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Gambling Market Review for the First Half of 2024: Market Growth Mainly Driven by the Performance of FDJ and Online Sports Betting Operators
Activity of monopoly operators (FDJ and PMU): growth dynamics for FDJ and declining activity for PMU
The activities of La Française Des Jeux (FDJ) and PMU represent 78.5% of the total market gross profit.
The gross profit of FDJ activities reaches €3.5 billion in the first half of 2024, up 5.5% compared to the first half of 2023.
These good performances are mainly due to sports betting activities in points of sale and in competition, the GGR of which increased by 14% to reach €611 million over this period.
The lottery activity (composed of draw and scratch games) saw its gross sales increase to a level 4 times higher than last year (4% in 2024, or €2.9 billion, compared to 1% in 2023).
More specifically, the draw (+2.1% in turnover) benefited from attractive jackpot amounts for Euromilions players and the continued installation of the new EuroDreams game. For their part, scratch games continued their growth (+6.7% in turnover), driven in particular by the launches of Ticket d’or and Maxi Black Jack.
For the first time since the end of Covid, PMU activity in the first half of 2024 is down compared to the same period in 2023. Both the stakes and the PBJ are down (respectively -2% and -2.3%), bringing them back to levels below 2022. The first quarter of 2024 weighed heavily on these results, with a drop of around 4% in stakes and the PBJ.
Activity of licensed online gaming operators: a semester with strong growth with disparities depending on the gaming segments
The first half of 2024 is marked by an increase in the GGR of the online market of 11% (i.e. €1.3 billion in GGR). This amount exceeds the previous historical high point recorded in the first half of 2021 (€1.2 billion). However, this increase masks disparities between the different segments with sports betting achieving a record first half (+16% GGR compared to H1 2023) , poker having experienced more moderate growth in its GGR (+2%) and horse racing betting showing a slight decline (-2%).
The gross profit for this semester is composed of 67% gross profit from sports betting , 20% gross profit from online poker and 13% gross profit from horse racing betting .
The total number of APAs increased by 13% over the period to reach 4.3M. This increase is mainly observed in sports betting (+16%, or 3.6M APAs) and, to a lesser extent, in poker, which saw its number of active player accounts (APAs) increase over the last months of the half-year (+11%, or nearly 1.5M APAs).
SPORTS BETTING: a very profitable half-year due to the Euro football championship and the good performances of French clubs
At the end of the first half of 2024, the level of bets recorded a growth of 24%, or €5.2 billion. Football accounts for 53% of bets. At the same time, the GGR increased by 16% to reach €871 million.
This development marks a very profitable half-year for sports betting, due to the Euro football championship but also the excellent performances of French clubs in major football competitions (PSG in the semi-finals of the Champions League, Olympique de Marseille in the semi-finals of the Europa League).
This sharp increase in the GGR is accompanied by that of the CJA (+16% between the first halves of 2023 and 2024) and exceeds, in absolute amount, the record of the first half of 2021. A peak in recruitment is observed in June (+63%) and is explained by the marketing campaigns and acquisition strategies of the operators during the period of the Euro Football.
Overall, whatever the ratio chosen, the intensity of play seems to be increasing (+13% for the average bet placed, +7% for the average stake per CJA).
HORSE RACING BETTING: an increase in stakes and an expansion of the pool of players
After a moderate increase in its level of activity in 2023, the online horse racing betting segment is this time recording a more significant increase in its stakes, of around 6%, for a total of €787 million at the end of the first half of 2024 .
Unlike stakes, the GGR will decline by 2% between the first half of 2023 and that of 2024. However, it remains in the same order of magnitude as at the end of the Covid crisis, i.e. around €170 million.
The number of CJA increases by 3% between the first half of 2023 and 2024 (i.e. nearly 500k CJA), reaching a new record for the horse racing betting segment. This increase echoes in particular that of the number of bets: +3% compared to the first half of 2023, to reach 254M bets.
ONLINE POKER: a growing segment, with a slower pace than in 2023
Online poker gross sales reached €257 million, 2% more than in the first half of the previous year.
Despite the relative slowdown in its growth, online poker has a solid unique player base of 1.2 million players, up more than 10% for the second year in a row.
This consolidation of the player pool may originate, to a certain extent, from the cross-selling strategies carried out between this segment and that of sports betting. Indeed, the number of CJA increased significantly in June, with an increase of 31.1%, compared to June 2023. This strong increase in CJA, with a GGR that increases moderately, suggests the recruitment of occasional players or those who are discovering the poker offer.
The post Gambling Market Review for the First Half of 2024: Market Growth Mainly Driven by the Performance of FDJ and Online Sports Betting Operators appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The Indian esports landscape is transitioning from a period of rapid “spectacle” growth to a phase defined by lasting institutional structure. Following the implementation of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), 2026 is set to be the year where regulatory clarity, international competition, and domestic grassroots development converge.
The Impact of PROGA: Policy into Practice
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), signed into law in August 2025, has officially moved from policy to practice. Its primary contribution to 2026 is the explicit separation of esports from money-based gaming.
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Legitimacy: By categorizing esports as a legitimate competitive pursuit, PROGA has unlocked state-level adoption and cleared the way for schools and colleges to integrate gaming into their sports frameworks.
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Commercial Confidence: With a clear regulatory environment, brands in sectors like FMCG, automotive, and BFSI are now viewing esports as a stable, long-term youth engagement platform rather than a risky experiment.
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Athlete Pathways: PROGA facilitates the creation of standardized national registries for athletes, ensuring that competitive integrity is maintained across grassroots and professional tiers.
The Asian Games 2026: A Global Stage
The Asian Games 2026 in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, serves as the most critical milestone for the ecosystem this year.
