Key Points

• French sports betting grew strongly in 2025: Stakes placed with licensed online sports betting operators increased by 12% to €11.52 billion, while gross gaming revenue (GGR) rose 10.4% to €1.766 billion, according to France’s National Gambling Authority (ANJ).
• The number of active betting accounts increased: Active accounts rose by 7.9% to 5.27 million, while the number of unique players climbed by 8.6% to 3.65 million.
• Football remained the dominant betting sport: It accounted for 54.9% of total stakes, worth €6.32 billion, and contributed approximately two-thirds of the market’s gross gaming revenue.
• Tennis also recorded significant growth: Tennis betting represented 23% of total stakes, reaching €2.65 billion after a 16% year-on-year increase.
• High-risk bettors concentrated on niche competitions: ANJ analysis of betting activity found that players classified as excessive or manifestly excessive placed substantial stakes on less prominent leagues, including competitions in Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Australia.
• Live betting extended across the day: Live betting accounted for a larger proportion of stakes in secondary competitions and lower-tier leagues than in major tournaments.
• Financial incentives remained substantial: Licensed operators paid €180 million in incentives during 2025, primarily through retention bonuses.
• Player protection remains a regulatory concern: ANJ indicated that its findings could inform enhanced safety measures concerning authorised competitions and bet types.
• Operators remained close to the legal payout ceiling: The average return to player (RTP) was 84.67% in 2025, below France’s annual average limit of 85%.

France News7 (FN7) October 12, 2026 – France’s National Gambling Authority has reported a significant increase in online sports betting during 2025, with total stakes rising by 12% to €11.52 billion and gross gaming revenue reaching €1.766 billion. The regulator’s latest analysis also identifies betting patterns that raise concerns about player protection, particularly among people classified as excessive or manifestly excessive gamblers. Football and tennis remained the leading sports for betting activity, while expanded competition schedules and live betting contributed to market growth. The findings could influence future discussions about restrictions on betting markets and the measures licensed operators use to identify and protect vulnerable customers.

What Does the ANJ Report Reveal About France’s Sports Betting Market?

According to the French National Gambling Authority, known as l’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), the country’s licensed online sports betting market continued to expand in 2025 despite a sporting calendar that lacked some of the major international tournaments that had supported activity in the previous year.

In its report published on October 12, 2026, the regulator recorded €11.517 billion in betting stakes, representing a 12% increase compared with 2024. Gross gaming revenue (GGR), which measures the difference between stakes and winnings paid to customers before other operating costs, increased by 10.4% to €1.766 billion.

The figures indicate that the market maintained its growth following the expansion recorded in 2024. The latest results also suggest that betting activity was supported by changes in the availability of sporting events, rather than relying exclusively on major international tournaments.

The number of active betting accounts rose by 7.9% to 5.27 million, while the number of unique players increased by 8.6% to 3.65 million. These measures represent different aspects of participation and should not be treated as interchangeable, because one person may hold more than one account.

The average annual stake per bettor also increased. According to the figures provided in the report, the average reached €3,159, approximately 25% higher than in 2020.

Licensed operators paid €180 million in financial incentives during 2025, with retention bonuses accounting for most of the payments. These incentives formed part of the commercial environment in which operators competed for customers and encouraged existing users to continue betting.

However, the growth figures were accompanied by concerns about the concentration of betting activity among players identified by the regulator’s risk-classification system as excessive or manifestly excessive.

Why Are Niche Football Competitions Raising Player-Protection Concerns?

The ANJ’s analysis found that some less prominent football competitions attracted a particularly high proportion of stakes from players classified as excessive or manifestly excessive.

According to the regulator’s first-half 2026 data, more than 80% of stakes placed on leagues in Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Australia came from bettors in these two risk categories.

These competitions generally attract less recreational betting interest than major international tournaments or the most widely followed domestic leagues. Consequently, their betting activity may be disproportionately represented by people who place wagers frequently or display other patterns associated with excessive gambling.

The regulator was careful to distinguish this finding from a claim that the competitions themselves create a greater risk of addiction.

Instead, the results suggest that the composition of the betting audience differs between competitions. Widely followed matches attract a broader mixture of recreational and high-risk bettors, whereas some less prominent fixtures appear to draw a greater proportion of players already classified as excessive.

