French market posts 4% revenue growth

The French online gambling market recorded a 4.3% year-on-year rise in gross gaming revenue (GGR) during 2015 as strong growth in sports betting helped offset a decline in other verticals.

Total GGR for the 12 months ended 31 December 2015 hit ?756m (?574m), up from ?725m (?550.6m) across the previous year, while sports betting maintained its position as the market’s standout vertical after recording growth of 19%.

According to figures released by l’Autorit? de regulation des jeux en ligne (ARJEL), revenues from the vertical increased from ?227m (?172.4m) in 2014 to ?270m (?205m) last year following a particularly strong performance in Q4.

However, despite a 14% rise in tournament stakes, online poker continued its downward trajectory after the vertical recorded a 4% year-on-year fall in GGR, down from ?241m (?183m) to ?232m (?176.2m).

A decline in revenues from poker has occurred since 2013, with cash games the biggest contributor to last year’s fall after stakes decline 14% year-on-year.

Revenues from horse race betting decreased slightly compared to the corresponding period in 2014, down 1% year-on-year to ?254m, and was the first time stakes from racing (?73m) was below that of sports betting.

In December it was announced that Pari Mutuel Urbain had stopped the pooling of horseracing liquidity between its retail and online activities after rival firm Betclic Everest Group lodged a formal complaint against the operator.