In 2025, online sports betting in France experienced significant growth, with marked increases in stakes and gross gaming revenue (GGR), despite a sporting calendar that the French gambling regulator, l'Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), described as lacking major events. The growth was largely fueled by a broader football schedule alongside increased interest in niche games, according to a report released by ANJ on Monday.
The licensed betting market expanded in 2025, with active accounts rising 7.9% to 5.27 million and unique players up 8.6% to 3.65 million. The average annual stake per bettor reached €3,159 ($3,533), representing a 25% increase since 2020. Throughout the year, operators distributed €180 million in financial incentives, primarily retention bonuses, to bettors.
ANJ's analysis of betting patterns highlighted concerns regarding player protection, particularly for at-risk individuals. Using a classification algorithm that categorizes players into four risk levels—recreational, moderate risk, excessive, and manifestly excessive—ANJ noted that excessive bettors tended to concentrate on niche competitions and live betting markets.
Data from the first half of 2026 indicated that more than 80% of stakes from excessive or manifestly excessive players were placed on international leagues in Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Australia, which typically draw less casual interest. Additionally, between 80% and 89% of bets on sub-match outcomes, like half-time scores and game bets in tennis, were also made by this group.
While ANJ clarified that these patterns do not necessarily correlate with higher addiction potential in these competitions, they likely indicate a scarcity of casual bettors. The regulator proposed that these findings could support the integration of enhanced player safety measures regarding the types of competitions and bets that are permitted.
According to the French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, approximately 1.17 million individuals in France exhibited problematic gambling behavior in 2024, with about 360,000 classified as excessive gamblers.
The ANJ report also revealed that stakes with licensed operators rose by 12% to €11.52 billion in 2025, with gross gaming revenue climbing 10.4% year-on-year to €1.766 billion. These figures reflect a continuation of the recovery that began in 2024, despite the absence of major events like the European Championship.
Football dominated the market, accounting for 54.9% (€6.32 billion) of total stakes and nearly half of the overall growth in betting volumes. While football stakes grew by 10.2%, ANJ suggested that this figure may underestimate the sport’s momentum, especially when accounting for the significant revenues generated by the European Championship in 2024.
Tennis was another significant growth area, representing 23% of total stakes (€2.65 billion) and increasing by 16% annually, despite no major tennis events in 2025.
The expansion in football betting was largely due to an increase in available matches. After a format change, the UEFA Champions League expanded its calendar from 137 to 189 matches, marking a 38% increase and leading to a 48.6% rise in stakes placed on the competition. ANJ attributed about 75% of this rise to the uptick in match volume rather than increased betting amounts per game.
The inaugural edition of the revamped Club World Cup also saw considerable betting interest, with an average of approximately €3.9 million staked per match, closely rivaling the Champions League's €4.4 million.
Interest in FIFA World Cup betting soared as well, evidenced by a survey conducted by Toluna-Harris Interactive among 1,071 French adults from May 19-21, 2026, which revealed that 41% of football followers intended to place real-money bets on match outcomes, a notable increase compared to previous figures.
Live betting stakes were significantly higher for less recognized competitions, constituting around 26% for the UEFA Champions League and even more at about 50%-58% for European second-tier divisions and unlisted leagues. ANJ linked this trend to global football scheduling, which provides a near-continuous live betting opportunity due to time differences across regions.
Under French regulations, the return to player (RTP) for online sports betting is capped at an annual average of 85% per operator. In 2025, the market averaged an RTP of 84.67%. ANJ pointed out that favorable sporting outcomes in September led to a temporary spike in monthly payouts to 94.5%, exceeding the annual cap. However, adjustments in October and November reduced the monthly RTPs to 82.3% and 74.2%, respectively, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
