Compliance Updates
French GGR Reaches €14 Billion in 2024
France’s gambling market reached a gross gaming revenue (GGR) of €14 billion in 2024, a 4.7% increase from 2023.
This growth applies to most segments of the market, particularly lotteries and online sports betting, where sales have risen by 19%, driven by the exceptional sporting calendar with the Euro football championships and the Paris Olympics.
The online market enjoyed a record year, with GGR of €2.6 billion, up 12% from 2023. Spearheading this growth, online sports betting recorded a GGR of almost €1.8 billion, up 19% grom 2023. With a market share of over 12% of the total gambling market, online sports betting is the second-largest contributor to market growth, accounting for 43%. Online horse betting is up slightly by almost 1%, while poker has seen its GGR fall by 2%, after growing continuously between 2021 and 2023.
As a sign of its vitality, after two years of decline, the online gaming market has seen significant growth in the number of Active Player Accounts (APAs), with 5.7M APAs (+11% compared with 2023). This trend can be seen across all market segments (13% growth for sports betting, 11% for poker and 4% for horse betting). Similarly, the number of unique players now stands at 3.9 million (up 8% from 2023, with an average player owning 1.5 accounts). The population of sports bettors is getting younger (30% of sports bettors are between 18 and 24 years old) and is also becoming more feminised.
Of the forty or so sports open to betting in France, four in particular stand out in terms of the amounts staked: football (€5,630m stakes), tennis (€2,273m), basketball (€914m) and rugby (€186m). In 2024, these 4 sports alone account for 87.5% of online sports betting stakes. Sports such as volleyball, ice hockey, badminton, handball and cycling have also seen a significant increase in their stakes (+31% between 2023 and 2024).
With a market share of almost 50%, FDJ United is the leading contributor to market growth and is consolidating its position as leader in the French gambling market, with a gross gaming revenue exceeding €7 billion for the first time (+6% compared to 2023). This growth is being driven mainly by lotteries (€5.8bn, +5% in GGR).
GIE PMU’s business, which record €6.6bn in bets and €1.7bn in GGR in 2024, is down 2%. However, PMU’s net profit remain stable at €837m (compared with €835m in 2023), enabling it to maintain its funding for the horseracing industry. Despite a slight drop in the PMU’s market share (12% of the market’s PBJ, supplanted for the first time by online sports betting), the PMU’s pool of players is up 6% in 2024 (3.5M players), returning to the 2019 level before the health crisis.
The year 2024 mark a consolidation for casinos, with GGR up slightly by 1.2% to €2.7 billion and the number of admissions stable at 31 million. Gaming club GGR slowed to €123m.
The post French GGR Reaches €14 Billion in 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
Merkur Group Strengthens Global Compliance Strategy
Under the theme “Perspectives,” a total of 43 compliance staff members from the Merkur Group across various countries gathered from 30 June to 1 July to further develop compliance processes in a sustainable manner. Colleagues from Germany, Spain, England, Malta, Australia and the US traveled to the two-day meeting at Benkhausen Castle, the in-house training centre of the Merkur Group. The workshop set the stage with expert presentations on global and digital topics such as cybersecurity, risk management and artificial intelligence. A panel discussion featuring representatives from various international companies within the Merkur Group, as well as a digital quiz, rounded out the programme.
In keeping with its guiding principle, the workshop focused on sharing experiences, fostering global networking and providing impetus for the further development of compliance processes. Because informal exchanges are also key to close cooperation, the evening programme created a relaxed atmosphere and gave participants the opportunity to continue their conversations, make new connections, and further strengthen team spirit across company and national boundaries.
“The ideas and diverse perspectives gained during the workshop will now be incorporated into our day-to-day work and help us to continuously improve collaboration and existing processes,” said Ludwig Beckmann, Chief Compliance Officer of the Merkur Group.
