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ANJ: Summary of the Online gambling market for the first quarter of 2021: business continues to grow in all gambling segments
After a singular year in 2020, which ended with a 22% increase in the sector’s turnover, the first quarter of 2021 confirms the very dynamic growth of the online gambling market, with a 35% increase in turnover compared to the same period in 2020. Sports and horse racing betting once again recorded record stakes, while poker, still on the rise, began to return to normal.
In the first quarter of 2021, the turnover of the online gambling sector is up 35% and amounts to 587 million euros. The business was driven by 3.1 million players on accounts, a player base that is up 19% compared to 2020. Each segment of online gambling opened to competition have seen further strong growth in activity this quarter. These performances illustrate the acceleration of the digitalisation of gambling practices, which is a consequence of the health crisis and whose structuring character will have to be confirmed over the long term. As such, the levels of growth recorded in the first quarter of 2021, which are measured in relation to the first quarter of 2020, should be viewed with a certain amount of caution since, on the one hand, they are influenced upwards, for the two online betting segments, by the loss of business linked to the suspension of French sports betting and horse racing betting and, on the other hand, they are oriented downwards for the online poker market, due to the peak of business recorded at the same period last year.
Online sports betting: record stakes and new players
The online sports betting segment, which was the most affected by the first period of lockdown, is the one that has seen the most spectacular growth in stakes this quarter. 2.2 billion euros (+79%[1] compared to Q1 2020) were approximatively bet by the players on the competitions of the quarter, which corresponds to the highest amount of stakes recorded in a quarter. The number of sports bettors in the quarter increased by 29% to almost 2.5 million active player accounts (APA). It is very likely that the growth in activity will continue at a high rate this year due to the two major competitions, the European football championship and the Summer Olympic Games.
The FDJ reports a volume of sports betting stakes recorded on the two distribution channels equal to 1.1 billion euros in the first quarter of 2021, which corresponds to an increase of 46% compared to its results for the first quarter of 2020.
Online horse racing betting: growth continues and expands
The growth dynamic of the online horse racing betting market observed in 2020 is also continuing at a very steady pace. The horse racing stakes, which amount to 481 million euros, increased by 60% compared to the first quarter of 2020, again the highest volume of stakes recorded in a quarter. At the same time, the turnover of the six licensed horse racing betting operators reached 110 million euros, an increase of 48% compared to the first quarter of 2020. Online horse racing betting also recorded a 13% increase in players, with a total of 402,000 active player accounts (APA) over the quarter.
The horse racing betting offer at points of sale remains affected by the health restrictions which, as revealed by PMU, led to the closure of almost 40% of the points of sale for several consecutive months. As a result, the operator posted a 23% drop in stakes placed in its network of sales outlets for a total of 1.3 billion euros.
Online poker: lower growth marks the beginning of a return to normality
Online poker, which recorded the highest turnover increase in 2020, continues to grow at a sustained rate but at a lower rate than in previous quarters. Thus, the sector’s turnover grew by 23% to 120 million euros. The number of online poker players grew by 9% (991,000 active player accounts, (APA)). The results of online poker for the next quarter should however interrupt this dynamic, since they will be calculated with regard to the 2nd quarter of 2020, which had shown an exceptional level of activity due to the first lockdown.
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|
Q1 2020
|
Q1 2021
|
Variation
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
|
|
|
Actives player accounts
|
2 598 000
|
3 078 000
|
+ 19%
|
|
Gross Gambling Revenue
|
435 m€
|
587 m€
|
+ 35%
|
|
Sports betting
|
|||
|
Actives player accounts
|
1 915 000
|
2 466 000
|
+ 29%
|
|
stakes
|
1 220 m€
|
2 181 m€
|
+ 79%
|
|
Gross Gambling Revenue
|
263 m€
|
357 m€
|
+ 36%
|
|
Horse racing betting
|
|
|
|
|
Actives player accounts
|
357 000
|
402 000
|
+ 13%
|
|
stakes
|
300 m€
|
481 m€
|
+ 60%
|
|
Gross Gambling Revenue
|
74 m€
|
110 m€
|
+ 48%
|
|
Poker
|
|
|
|
|
Actives player accounts
|
906 000
|
991 000
|
+ 9%
|
|
Gross Gambling Revenue
|
98 m€
|
120 m€
|
+ 23%
|
For Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, ANJ’s Chairwoman: “The online gambling dynamics goes on and is accelerating this quarter. It calls for a certain vigilance and must be accompanied in order to guarantee the protection of players, especially in the run-up to major sport events such as the EURO football tournament or the Tokyo Olympic Games. As such, the ANJ reminded operators of the need for their commercial communications to emphasise the importance of maintaining a moderate and controlled gambling practice and for bonuses or welcome offers to be sufficiently clear, enabling players to understand the commitments they underlie. Additionally, the ANJ will pay particular attention to tipsters’ Websites which have recently strongly developed. Some of these Websites are in fact involved in misleading practices and present a real danger for players.”
