To coincide with the publication of its 2023 annual report, the ANJ has presented its review of the Euro 2024 football championship and the prospects for the Paris Olympics, as well as the initial trends in the online gaming market for the first half of 2024.
While the Euro 2024 showed modest performance due to a particular political and sporting context, the first six months of the year display a 16% growth in online sports betting revenue, with a significant increase in June. Looking ahead to the Paris Olympics, the ANJ commissioned Toluna-Harris Interactive to survey the French public on their betting intentions. According to this study, 59% of the French plan to follow the competitions, and among them, a quarter intend to place bets.
Euro 2024 Review: Betting Below Expectations Due to a Particular Context
During the tournament, French operators recorded €650 million in bets, slightly lower than the previous Euro in 2021. This lower enthusiasm can be attributed to various factors such as the political context following the legislative elections and the French team's lack of goals during the group stage. These elements, combined with the upcoming Paris Olympics, resulted in lower media coverage of the tournament and a decline in viewership for the French team's matches.
Regarding operators' marketing strategies, which planned to invest €60 million during the event, no major incidents were reported concerning the content or volume of advertisements. The call for moderation issued by the ANJ was respected by all operators.
In the fight against illegal offerings, the ANJ noted that although an increasing number of illegal online casino sites offer sports betting, these are rarely frequented by the public, a trend already highlighted in a December 2023 study by Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
Growth in Online Sports Betting Market in the First Half of 2024
Beyond the appeal of Euro 2024 for French bettors, the sports betting market was very dynamic in the first half of 2024, with a 24% increase in stakes (€5.2 billion) and a 16% growth in gross gaming revenue (GGR) (€871 million) compared to 2023. This GGR growth is not solely attributable to Euro 2024, as the cumulative GGR from January to May 2024 was already up from last year. The Euro only amplified this upward trend. Active player accounts (APA) also grew by 16%, with a particularly strong June, likely due to operators' acquisition marketing strategies. In June 2024, there were over 2 million APA, compared to 1.25 million in the same month the previous year.
Overall, the online gaming market grew by 10% in the first half of 2024, reaching €1.302 billion in GGR. APA also saw a significant increase of 13% compared to the first half of 2023.
Sports Betting During the Paris Olympics: Available Sports and Coordinated Actions Against Manipulation
According to a study conducted by Toluna-Harris Interactive in May for the ANJ, 25% of the French interested in the Olympics plan to bet during the Paris Games. Seventy-four percent of these potential bettors say that the fact that the Games are being held in Paris encourages them to bet, even though 64% did not bet during the Tokyo Games four years ago.
During the Paris Olympics, 32 sports will be represented, and 270 of the 329 events will be open to betting (82% of the total). Only sports competitions or events expressly authorized by the ANJ, considering their manipulation risks, can be offered for betting. The ANJ maintains an updated list of authorized sports betting events.
Sports for which the ANJ did not receive a request for inclusion on the betting list include: breaking, skateboarding, surfing, artistic swimming, diving, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline gymnastics, and equestrian dressage and eventing.
During the Tokyo 2021 Games, €120 million were bet in France. With the Paris Games, these figures could double.
Throughout the competition, a manipulation risk monitoring system, in cooperation with the ANJ, the COJOP, and the IOC, as well as their national and international partners, will be operational.
This system is unique because it is the first time the Olympics are being held in a country with a national platform against sports manipulations. This platform, recognized by the law of March 2, 2022, will play a crucial role, chaired by the Minister of Sports, including several ministries and representatives from the sports movement and online gaming operators. The ANJ will be responsible for betting surveillance, coordinating the actions of platform members and partners.
Internationally, the network of national platforms initiated by the Council of Europe, now comprising nearly 40 countries, will be mobilized, allowing the exchange of information to combat international organized crime.
2023 annual report
18+ | Juegoseguro.es – Jugarbien.es
