Sports Betting
Gambling Market Review for the First Half of 2024: Market Growth Mainly Driven by the Performance of FDJ and Online Sports Betting Operators
Activity of monopoly operators (FDJ and PMU): growth dynamics for FDJ and declining activity for PMU
The activities of La Française Des Jeux (FDJ) and PMU represent 78.5% of the total market gross profit.
The gross profit of FDJ activities reaches €3.5 billion in the first half of 2024, up 5.5% compared to the first half of 2023.
These good performances are mainly due to sports betting activities in points of sale and in competition, the GGR of which increased by 14% to reach €611 million over this period.
The lottery activity (composed of draw and scratch games) saw its gross sales increase to a level 4 times higher than last year (4% in 2024, or €2.9 billion, compared to 1% in 2023).
More specifically, the draw (+2.1% in turnover) benefited from attractive jackpot amounts for Euromilions players and the continued installation of the new EuroDreams game. For their part, scratch games continued their growth (+6.7% in turnover), driven in particular by the launches of Ticket d’or and Maxi Black Jack.
For the first time since the end of Covid, PMU activity in the first half of 2024 is down compared to the same period in 2023. Both the stakes and the PBJ are down (respectively -2% and -2.3%), bringing them back to levels below 2022. The first quarter of 2024 weighed heavily on these results, with a drop of around 4% in stakes and the PBJ.
Activity of licensed online gaming operators: a semester with strong growth with disparities depending on the gaming segments
The first half of 2024 is marked by an increase in the GGR of the online market of 11% (i.e. €1.3 billion in GGR). This amount exceeds the previous historical high point recorded in the first half of 2021 (€1.2 billion). However, this increase masks disparities between the different segments with sports betting achieving a record first half (+16% GGR compared to H1 2023) , poker having experienced more moderate growth in its GGR (+2%) and horse racing betting showing a slight decline (-2%).
The gross profit for this semester is composed of 67% gross profit from sports betting , 20% gross profit from online poker and 13% gross profit from horse racing betting .
The total number of APAs increased by 13% over the period to reach 4.3M. This increase is mainly observed in sports betting (+16%, or 3.6M APAs) and, to a lesser extent, in poker, which saw its number of active player accounts (APAs) increase over the last months of the half-year (+11%, or nearly 1.5M APAs).
SPORTS BETTING: a very profitable half-year due to the Euro football championship and the good performances of French clubs
At the end of the first half of 2024, the level of bets recorded a growth of 24%, or €5.2 billion. Football accounts for 53% of bets. At the same time, the GGR increased by 16% to reach €871 million.
This development marks a very profitable half-year for sports betting, due to the Euro football championship but also the excellent performances of French clubs in major football competitions (PSG in the semi-finals of the Champions League, Olympique de Marseille in the semi-finals of the Europa League).
This sharp increase in the GGR is accompanied by that of the CJA (+16% between the first halves of 2023 and 2024) and exceeds, in absolute amount, the record of the first half of 2021. A peak in recruitment is observed in June (+63%) and is explained by the marketing campaigns and acquisition strategies of the operators during the period of the Euro Football.
Overall, whatever the ratio chosen, the intensity of play seems to be increasing (+13% for the average bet placed, +7% for the average stake per CJA).
HORSE RACING BETTING: an increase in stakes and an expansion of the pool of players
After a moderate increase in its level of activity in 2023, the online horse racing betting segment is this time recording a more significant increase in its stakes, of around 6%, for a total of €787 million at the end of the first half of 2024 .
Unlike stakes, the GGR will decline by 2% between the first half of 2023 and that of 2024. However, it remains in the same order of magnitude as at the end of the Covid crisis, i.e. around €170 million.
The number of CJA increases by 3% between the first half of 2023 and 2024 (i.e. nearly 500k CJA), reaching a new record for the horse racing betting segment. This increase echoes in particular that of the number of bets: +3% compared to the first half of 2023, to reach 254M bets.
ONLINE POKER: a growing segment, with a slower pace than in 2023
Online poker gross sales reached €257 million, 2% more than in the first half of the previous year.
Despite the relative slowdown in its growth, online poker has a solid unique player base of 1.2 million players, up more than 10% for the second year in a row.
This consolidation of the player pool may originate, to a certain extent, from the cross-selling strategies carried out between this segment and that of sports betting. Indeed, the number of CJA increased significantly in June, with an increase of 31.1%, compared to June 2023. This strong increase in CJA, with a GGR that increases moderately, suggests the recruitment of occasional players or those who are discovering the poker offer.
The post Gambling Market Review for the First Half of 2024: Market Growth Mainly Driven by the Performance of FDJ and Online Sports Betting Operators appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The company opens a new chapter
DATA.BET, the sportsbook solution supplier, strengthened its portfolio capabilities by adding sports betting.