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ELA Games Continues Its Expansion With of Peter Vonarshenko, Senior Business Development Manager
The appointment marks a crucial milestone in the studio’s growth
ELA Games, an innovative game development studio, announces the appointment of Peter Vonarshenko as Senior Business Development Manager.
Peter has garnered vast experience as a business development manager in the industry and has been a key growth factor in previous roles. His communication and sales skills, which have helped him develop relationships and negotiate deals with key industry players, will be a crucial asset for ELA Games going forward.
Together, ELA Games and Peter will work to solidify the studio’s position as a leading game development company and continue its growth. As Senior Business Development Manager, he will help with creating new, fruitful partnerships.
Peter Vonarshenko commented on the appointment, “It’s a pleasure to work with ELA Games after hearing about the company for a while. The studio’s vision and innovative content resonates with me, and I look forward to helping ELA Games grow into an online gaming powerhouse.”
ELA Games’ appointment of Peter highlights the studio’s proactive approach to its growth ambitions. This key leadership recruitment will drive our strategic growth and industry positioning.
The post ELA Games Continues Its Expansion With of Peter Vonarshenko, Senior Business Development Manager appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Kaizen Gaming Displays the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League Trophies in Bulgaria, Portugal and Romania
Trophy exhibitions in Romania, Portugal, and Bulgaria give fans unforgettable moments. Legendary goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon, joins the celebrations in Sofia.
Kaizen Gaming, one of the world’s biggest GameTech companies and owner of the Betano online sports betting and gaming brand, has joined forces with UEFA to bring the UEFA Europa League and Conference League trophies closer to European fans. Namely, the trophies were displayed in Romania, Portugal and for the first time in Bulgaria. The events are part of Betano’s 3-year global sponsorship of the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League from the 2024/25 to the 2026/27 season.
The exclusive presentation of the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League trophies took place at the Sofia Event Center in the Paradise Center mall on April 29th, with special guest UEFA Ambassador and legendary Italian footballer Gianluigi Buffon. Recognised as one of the best goalkeepers in football history, Buffon attracted intense media interest and was surrounded by fans during the event.
“I am truly honored to join the Betano Trophy Event as a UEFA Ambassador,” said Gianluigi Buffon. “It is a great opportunity to visit Sofia for the first time and engage with such a passionate football community. I’m excited to share this experience with Bulgarian fans and celebrate the spirit of the game together.”
Also in attendance at the event were Bulgarian football legend Krasimir Balakov and one of the favourite names of Bulgarian pop-folk – Galena.
Ιn January, the trophies were displayed to football fans in Romania in an unforgettable event at Park Lake Shopping Center, in Bucharest. The event drew big crowds of enthusiastic football fans who got to see the trophies in person while also enjoying a meet and greet with players from Fotbal Club FCSB, Romania’s current league champions, sponsored by Betano.
The trophies were also displayed in Porto, Portugal, where over 1,700 fans got up close with them. In addition to seeing the trophies in person, fans were also welcomed by former FC Porto captain and 2011 UEFA Europa League winner, Helton. During the event, the renowned goalkeeper reminisced about the all-Portuguese Europa League final in Dublin in 2011 and the fantastic moment of lifting the trophy in front of FC Porto’s fans.
Betano will look to host further UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League events in new locations during the next season.
The post Kaizen Gaming Displays the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League Trophies in Bulgaria, Portugal and Romania appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
FBMDS proudly unveils its latest online slot game, Sea of Fortune, a thrilling addition to its acclaimed Sublime Series. Set to chart new waters in the online casino landscape, Sea of Fortune delivers an immersive, high-impact experience that promises to captivate slot fans across multiple markets.
Set against the backdrop of the seven seas, Sea of Fortune invites players aboard the ship of the fearless Captain Golden Beard. With vibrant 3×3 reels, five paylines, and seamless gameplay across Desktop, Tablet, and Mobile, this game masterfully blends simplicity with excitement — offering smooth animations, detailed graphics, and a nautical soundtrack that completes the maritime adventure.
“Sea of Fortune enhances the Sublime Series legacy by combining stunning visuals and rewarding mechanics into a compelling adventure,” said Renato Almeida, Director at FBM. “It’s not just about spinning reels, it’s about diving into an epic treasure hunt that keeps players coming back.”
Key Features:
• Wild Symbol substitutes all others and can deliver up to 250x the bet when filling the grid.
• Spin Bonus mode, where only one paying symbol and Wilds appear on the reels, granting three re-spins and multipliers of up to x20.
• Wild Injection feature, adding Wilds at random moments for enhanced chances of winning.
The game also features thematic elements such as parrots, rum, anchors, swords, and cannon bombs — reinforcing the game’s swashbuckling spirit. Designed to boost player engagement, loyalty, and betting volume, Sea of Fortune is tailored for operators seeking content that performs.
With its release, FBMDS continues to support its 2025 growth strategy by delivering customized, regionally adapted content with optimized math models and rewarding bonus structures. Get ready to hoist the sails and set course for treasure — Sea of Fortune is here to make waves!
The post FBMDS launches Sea of Fortune, the newest slot title in the Sublime Series appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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