French Gambling Regulator ARJEL Struggles in 2015
Licensed online betting operators in France’s regulated market incurred an operating loss of €5 million ($5.6 million) in 2015.
Only five of the 11 sports betting operators active in the country reported any kind of operating profit, with seven of the nine online poker brands making a loss.
Losses of €7 million for the year were declared for Sportsbook and online poker, with racing generating €10 million operating as a positive as licensed companies.
By stark contrast, the country’s overall sports betting market saw a record €1.4 billion turnover in 2015, up by 30% from the previous year. ARJEL (Autorité de Régulation des Jeux En Ligne) stated this momentum carried over into the first six months of the current year, with turnover standing at €1.1 billion, 60% more than at the same point in previous year.
Football continues to top the sports betting market with a 53% share, with tennis following at 20%. However, although sports betting turnover increased, online poker was down by 4% year-on-year to €232 million, while horseracing turnover also dropped 2% to just over €1 billion, representing a smaller loss than in the previous year (7%).