The new sportsbook covers over 50,000 sporting events per month, featuring over 63 pre-match and 38 live sports, along with 1000+ available markets. From the most popular leagues to niche categories, the company delivers comprehensive sports coverage backed by trusted official data providers. DATA.BET’s 24/7 in-house trading team ensures over 93% market uptime, dynamic odds adjustments, and automated settlements.
Combined with Player Props, operators can deliver a broader, player-centric betting experience. Cashout functionality is also available, allowing players to settle bets early on single and multiple bets. User engagement is further increased through integrated Video Streaming of events for football, American football, tennis, and basketball as well as interactive Widgets across key sports — keeping users engaged within the platform and eliminating the need to seek information elsewhere. This seamless access to match insights, player data, and betting markets enhances the overall experience and supports higher retention, deeper engagement, and increased betting volumes.
Today, DATA.BET’s portfolio includes esports, sports, and virtual sports, providing a complete solution for betting operators. Integration is available via an upgraded SPA or through a direct Odds Feed. Depending on operator needs and market focus, each vertical can be connected individually or as a combined solution.
“With the expansion of our sports betting solution, we are entering a new phase in supporting our partners,” commented Otto Bonning, Head of Sales at DATA.BET. “This update equips operators with a complete betting solution, while ensuring continued access to DATA.BET’s trusted tools for flexibility, control, and fast content delivery.”
The post DATA.BET Rolls out Full-Service Sportsbook Solution appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Playtech PLC has struck an agreement to exit its Happybet online gambling and retail betting unit in Germany.
The gambling software company had closed the Austrian Happybet business in the second half of 2024 and in March of this year, said it kicked off a process to sell the remainder of the unit in Germany.
The move was in line with its aim to sharpen its focus as a “predominantly pure-play business-to-business operator”.
It has now struck a deal with NetX Betting Ltd, a subsidiary of Frankfurt-listed betting group pferdewetten.de AG.
Dusseldorf-based pferdewetten.de will have the chance to contact franchise partners of Happybet shops in Germany.
“As part of this agreement, pferdewetten.de will also assume ownership of certain associated hardware,” Playtech said.
“There will now be a transition period to allow pferdewetten.de to negotiate with the relevant franchise partners and for the relevant regulatory approvals to be sought from the competent authorities in Germany. It is intended that any remaining Happybet assets not transferred to, or assumed by, pferdewetten.de will cease operations and, where relevant, will be wound up.”
Playtech shares fell 0.8% to 319.85 pence each in London on Wednesday morning.
At the end of last month, Playtech completed the sale of Snaitech Spa to Flutter Entertainment PLC for EUR2.30 billion.
The Isle of Man-based firm said the completion of the deal allowed it to focus on its technology-led offering in high-growth business-to-business gambling markets.
The post Playtech Agrees Deal to Exit Happybet German Betting Operating appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Bet Builder bets are taking the global football betting world by storm, with Entain’s Global Sportsbook reporting record-breaking growth in 2024 and 2025. Thanks to major tournaments like EURO 2024 and Copa América, Bet Builder stakes more than doubled last year, and the momentum shows no signs of slowing.
In September 2024, all Entain digital brands completed the transition to an in-house built Bet Builder product. It is being improved and developed by the product and technology teams constantly to great effect with Bet Builder share of bets doubling in the first half of 2025. This Saturday’s Champions League Final between Inter Milan and PSG is on track to become the most popular club match ever for this type of bet.
“Bet Builders have quickly become one of the most influential innovations in modern sports betting. In an otherwise low-scoring sport, customers can create bets that align with their predictions for the flow or story of a game. They offer fans customisation, interactivity, and the chance to leverage niche insights in a strategic way,” said Tom Ritzema, Group Trading Director at Entain.
Highlights:
• The Argentina vs. Brazil World Cup qualifier in March was the biggest Bet Builder event of 2025 so far.
• England vs. Spain in the EURO 2024 Final remains the largest Bet Builder match ever recorded.
• Spanish football leads globally, with around 20% of all football bets now being Bet Builders, while it is also hugely popular in the Brazilian market.
• Shots on target has surged as a top market, especially in South America, alongside match result and total goals.
The trend is especially strong among recreational bettors who prefer frequent, lower-stake bets with higher returns. In Brazil, nearly 40% of all wagers on key domestic fixtures like Corinthians vs. Palmeiras were Bet Builders, as well as Brazil’s major international fixtures.
With increasing global adoption, especially in Europe and South America, Bet Builders are reshaping how fans engage with football betting, offering unprecedented personalisation and control. The next step will be to offer the bet builder product In-Play across all Entain labels.
Top Bet Builder Markets (2025):
Spain
Brazil
Canada
Belgium
Greece
Most Popular Bet Builder Selections:
Match Result
Total Goals
Player Shots on Target
Total Corners
Both Teams to Score.
The post Bet Builders Boom: Entain Reports Record Growth in Customised Football Betting appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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