The government of France is set to divest its 72 percent share in Francaise des Jeux, which operates the national lottery. The government also will sell its shares in airport operator Aeroports de Paris SA and energy provider Engie SA. The privatizations require the passage of special legislation, and are expected to generate $1.74 billion for establishing an innovation fund and industrial investment, as promised by President Emanuel Macron in his election campaign.
A new regulatory body will be created that will oversee the divestment of Francaise des Jeux as well as lottery operations in France following the privatization.
Francaise des Jeux offers scratchcard sales, online lottery and betting operations. Sales totaled $17.49 billion last year, up 5.7 percent over 2016. Scratchcard sales were $8.57 billion, up 8 percent, and other lottery products posted $6.02 billion, up 5.2 percent over 2016. Sports betting totaled $2.90 billion in 2017, up 0.3 percent.
Francaise des Jeux is Europe’s second largest lottery operator, behind Italy’s Lottomatica.