The concluding feedback session also highlighted just how valuable the international exchange is. The term “collaboration” came up particularly often, a clear indication of how highly the participants value working closely together within the international compliance network.
The post Merkur Group Strengthens Global Compliance Strategy appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Anne Marie Caulfield
GRAI Launches New Campaign Helping Parents to Spot the Signs of Underage Gambling
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) is encouraging parents and guardians to be alert to the signs of gambling among young people and to intervene early to prevent gambling harm.
The signs of gambling aren’t always visible, the GRAI in partnership with the Health Service Executive Addiction Services have developed dedicated advice on www.grai.ie to equip families with the knowledge to recognise the signs, advice on how to start the conversation with their children about gambling, and where to seek help if required.
To support the guidance, the GRAI has launched a national public awareness campaign across video on demand, radio, digital audio, and social media platforms, bringing this message directly to families across Ireland.
With the lines between entertainment and gambling increasingly blurred, especially online, what may look like harmless fun can still involve risk, money and chance in ways that affect young developing brains. Research commissioned by the GRAI and conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) found that children who gamble are twice as likely to develop a gambling problem as adults.
Anne Marie Caulfield, CEO of the GRAI said: “We have launched this campaign to help parents start an important conversation about the risks of underage gambling. Children and young people are among the most at-risk members of Irish society when it comes to gambling exposure and harm. Children’s brains are still developing the judgement and impulse-control systems used to weigh up risk, which makes gambling appealing to them.
“With online gambling available at any time of the day, it is easy for the warning signs to be hidden. The guidance the GRAI developed with the HSE Addiction Services sets out some of the key behavioural signs to look out for in your child.”
The post GRAI Launches New Campaign Helping Parents to Spot the Signs of Underage Gambling appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Australia
NSW: EOI Opens for Candidates to Replace Retiring NICC Chief Commissioner and Commissioner
The NSW Government has announced the opening of an expression of interest process for Chief Commissioner and Commissioner roles on the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC).
On 20 May 2026 the Governor of NSW, on the recommendation of the Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris, re-appointed the NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford, and Commissioner Stephen Parbery for additional six-month terms to 24 November 2026.
The reappointments will ensure stability in the NICC’s leadership in coming months and an orderly transition to new commissioners.
Mr Crawford and Mr Parbery have announced they will retire from public service when their tenures expire in November.
Both were inaugural members of the NICC when it was established in September 2022 in response to the Bergin Inquiry recommendations to strengthen casino regulation and oversight in NSW.
Prior to appointment to the NICC, Mr Crawford served as Chairperson of the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA), while Mr Parbery served as an ILGA board member.
Both Mr Crawford and Mr Parbery played crucial roles in the NICC’s response to the two Bell inquiries into The Star and have contributed to strengthening oversight and accountability across the casino sector including the transition of Crown Sydney to an unrestricted licence.
The appointment process for the NICC Commissioner vacancies is being undertaken in accordance with requirements under the Casino Control Act 1992.
This includes establishment of a selection panel to prepare a list of recommended candidates for consideration by Minister Harris, as well as the appointment of a probity adviser.
The expression of interest process is open until Monday 3 August.
Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said: “I thank Philip Crawford and Stephen Parbery for their service and leadership, particularly during a critical period for casino regulation in NSW.
“As Chief Commissioner, Philip Crawford has played a key role in ensuring both casino operators meet strict regulatory requirements, following the various casino inquiries.
“His leadership has been instrumental in overseeing complex probity assessments, remediation programs and contingency planning during a period of significant regulatory reform and scrutiny.
“Stephen Parbery has also made a substantial contribution as Commissioner, bringing considerable expertise and judgement to the Commission’s work.
“Both Commissioners have helped drive important regulatory improvements that have restored public confidence in the integrity of casino regulation in NSW, and I thank them for their dedicated service.”
The post NSW: EOI Opens for Candidates to Replace Retiring NICC Chief Commissioner and Commissioner appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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