French online gaming operators generated revenues of €1.74bn ($2.08bn) for 2020, with a strong second half making up for early-year disruptions.
L’Autorité nationale des Jeux (ANJ) hailed a transformational year, which saw sports betting revenue grow by 6.8% to €940m.
Despite the shutdown of almost all live events in the first half of the year, stakes grew by 5.8% to €5.35bn, and active player accounts increased by 30% when compared to the full year ended December 31 2019.
“In many ways, 2020 is an extraordinary year and a turning point for the online gaming industry; it is both a year of change and a record year in terms of activity levels,” ANJ said.
The French regulator took over from ARJEL part way through the year, as a means to bring gambling regulation under a single body.
“Over the whole of 2020, the online market shows very vigorous growth," ANJ added. "The turnover of the sector grew by 22% in 2020 to reach €1.7bn: its highest level in a calendar year since the opening of the sector.”
Early year issues were allayed by strong performances in H2. In the fourth quarter alone, sports betting revenue was up on 2019 by 54.8%, reaching €356m.
Poker also reported strong gains in the year. In the twelve months for December 31 2020, revenue increased 64% year-on-year to €446m, with account numbers increasing by 53.1% to 1.8 million.