This distinction matters for regulatory policy. A competition attracting a high proportion of excessive bettors is not necessarily inherently more dangerous than a major tournament. Nevertheless, the pattern could help authorities identify where additional monitoring or targeted protective measures may be useful.

The ANJ also examined betting on specific outcomes within a match. These included half-time and quarter-time results, as well as individual sets and games in tennis.

Its analysis found that between 80% and 89% of stakes on these types of outcomes were placed by bettors classified as excessive or manifestly excessive, depending on the sport and category of bet. The relevant analysis covered betting activity during the second quarter of 2026.

The regulator suggested that the findings could inform future decisions about the competitions and types of bets authorised in France.

Any such changes would require consideration of the evidence and the regulatory framework. The report does not, by itself, establish that restrictions have been introduced.

How Is France Classifying Excessive and High-Risk Bettors?

The ANJ uses a classification algorithm to divide players into four categories according to their assessed level of risk.

These categories are recreational, moderate risk, excessive and manifestly excessive. They are intended to help the regulator analyse betting behaviour and identify patterns that may require closer attention.

The classification provides a framework for comparing activity across different sports, competitions and betting products. It also allows the authority to examine whether certain forms of betting are disproportionately associated with people whose behaviour has been identified as potentially harmful.

The latest findings should not be interpreted as meaning that every player in the excessive categories has a gambling disorder. The classifications describe assessed risk levels within the regulator’s monitoring framework, rather than providing a medical diagnosis for each individual.

Nevertheless, the wider scale of gambling-related harm remains a concern for French authorities.

According to figures from the French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction cited in earlier reporting by iGaming Business, approximately 1.17 million people in France displayed problematic gambling behaviour in 2024. Around 360,000 were classified as excessive gamblers.

Those estimates provide context for the ANJ’s latest analysis. They indicate that gambling-related harm extends beyond a small group of isolated cases, although the national estimates and the regulator’s betting-pattern analysis measure different things.

The ANJ has previously called for further efforts to reduce problem gambling and improve the effectiveness of prevention measures. Its April 2026 review of licensed operators’ prevention plans also highlighted the need for stronger identification of vulnerable players and more measurable outcomes from intervention programmes.

The new findings add another dimension to that work by identifying particular betting markets in which excessive players account for a large share of activity.

Which Sports Generated the Most Betting Revenue in 2025?

Football remained the leading sport in France’s licensed online betting market, accounting for 54.9% of all stakes.

The sport generated approximately €6.32 billion in wagers during 2025. According to the ANJ, football contributed nearly half of the overall increase in betting stakes and approximately two-thirds of total gross gaming revenue.

Tennis was the second-largest sport by betting volume, accounting for 23% of total stakes, or approximately €2.65 billion.

Tennis betting activity increased by 16% year on year, despite the absence of a single standout event that could independently explain the increase.

The results show that market growth was concentrated in two major sports, although the factors behind their performance differed.

Football benefited from an expanded schedule of available matches, while tennis recorded substantial growth across its betting activity without a comparable single-event explanation being identified in the report.

The comparison also illustrates why headline market figures need to be examined alongside the underlying sporting calendar. The number of available fixtures, the timing of matches and the range of betting markets can all affect the volume of wagers placed.

How Did the UEFA Champions League Format Change Affect Betting?

The revised UEFA Champions League format was an important contributor to football betting growth.

The competition’s schedule expanded from 137 matches to 189, an increase of approximately 38%. Stakes placed on the Champions League rose by 48.6%, according to the ANJ’s analysis.

The regulator estimated that around 75% of the increase in betting stakes on the competition resulted from the additional matches, rather than an increase in the average amount wagered per game.

This distinction is important when assessing the commercial impact of changes to sporting competitions. A larger schedule creates more opportunities for betting, but a rise in total stakes does not necessarily mean that individual customers are wagering more on each fixture.

The expanded competition also increased the number of occasions on which operators could offer pre-match and in-play betting markets.

The inaugural edition of the revamped FIFA Club World Cup generated further activity. Average stakes reached approximately €3.9 million per match, approaching the Champions League average of €4.4 million.

These figures indicate that a competition’s commercial significance can depend on the number of fixtures and the interest it attracts, rather than its established position in the sporting calendar alone.

