How does the iGaming industry in France compare to other countries?
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15 Jun 2024 •
Reading time: 2 minutes In France, the number of players participating in online casino games and sports betting is increasing in addition to participating in lotteries. It is therefore interesting to compare the evolution of this industry in France with other countries to understand its full scope.
Every year the gambling industry grows and flourishes and worldwide the number of online gambling enthusiasts increases significantly. It is estimated that there are more than 1.6 billion players worldwide, which represents approximately 26% of the world’s population. In France there are approximately 2.7 million players which is 4.2 percent of the French population.
Influence of regulations
The regulations have a major influence on the rate of people who gamble online. In France, the Française des Jeux FDJ has strict regulations on online gambling and promotes responsible gaming. The Return to Player RTP rates are strictly regulated with a maximum RTP of 85% for sports betting. These strict rules cause many gambling enthusiasts to seek other, less restrictive forms of entertainment.
Market Growth
It’s clear that the iGaming sector has grown rapidly in recent years, largely due to the accessibility of online games and the popularity of smartphones. A large part of the world’s population has access to the web and looks for fun and often profitable forms of entertainment. Online casinos offer optimal user experiences with a wide variety of games that attract many players.
The French iGaming
Although the global iGaming market is growing, growth varies by entryway factors such as cultural preferences, regulations and technology adoption. According to DFC Insights, global online gambling revenue is expected to reach USD 103.74 billion by 2028 with a growth rate of 11.34% over the next five years.
In France, the iGaming market is doing well, according to the Syndicat des éditeurs de logiciels de loisir (Offer). Between 2017 and 2021, the segment grew by an average of 22% annually. Between 2021 and 2022, this growth stabilized at 0.8% with a gross revenue of approximately 2.18 billion euros.
This revenue growth is largely attributable to sports betting, which grew by 7% in 2021 and generated a turnover of 10.7 billion euros. Football is the largest source of sports betting. Expectations point to exponential growth in turnover in online casinos and bookmakers in France.
Analysis
Analyzing the information from the French iGaming market, it is clear that this industry is well established. However, given the exponential growth of the global market, it is necessary that the French online gambling sector is further developed to remain competitive and keep pace with other countries.