French Sports Betting Down, iPoker Spikes

In France, online sports betting revenue toppled by more than half during the second quarter, in no small part due to the effect on live sports of Covid-19. But online poker GGR soared 126 percent, and the player base grew by 68 percent.

French Sports Betting Down, iPoker Spikes

Online sports betting revenue in France fell by 56 percent to €142 million during the second quarter of 2020, due to the shutdown of many live sports due to Covid-19. But online poker GGR soared 126 percent, and the active player base grew by 68 percent.

Figures from gaming regulator L’Autorité nationale des Jeux showed gross gaming revenue for mobile sports betting down €94 million (US$112.6 million) for Q2, with turnover down 87 percent for the lockdown period between mid-March and early May.

According to CDC Gaming Reports, online gambling GGR decreased 6 percent for the quarter. Horserace betting revenues increased 33 percent to €88 million for the period, and wagers increased by 35 percent to €362 million.

But it was the rise in online poker that boosted first-half GGR for the online market. It rose 8 percent from 2019, to €758 million.