World Cup Boosts French Online Gaming, Masks Retail Decline
by Garry Sputnim
⏱ 4 min read 
Online Surge Masks Broader Market Deceleration
France’s regulated gambling market, excluding casinos, generated €5.66bn in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) for the first half of 2026. According to data reported by SBC News, this represented a year-over-year increase of just over 0.5%, a sharp deceleration from the 4.1% growth recorded in the same period in 2025. The 2026 FIFA World Cup provided a significant boost to online activity, but it was insufficient to offset the continued decline in traditional retail channels.
The divergence between digital and offline segments has become pronounced. While total market growth stalled, the online sector continued to expand, driven primarily by major sporting events. The French gambling regulator, ANJ, oversees this market, where the shift in consumer behavior toward digital platforms is increasingly visible in the revenue data.
World Cup Drives Online Sports and Poker Growth
Online GGR reached €1.45bn in H1 2026, an 11% increase compared to the previous year. Online sports betting was the primary driver of this growth, generating €995m in GGR, up 11.6% year-over-year. The impact of the World Cup was most evident in the volume of stakes, which surged 47% in June compared to the same month in 2025. In contrast, stakes for the January through May period grew by only 4%.
Total stakes for the reporting period amounted to €6.6bn. The online poker segment also demonstrated strong momentum, with GGR rising 13.4% to €290m. Active Player Accounts (APAs) for online poker jumped 38.5% to 2.3 million. Sports betting APAs saw a similar spike, increasing 69% year-over-year in June, though the growth rate for May was more modest at 11%.
FDJ and PMU Retail Revenues Continue to Fall
While online figures improved, the retail sector, dominated by FDJ United and Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU), experienced further contractions. FDJ, which accounts for 61% of the total French market GGR, reported a 2% year-over-year decline in GGR from its exclusive retail activities. GGR from lottery and retail sports fell to €3.43bn, with lottery draw games contributing a negative 7.6% drag to overall performance. According to FDJ, this decline was influenced by fewer and lower Euromillions jackpots.
PMU recorded a decline in GGR for the third consecutive year. Its GGR dropped 5.8% to €782m in H1 2026, an acceleration of the decline from the -2.6% recorded in H1 2025. The operator is currently undergoing a state-backed restructuring through the Pacte PMU 2030 plan. Cyrille Giraudat, who was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at the end of 2025, is overseeing these operational changes.
Financial Pressure Affects Sports Contributions
The financial pressure on PMU has direct consequences for its contributions to sport. The operator’s contributions are set to drop to €725m in 2026, down from €802m in 2025. FDJ has stated its aim is to stabilize its France-facing activities by the end of the 2026 financial year. The current data suggests a challenging path forward for the retail segment, as the market continues to rebalance toward online platforms.
Why It Matters
The deceleration in France's regulated market signals a structural shift from retail to online gambling. Operators like FDJ and PMU face sustained revenue pressure, which directly reduces their contributions to sports. For industry stakeholders, the divergence between high-growth online segments and declining retail channels highlights the increasing importance of digital strategy in a mature market.
FAQ
How did the 2026 FIFA World Cup affect French gambling revenue?
The World Cup drove a 47% year-over-year surge in stakes in June and contributed to an 11.6% increase in online sports betting GGR. However, this boost was not enough to offset broader market slowdowns, resulting in only 0.5% total market GGR growth for the first half of 2026.
What happened to FDJ's retail GGR in H1 2026?
FDJ's exclusive retail GGR declined by 2% year-over-year to €3.43bn. This was partly due to a 7.6% drag from lottery draw games, which FDJ attributed to fewer and lower Euromillions jackpots. FDJ accounts for 61% of the total French market GGR.
Why is PMU's GGR declining, and what is its restructuring plan?
PMU's GGR fell 5.8% to €782m in H1 2026, marking its third consecutive year of decline. The operator is undergoing state-backed restructuring under the Pacte PMU 2030 plan, led by CEO Cyrille Giraudat, who was appointed at the end of 2025.
How did online poker performance in France compare to other segments?
Online poker GGR increased 13.4% to €290m in H1 2026. Active Player Accounts for poker jumped 38.5% to 2.3 million, showing strong user engagement growth alongside revenue increases in the digital segment.
Garry brings over a decade of investigative journalism to Best in Slot. Having reported from more than 30 countries, he specialises in the stories that shape the gambling industry — from regulatory shifts to technological breakthroughs — and signs off every review before it is published.
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