The French online sports betting sector experienced notable expansion in 2025, as both stakes and gross gaming revenue climbed despite the absence of major international sporting events. According to l’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), much of this growth can be attributed to a broader football schedule and a distinct rise in niche betting activity, particularly among players identified as high-risk.
Market Growth Driven by Diverse Football Schedule and Emerging Bet Types
France’s regulated sports betting market saw active player accounts rise by 7.9% to 5.27 million in 2025, with unique bettors up 8.6% to 3.65 million. The average annual stake per bettor reached €3,159, marking a 25% increase since 2020. Licensed operators distributed €180 million in incentives, mainly as retention bonuses, to customers during the year.
Football continued to dominate the French betting landscape, accounting for 54.9% of all stakes (€6.32 billion) and nearly two-thirds of total gross gaming revenue. The expansion of the UEFA Champions League calendar, growing from 137 to 189 matches, significantly contributed to this trend, resulting in a 48.6% rise in stakes on the tournament. In addition, the revamped Club World Cup drew strong interest, with average stakes per match approaching Champions League levels.
High-Risk Players Concentrate on Niche Betting and Live Markets
ANJ’s latest risk assessment, which classifies bettors into four categories from recreational to manifestly excessive, reveals that players deemed excessive or manifestly excessive are increasingly placing bets on less prominent competitions and live betting markets. Over 80% of stakes from these high-risk segments in the first half of 2026 targeted leagues in Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Australia—markets that typically see limited recreational engagement.
Moreover, a significant majority (80%-89%) of bets on specific sub-match outcomes, such as first-half or quarter scores and set or game outcomes in tennis, originated from excessive players. ANJ noted that while this pattern does not inherently point to a higher risk of gambling harm within these competitions, it highlights a lack of casual player involvement and potential vulnerabilities among high-risk groups.
Live Betting Patterns and Regulatory Implications
Live betting has become increasingly popular in secondary and international leagues, with up to 58% of stakes in some competitions placed during live events. The global scheduling of football—featuring South American matches at night and Asian fixtures in the morning—has created a near-continuous window for live betting in France.
ANJ suggested these insights may inform future enhancements to player protection measures, particularly regarding which competitions and bet types are permitted in the regulated market.
Player Protection and Regulatory Adjustments
The findings come as France continues to address gambling-related harm. The French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction estimated that 1.17 million people in France displayed problematic gambling behavior in 2024, with around 360,000 classified as excessive players.
In response, ANJ is evaluating the potential for targeted interventions and stricter controls for high-risk betting segments. The regulator emphasized that understanding risk patterns is critical to developing effective player safety protocols and maintaining market integrity.
Financial Performance and Compliance with Payout Regulations
Stakes placed with licensed operators rose by 12% in 2025 to €11.52 billion, while gross gaming revenue increased by 10.4% year-on-year to €1.766 billion. The market maintained a return to player (RTP) average of 84.67%, in line with France’s regulatory cap of 85% per operator. ANJ noted that monthly RTP figures fluctuated in response to sporting outcomes, but operators adjusted their payout rates to remain compliant over the full year.
Growing Interest in Major Events and Future Outlook
Public anticipation for major tournaments like the Fifa World Cup continues to boost betting activity. According to a recent Toluna-Harris Interactive survey, 41% of French football followers intend to place real-money bets on the upcoming World Cup, indicating robust enthusiasm for future market growth.
As the French betting sector evolves, the regulator’s focus remains on balancing commercial momentum with the need for effective player protection—especially as niche betting and live markets attract a higher share of high-risk activity.
For more details, visit the official ANJ website.