The ANJ’s analysis nevertheless suggests that the additional betting opportunities associated with larger schedules need to be considered alongside player-protection concerns.

Why Did Football Betting Continue to Grow Without a Major Tournament in 2025?

The 2025 market expanded despite the absence of a European Championship comparable with the tournament held in 2024.

Football stakes increased by 10.2% in the reported comparison. However, the ANJ cautioned that this figure does not fully capture the sport’s underlying momentum because the previous year included the European Championship, which generated approximately €438 million in bets.

The regulator estimated that, after adjusting for the effect of the Euros, football stakes growth in 2025 could be between 10% and 19%, depending on how bets associated with the tournament would otherwise have been distributed.

This adjustment is an estimate rather than a directly observed alternative result. It attempts to account for the unusual influence of a major tournament on the comparison between two years.

The wider conclusion is that football betting remained strong even without the same international tournament calendar.

Changes to club competitions, the number of available fixtures and the continuing popularity of football all contributed to the market’s performance.

The findings also suggest that operators can generate substantial activity through regular competitions, rather than depending exclusively on a small number of major sporting events.

For regulators, that development creates a continuing challenge: player protection must account for routine betting opportunities as well as the temporary surges associated with major tournaments.

How Does Live Betting Extend Across the Day?

The ANJ identified a marked difference between major competitions and less prominent leagues in the proportion of stakes placed while matches were in progress.

Live betting represented approximately 26% of stakes on the UEFA Champions League and between 30% and 35% on major domestic leagues.

The share was higher for secondary competitions, where it reached around 48%. In European second-tier divisions and unlisted leagues, the proportion increased to approximately 50%–58%.

These figures show that in-play betting is particularly prominent in markets that attract less attention from the general betting public.

The regulator linked the pattern partly to the global distribution of football fixtures. South American leagues provide matches during nighttime hours in France, while games in Asia and Oceania can occupy the morning.

This scheduling creates opportunities for betting at almost any time of day.

For operators, the availability of international fixtures allows their platforms to maintain a broad range of live markets beyond the hours associated with Europe’s major leagues.

For player protection, however, the same availability may make it more difficult for some customers to disengage from betting. A person can move from one match to another across different time zones without waiting for a major tournament or a particular domestic competition to resume.

The report’s figures establish the scale of live betting in different competitions, but they do not prove that all live betting causes harm or that a particular time of day is inherently more dangerous.

The regulatory question is whether the combination of continuous availability, frequent betting opportunities and the concentration of activity among excessive players justifies more targeted safeguards.

What Role Do Financial Incentives Play in the Betting Market?

Licensed sports betting operators paid €180 million in financial incentives during 2025, with retention bonuses accounting for most of the total.

Such incentives are part of the commercial competition for customers. They can encourage existing users to remain active, depending on the conditions attached to the offers.

However, the ANJ’s figures do not establish that every incentive led to additional gambling or that the full amount can be directly linked to excessive betting.

The data nevertheless provide an important measure of the resources operators devote to customer retention in a market that is expanding in both participation and revenue.

When considered alongside the increase in active accounts and average annual stakes, the incentive total helps illustrate the competitive environment in which operators are trying to attract and retain bettors.

The player-protection implications depend on how these offers are designed, promoted and used. Incentives may warrant additional scrutiny where they encourage people who have displayed risky behaviour to continue betting.

The ANJ’s wider prevention agenda has emphasised the need for operators to identify excessive gambling and strengthen measures intended to limit harm. Its latest analysis could contribute to discussions about how commercial practices interact with those responsibilities.

What Does the Return-to-Player Figure Reveal About French Regulation?

French regulations cap the annual average return to player (RTP) for online sports betting at 85% per operator.

RTP describes the proportion of stakes returned to customers as winnings over the relevant measurement period. It should not be interpreted as a guarantee that an individual bettor will receive a particular amount back.

The ANJ reported that the market’s average RTP stood at 84.67% in 2025, below the 85% annual limit.

Monthly results varied considerably. The report highlighted September, when favourable sporting outcomes pushed the monthly payout rate to 94.5%.

The monthly figure exceeded the annual threshold, but the relevant regulatory measure is based on an annual average for each operator, not on every individual month considered in isolation.

