SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
French online betting and gaming regulator Autorité de Régulation des Jeux En Ligne (ARJEL), published its Q3 2014 industry performance report. The regulator reported that gross gaming revenues from sports betting had increased 94% to €60 million (2013 Q3 – €31 million).
The online regulator said that the industry’s positive sports betting performance had been primarily driven by high betting activity generated during this summer’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil. ARJEL reported that French licensed bookmakers had taken €47 million in betting wagers during the event.
French sports betting operators recorded increased total wagering of €245 million (up 34% on Q3 2014 – €182 million). ARJEL gave further insight into French betting consumer habits, reporting that football betting accounted for 63% of bets wagered, tennis betting was the second most popular sports betting market contributing to 24% of all online sports betting wagers.
The positive results displayed by sports betting sector, did not transfer to other product verticals as the French online poker market declined for a third consecutive quarter, witnessing a 2% decrease in gaming revenues to €57 million.
ARJEL further reported that French horse racing revenues had remained stable, even though the French horse racing had seen a decline of 7% in wagering to €238 million during the period.