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Medal Status: Esports will feature as a full medal event with 11 confirmed titles, including League of Legends, PUBG Mobile (Asian Games Version), and Pokémon UNITE.
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Indian Prospects: India’s best historical result (quarter-finals in League of Legends at Hangzhou) has set a high bar. For 2026, the focus has shifted toward high-performance training camps and long-term athlete mentorship to secure a podium finish.
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Multi-Sport Integration: Participation alongside traditional athletes reinforces the narrative that esports is a viable professional career, further encouraging government investment through schemes like Khelo India.
Market Evolution and Key Trends
The Indian gaming market is projected to reach approximately $5.02 billion in 2026, driven by a massive player base exceeding 500 million gamers.
| Trend | Impact in 2026 |
| Mobile Dominance | Over 95% of the market remains mobile-first, fueled by 5G expansion and affordable hardware. |
| Beyond BGMI | 2026 is seeing a push to diversify the market into fighting games, sports simulations, and PC titles to avoid “one-title dependency.” |
| Monetization Shift | Revenue is shifting from pure advertising toward battle passes, subscription models, and in-game progression. |
| Tier II & III Growth | Most new user acquisition is coming from smaller cities, demanding more vernacular and localized content. |
The post Indian Esports 2026: Strategic Growth and the Asian Games Milestone appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
ENJOY, the fast-rising iGaming content developer, has secured a significant distribution agreement with EveryMatrix. The deal will see ENJOY’s full suite of video slots and next-generation live casino game shows integrated into the SlotMatrix aggregation platform, making them available to an expansive network of tier-one global operators.
This partnership marks a critical milestone for ENJOY as it enters its primary phase of commercial expansion. By joining the SlotMatrix ecosystem—one of the industry’s largest content hubs—ENJOY gains immediate access to regulated markets worldwide and a streamlined path to brand visibility.
Bison Strike and Innovation in the Spotlight
The integration includes ENJOY’s most recent flagship launch, Bison Strike, alongside a curated library of high-performing titles. ENJOY is carving out a reputation for “indie-style” creative flair combined with technical reliability, focusing on two core verticals:
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Video Slots: High-volatility titles with immersive storytelling and meticulously crafted art.
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Live Game Shows: 24/7 interactive experiences streamed from a purpose-built studio, designed to drive player retention through next-gen engagement mechanics.
Leadership Insights on Global Scalability
The agreement follows a string of successful partnerships for ENJOY, which has already established links with platforms like SoftGamings and Gamingtec under the leadership of its new CCO.
“This partnership with EveryMatrix gives us a launchpad that, as a newcomer, we are privileged to access,” said Christos Zoulianitis, Chief Commercial Officer at ENJOY. “EveryMatrix’s reputation as a trusted aggregator and its global distribution power allow us to accelerate our growth significantly. We’re bringing fresh ideas to both the slots and live casino verticals, and EveryMatrix gives us the reach to put that innovation in front of the right operators immediately.”
Bjorn Sjoberg, CCO at SlotMatrix, added: “ENJOY has shown real ambition and creative flair with its early releases. Our mission is to connect high-quality, forward-thinking studios with operators who value fresh content, and ENJOY fits that brief perfectly.”
The post ENJOY Boosts Global Distribution with Strategic EveryMatrix Deal appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Saudi Arabia, Greece, and the Philippines have emerged as the most significant rising markets of 2025, according to a comprehensive year-end analysis from the market intelligence ecosystem Blask.
The findings are based on the proprietary Blask Index, a real-time tracking tool that monitors player attention and search volumes across 107 countries. While established markets like the United Kingdom maintained the top spots, these three jurisdictions saw the most aggressive climbs in global rankings.
2025 Market Movers: The Biggest Climbers
The global iGaming landscape experienced a shift in 2025 as emerging interest in the Middle East and regulatory overhauls in Asia-Pacific redirected player attention.
| Market | Index Rank Change | 2025 Position | Key Growth Driver |
| Saudi Arabia | +9 Places | 20th | High youth demographics & digital adoption |
| Philippines | +4 Places | 12th | New PAGCOR B2B licensing framework |
| Greece | +4 Places | 17th | Robust online growth from operators like OPAP |
Saudi Arabia: The Surprise Performer
Saudi Arabia was the year’s most improved market, breaking into the Global Top 20 for the first time. Despite strict local prohibitions, the market saw a sharp uptick in interest driven by a young, mobile-first population (over 70% under age 35) and a massive shift toward digital entertainment under the Vision 2030 initiative. The growth reflects an “underground” surge in demand typically seen in restricted but hyper-connected markets.
Philippines: Regulatory Modernization
The Philippines climbed to 12th place, fueled by the PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) decision to formalize the iGaming supply chain. The introduction of the B2B Accreditation Framework in October 2025 forced game developers, aggregators, and payment providers to undergo formal probity checks, bringing the region in line with mature jurisdictions like the UK and Ontario.
Greece: Digital Transition
Greece’s ascent to 17th place was largely attributed to the performance of its largest operator, OPAP. The company reported double-digit growth in its iGaming and sports betting divisions throughout 2025, with online GGR surging nearly 20% in the first half of the year. This success underscores the Greek market’s successful transition from a retail-heavy model to a digital-first ecosystem.
“The global iGaming landscape is shifting faster than ever,” said Max Tesla, CEO and co-founder of Blask. “Operators that can spot emerging trends early, and understand what is actually driving interest on the ground, are far better positioned to capture new growth opportunities as they appear.”
The post Saudi Arabia, Greece, and the Philippines Lead iGaming’s Rising Markets in 2025 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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