The reported RTP subsequently fell to 82.3% in October and 74.2% in November. Those lower rates brought the cumulative figure back below the annual ceiling, according to the ANJ’s account.

The report presents this sequence as an example of how operators’ payout rates can vary with sporting outcomes and how the annual measure is monitored.

However, the overall market average should not be used to establish whether every individual operator complied with the limit. The ANJ’s reporting distinguishes the market-wide figures from the separate assessment of individual operators.

The RTP measure is also different from a player’s personal return. Individual results depend on the bets placed, the odds offered and the outcomes of the relevant sporting events.

For regulators, the annual ceiling is one element of the wider framework governing licensed betting. It does not replace the need to monitor potentially excessive gambling, promotional practices or the availability of betting markets.

How Could the 2026 FIFA World Cup Affect Betting Activity?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup was expected to provide a further test of demand for sports betting in France.

A Toluna-Harris Interactive survey of 1,071 French adults, conducted between 19 and 21 May 2026, found that 41% of people intending to follow the tournament also intended to place real-money bets on match outcomes.

The survey covered betting through mobile applications, websites and physical outlets. Its findings were reported by Kathryn Evans of iGaming Business on June 4, 2026, in an article examining the ANJ’s response to anticipated betting activity during the tournament.

The survey also found that 57% of respondents intended to follow the competition. Among those planning to watch, 51% anticipated placing friendly bets with family or friends that did not involve an exchange of money.

The intention to place a real-money wager is not the same as a completed bet. Actual activity can vary according to sporting results, household budgets and other circumstances.

Nevertheless, the findings suggested that the tournament could create additional betting opportunities and increase the importance of public awareness about gambling-related risks.

The ANJ responded to the anticipated increase with a prevention campaign focused on recognising signs of excessive gambling. As reported by Evans, the regulator sought to make the risks more visible and direct people towards resources that could help them assess their betting behaviour.

The World Cup therefore represents both a commercial opportunity for licensed operators and a period in which regulators may need to pay particular attention to vulnerable customers.

What Do the Findings Mean for Player Protection in France?

The central regulatory issue is not simply the amount of money wagered, but the relationship between market growth and gambling-related harm.

The ANJ’s report identifies several patterns that may be relevant to future prevention measures: high-risk players’ concentration on niche competitions, their substantial participation in certain in-play markets and the availability of matches across different time zones.

Taken together, these findings provide the regulator with more detailed information about where and how betting activity takes place.

The findings do not automatically establish that particular competitions should be banned or that every type of in-play betting requires restrictions. Any policy response would need to consider the evidence, the potential effectiveness of safeguards and the practical consequences for licensed operators and customers.

Possible areas for further examination include whether particular markets should face additional controls, how operators identify customers displaying excessive behaviour and whether existing intervention measures are effective.

The report also highlights the importance of distinguishing between recreational customers and people whose betting patterns place them in higher-risk categories.

That distinction could support more targeted prevention rather than treating every customer or sporting competition in the same way.

For licensed operators, the findings reinforce the importance of monitoring betting behaviour and maintaining effective safeguards. For the regulator, they provide evidence that can inform decisions about the relationship between the authorised betting offer and the protection of customers.

Background: How Has France’s Gambling Regulation Developed?

France regulates licensed gambling through the Autorité Nationale des Jeux, which oversees relevant gambling activities and works to protect customers from gambling-related harm.

The authority’s responsibilities include monitoring licensed operators, assessing prevention measures and examining developments in the market.

Problem gambling has remained a significant policy concern as online betting has become an established part of the gambling sector. Online platforms allow customers to access betting markets remotely, while live betting creates opportunities to wager on events as they unfold.

In April 2026, iGaming Business reported on the ANJ’s review of prevention plans submitted by licensed operators. The article, written by Kathryn Evans, said that the regulator had recognised progress in preventing excessive gambling and underage play while continuing to call for further efforts to meet its 2027 harm-reduction objectives.

The ANJ’s subsequent sports betting analysis provides a more specific examination of how betting stakes are distributed across competitions and types of wagers.

It also follows the regulator’s wider work on the risks associated with increased betting interest around major sporting events. The authority’s public awareness campaign ahead of the 2026 World Cup was one example of that approach.