SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
French lottery operator Française des Jeux (FDJ) has declared a ‘landmark year’ after publishing its first set of corporate results as a Paris Euronext Exchange enterprise.
Citing growth across ‘all lottery verticals’, FDJ recorded a 9% increase in stakes to €17.2bn (FY2018: €15.8bn).
FDJ said that it is now operating its largest point-of-sale network with a capacity of +30,000, leading to €16bn of corporate sales.
Retail growth has been supported by the strengthening of FDJ’s digital inventory which contributed sales of €3.4bn, accounting for 20% of corporate wagers.
FDJ’s strong commercial momentum would see the company post an 8% increase in group revenues to €1.9 bn (FY2018: €1.8bn), with the lottery operator declaring a corporate EBITDA of €346m (FY2018: €319m).
Attributing €70m in exceptional costs related to its November IPO, FDJ governance closes its 2019 accounts by recording a group net income of €133m.
Citing a positive trading momentum entering 2020, FDJ governance had moved to improve its year guidance – targeting a 5% increase in sales and improving its EBITDA margin by 20%.
FDJ cites that 2020 will be a year of high activity, which will see it support France’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic team and launch a new instant games portfolio, as well as prepare for UEFA Euro 2020 wagering.
Stéphane Pallez, Chairwoman and CEO of FDJ, said: “2019 will be remembered as a landmark year for La Française des Jeux with the great success of its initial public offering to numerous institutional investors, individual shareholders and Group employees. 2019 was also characterised by very strong growth in all our businesses, across all sales channels, both physical and digital, and the Group’s excellent operating and financial performances.
“These results allow us to adjust our 2020 outlook upwards and to look forward with renewed confidence to the deployment of our sustainable growth strategy, in line with our commitments to CSR and responsible gaming.”
