FDJ records 12.1% H1 revenue rise as lottery division shines

FDJ has posted a 12.1% year-on-year (YoY) increase in H1 revenue as the operator’s lottery division drove the business. The French firm recorded €1.2bn in revenue for the first six months of 2022, up from the €1.08bn posted in H1 2021. FDJ’s lottery division grew 17% YoY, returning €946m in revenue, with all points of sale open in 2022, compared to 10% being closed in H1 2021. Sports betting suffered a 5% slip in revenue to €232m, which FDJ noted was as a result of a decreasing player payout ratio from 77.5% to 76%. Elsewhere, FDJ posted an 18% rise in EBITDA from €261m to €308m, with a corresponding rise in EBITDA margin from 24.1% to 25.4%. Net profit also increased by 9.4% from €146m in H1 2021 to €160m in H1 2022. Points of sale increased by 10% to €8.9bn while digital stakes also grew by 9% to €1.2bn. Digital bets accounted for 12% of total bets placed with FDJ during the period. The operator also confirmed that at the end of June, the group’s cash position stood at €891m, down from the €916m by the end of December 2021. Stéphane Pallez, FDJ CEO, said that despite the financial growth of the firm, it was continuing to monitor the economic climate in the coming months. She said: “The second quarter confirmed the positive trend at the start of the year, notably for the lottery. Our business grew over the half year, both at points of sale and in digital. “Given the deterioration in the global economic environment, the group remains cautious but confident in its outlook, based on its extensive and responsible gaming model,” she added.