The Senate Finance Committee met for a round-table discussion on the current state of gambling in France. Nicolas Béraud, Chairman of AFJEL, gave an unprecedented overview of a sector that is all too often misunderstood.
The online gaming ecosystem: a pillar of innovation
Nicolas Béraud began his speech with the observation that online gaming is a breeding ground for high value-added jobs. Around 11,200 people work in this sector in France, half of them outside the major cities. This helps to revitalise the local economy.
In terms of economic performance, the impact is major: over €3.6 billion generated throughout the country. Behind these figures are some major companies: Betclic Group, WINAMAX, PMU, veritable flagships of French tech, mastering strategic technologies for digital sovereignty and cybersecurity.
What’s more, the involvement of gaming operators in sport is exceptional: they contributed €155 million in 2024 to support amateur and professional sport and the development of women’s sport. This funding is felt in every region and appreciated by the clubs.
Another major advantage: regulation. With more than 50 pieces of legislation, the sector imposes some of the strictest protection in real time, guaranteeing transparency, fairness and control, all of which are essential for the image and confidence of users.
Despite all this, preconceived ideas persist
Against all expectations, digital gambling represents the smallest segment of the gambling market. In fact, more than 80% of the business is conducted in physical locations.
This digital lag is not insignificant. France has a penetration rate of 18.5%, well behind the European average of 39%, despite an increasingly digital society. It’s a stark contrast that begs the question of the brakes and obstacles in this sector.
A suffocating tax burden
In the face of this backwardness, the sector has to contend with an extraordinary tax burden: from 1 July 2025, the tax burden will rise to 67.4%, i.e. around 17 times the average for French companies.
The figures are striking: in 2024, €1.4 billion in taxes will be paid on €2.6 billion in revenues. The state stands to benefit greatly. Yet this tax burden could undermine an industry that is perceived as robust.
The rise of the illegal market: a danger for everyone
At the heart of the hearing was a strong message: the illegal market is exploding. Three major dangers were singled out:
- Unfair competition: without tax or regulation, these players are creating unacceptable competition, threatening legal operators already weakened by taxation.
- A danger for players: almost 4 million players would be exposed to enormous risks: fraud, addiction, cyber attacks, data theft.
- A threat to national security and public health: some illegal sites are linked to organised crime and represent a risk to cyber security and public safety.
The economic and societal stakes
Why take action? Because beyond the figures, there is a whole ecosystem of jobs, technologies and protection at stake. This sector helps to revitalise regions, support sport and fuel innovation, while guaranteeing a reliable framework for players.
But a fiscal imbalance coupled with the growth of the illegal market are threatening this virtuous model. The risk is twofold: a weakening of businesses and an increase in the dangers for users.