Cup format, continues to stimulate betting activity while also raising regulatory concerns regarding gambling intensity and consumer protection.

Players Favored More Complex Betting Markets

The tournament also revealed notable shifts in betting behavior.

Traditional "match winner" wagers represented only 28% of total stakes, significantly below the more than 45% typically observed during the regular football season. Bettors increasingly opted for more sophisticated markets such as goalscorer bets, correct score predictions, and accumulator bets.

Meanwhile, live betting accounted for 25% of total wagers, compared with approximately 40% during the rest of the football calendar, largely due to the late kick-off times of many matches.

Majority of Bettors Ended the Tournament at a Loss

Although 44% of participants placed fewer than ten bets during the World Cup, around 15,000 bettors made more than 500 wagers throughout the tournament.

Overall, approximately 471,000 players lost more than EUR 100, while only 217,000 bettors achieved winnings exceeding that amount. According to the regulator, only about one-quarter of participants completed the tournament without financial losses, despite France's successful campaign.

The ANJ confirmed that it will continue monitoring the tournament's long-term impact on excessive gambling behavior in the coming months.

Marketing Investment Increased Ahead of the Tournament

Operators Expanded Advertising Budgets

Recognizing the World Cup as one of the industry's strongest customer acquisition opportunities, licensed operators increased their promotional spending by 25% for 2026.

Nearly EUR 150 million in marketing campaigns and player incentives was allocated for the June–July period, with television remaining the primary advertising channel.

Before the tournament, the ANJ requested that operators respect the promotional budgets submitted in their annual strategies and avoid reallocating additional resources during the event in order to limit excessive advertising exposure.

According to the regulator, operators generally complied with its recommendations covering both marketing campaigns and promotional bonuses.

An additional measure saw broadcasters M6 and beIN Sports refrain from selling advertising during the tournament's new cooling breaks to gambling operators, reducing advertising intensity during live matches. Public opinion research commissioned by the ANJ found that 42% of French respondents considered the measure necessary, while 35% viewed it as effective, with even stronger support among individuals intending to place bets.

Eight licensed operators also launched responsible gambling campaigns during the tournament, reminding customers about safer gambling practices and encouraging them to remain in control of their play.

ANJ Calls for Stronger Advertising Restrictions

The French regulator expressed disappointment over the withdrawal of the proposed whistle-to-whistle advertising ban, which had initially been approved by the National Assembly before being removed during the legislative process.

However, the authority welcomed the adoption of several new measures aimed at strengthening the fight against illegal gambling operators and enhancing protections for players aged 18 to 25. The new framework provides tighter controls over responsible gambling tools offered by licensed operators and expands the ANJ's authority to limit the level of financial losses that younger adults may incur while gambling online.