France NOVEMBER 3, 2016
France’s regulated online gambling market saw strong sports betting gains in the third quarter of 2016 while poker cash games declined at a slightly less alarming rate.
Figures released Thursday by French gaming regulator ARJEL show the country’s licensed online sports betting operators enjoyed betting turnover of €448m in the three months ending September 30, a 50% rise over the same period last year, while online sports revenue was up 40% to €87m.
Betting got a boost from the Euro 2016 football tournament, which generated turnover of €39m, while the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro generated wagers worth €34m. Combined, the two events accounted for 16% of Q3’s overall betting stakes.
Football accounted for 58% of Q3 betting stakes, while tennis claimed a 27% share. No other sport managed to enter double-digit territory, with the next highest score of 3% shared by basketball and rugby.
The number of active sports bettors rose 45% to 239k during the quarter.