French Online Gambling Market Shrinks 5 Percent

French gambling regulation organ ARJEL revealed its fiscal stats for the last quarter ending in September 2012.

Numbers show a decline in French online poker, and a small growth in the horse race betting and as

well as in the sportsbetting market in connection with the London 2012 Olympics.

Total revenues from online gambling, including French sports betting, horse racing and poker, were

reported EUR 158 million, corresponding to a 5 percent drop year-on-year.

French online sports betting

Stakes are up 14 percent to EUR 156 million, during the third quarter. Active French net betting player accounts are up by 13 percent to 340,000.

Gross French internet sports betting revenues amounted to EUR 27 million, down 2 percent. ARJEL attributed the decline to the higher percentage of stakes return to gamblers. The

authority added that operators would have faced 14 percent loss percent in gross revenues without the wagering for the London 2012 Olympics.

French online horserace betting

Revenues are EUR 61 million, down 6 percent, attributed to high stakes return to players. Turnover was EUR 260 million, a growth of 2 percent. Active accounts are down 2.4 percent to

290,000.

French online poker

Revenues are down 5 percent in to EUR 70 million. Cash games stakes down 12 percent, however there was 20 percent increase to EUR 318 million in entry fee tournaments.

58,000 or 22 percent less online bettors in the 18-24 year demographic group drop. Mobile gambling is increasingly popular in France. 15 percent of horse race bets, 19 percent of sports

wagers and 20 percent of poker games come from mobile devices.

French online gamblers deposited EUR 239 million in Q3 2012, which is an average of Euro 72 per month, a slight decrease from 2011.