ANJ 2022 Report: A Record Year with Significant Disparities Depending on the Gaming Segments

May 30, 2023 | Reveue

A record year for operators under monopolies (FDJ and PMU) and casinos and gaming clubs

PARIS, France (May 25, 2023) — With gross gaming revenue (GGR) reaching 8.2 billion euros, the gambling activity offered by operators holding exclusive rights ( La Française des Jeux and Pari Mutuel Urbain for betting horses in points of sale) constitutes the first pillar of the French market (64% of the GGR). These activities show a remarkable overall level of growth compared to last year (+8%), benefiting from an environment that has normalized (reopening of almost all points of sale since June).

This growth is mainly driven by the strength of the lottery offer, whose GGR amounts to 5.6 billion euros in 2022 [1] (+10.2%) and which is based on a level of dynamic stakes, particularly on the digital channel (+8.7% compared to 2021, these stakes now represent 12% of total stakes).

Horse betting activity in physical networks is on the rise again after the financial years 2020 and 2021 strongly impacted by the effects of the health crisis. The GGR of activity under exclusive PMU rights increased by nearly 10% compared to 2021, in particular, thanks to the return of punters to points of sale during the first half of 2022. This recovery enabled a 24% increase in GGR over this period compared to the first half of the previous year, while the second half shows a 2% decline in GGR (vs H2 2021).

Casino activity is experiencing strong growth in 2022 (+130% GGR growth in 2022), which is largely explained by the full reopening of casinos after two years of reduced activity due to the pandemic. The GGR of casinos amounts to €2.5 billion in 2022, compared to €1.08 billion in 2021 and €2.4 billion in 2019.

The online gaming market stabilizing at a high level after a historic performance in 2021

After experiencing strong growth between 2017 and 2021 with an average annual GGR growth rate of 18%, the progression of the online gambling market has stabilized at a level similar to that of 2021 in 2022, with a GGR of €2.18bn ( +0.8% growth) . The turnover of the online sector is divided between sports betting (64%), horse racing betting (16%) and online poker (20%). The number of unique players will reach 4 million in 2022, an increase of 6%.

Online sports betting: moderate growth despite a record level of stakes recorded during the World Cup

The GGR of online sports betting amounts to €1.38 billion, which represents a record (+2.5% compared to 2021). Stakes reached €8.3bn, which is also a record level for the segment.

Sports betting accounts for 85% of active player accounts (AGA) in the online gaming sector. The number of APAs in sports betting increased slightly to stabilize at around 4.5 million. Finally, the average PBJ generated per active player account is 312 euros and the average number of bets per CJA is 162 (compared to 152 in 2021). This can be explained by the strong appeal of the 2022 World Cup, a competition that included 64 matches and which was the support for 597 million euros in bets over the year.

Stakes per CJA in sports betting reached €1,864 and are up 6% compared to the previous year (€1,764 in 2021). The average basket of sports bettors (in the PBJ sense by CJA) amounts to €312 and increases by 3% compared to 2021 (€303 in 2021). By way of comparison, bets by CJA reached €1,468 in 2019 for an average basket of €256.

Football remains the most popular sport among bettors with 56% of stakes, followed by tennis (22% of stakes), then basketball (12% of stakes). These three sports represent 90% of the stakes.

Online horse betting: lower results due to a return to points of sale

Stakes on the online horse racing offer amounted to € 1.4 billion, down 9% compared to the previous year. The GGR recorded by the segment reached €346m, down 8% compared to 2021.

The number of CJAs is constant between 2021 and 2022 (625,000) and remains at a high level. This means that, even though players wagered less going up in 2022, they remained active in their online accounts. Despite an observed return to physical points of sale, players are maintaining dual-channel activity.

Online poker: the fastest growing segment

The online poker segment recorded the best performance of the online games market in 2022 (in terms of GGR growth rate) with a GGR growth by 3% compared to 2021 (€442m in 2022 compared to €429m in 2021 ).

The number of CJAs is also up by 7% compared to 2021 (1.76M CJAs in 2022 compared to 1.65M in 2021).

[1] https://www.groupefdj.com/uploads/files/pressRelease/tres-bons-resultats-2022-confirmation-des-perspectives-2023-dans-la-trajectoire-de-croissance-responsable-du-groupe .pdf

Summary of online gaming activity data in 2022

20212022Change 2021/2022

sport bets Horse betting Poker Total

Number of CJAs	4,474,000	4,457,000	-0.4%
Stakes	€7,891m	€8,307m	+5.3%
Gross gaming revenue	€1,355 million	€1,389 million	+2.5%

Number of CJAs	624,000	625,000	+0.2%
Stakes	€1,583m	€1,439 million	-9.1%
Gross gaming revenue	€375 million	€346 million	-7.7%

Number of CJAs	1,663,000	1,763,000	+6%
Gross gaming revenue	€429 million	€442m	+3%

Number of CJAs	5,435,000	5,213,000	-4.1%
Gross gaming revenue	€2,159m	€2,177 million	+0.8

The French and gambling practices in times of inflation

In order to understand French gambling practices and motivations in the context of inflation, the ANJ asked Toluna Harris Interactive to interview a sample of gambling players drawn from a representative sample of the French population (a study conducted online from February 17 to 21, 2023).

While France has been experiencing for more than a year a period of inflation on goods and services unprecedented for decades, 45% of gambling players say they have encountered financial difficulties in recent months, i.e. a proportion similar to that of the French average (44%). This situation appears more sensitive for the youngest (55% of 18-24-year-olds and 58% of 25-34-year-olds).

In recent months, 45% of players have seen their gambling budget decrease and 45% have seen it stay the same.
To preserve this practice, 18% of players have cut back on other expenditure items. This situation is greater among young people who are also the most affected by financial difficulties.
Among the reasons that lead players to maintain or increase their practice, it is of course the hope of potential gains and the gambling habit that are cited first.
If 61% of players believe that playing gambling can allow them to earn a lot of money and thus change their lives, 74% of players believe that gambling is a way to supplement their income and improve their purchasing power
In this sense, draw games appear to be the most likely to make them earn money (66%), ahead of scratch games (59%) and sports betting (42%).