jili tutorial

ANJ Raises Alarm Over Excessive Risks in French Sports Betting as Wagers Surge to €11.5bn

By jili tutorial · October 13, 2026

ANJ Raises Alarm Over Excessive Risks in French Sports Betting as Wagers Surge to €11.5bn

The Surge in French Sports Betting: A Closer Look

The French sports betting industry continues to expand, driven largely by the popularity of football and tennis. According to the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), France’s national gambling regulator, the total betting stakes reached €11.5 billion (£9.7 billion) in 2025, marking a 12% increase from the previous year. Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) also saw a significant rise, growing by 10.4% to €1.7 billion. These figures are particularly noteworthy given the absence of any major sporting events in 2025, compared to the Euro tournament in 2024 that spurred €438 million in bets.

The Role of Football in Driving Growth

Football remains the most popular sport among French bettors, accounting for nearly 55% of total stakes, amounting to €6.32 billion. This surge contributed to almost half of the industry’s growth in stakes and two-thirds of its GGR increase. The expansion of football betting offerings, particularly the UEFA Champions League, played a significant role. The number of Champions League matches increased from 137 in 2024 to 189 in 2025, a 38% rise, with stakes growing by 48.6%. ANJ attributes three-quarters of this increase to the rise in the number of matches, while the average stake per match saw a more moderate increase.

Tennis and Other Sports: A Mixed Bag

Tennis betting also saw substantial growth, with stakes increasing by 16% year-on-year, despite the lack of any “exceptional events.” Tennis accounted for 23% of total betting stakes, with 94% of bets spread across seven categories of tournaments. Other sports, however, showed varied performance. Rugby saw an 11.4% increase in stakes but only a 3.4% rise in GGR, while volleyball recorded a 21% increase in stakes and a significant 47.2% rise in GGR.

The Impact of High-Profile Events and Stars

High-profile events and sports stars significantly influence betting patterns. The new Club World Cup competition achieved stakes per match of €3.9 million in its first edition, close to the Champions League’s €4.4 million. PSG’s Champions League and Club World Cup finals were the highest-staked matches of the year, with €38.2 million and €26.7 million in bets, respectively.

Margin Control and GGR Dynamics

ANJ clarified that while stakes reflect changes in punters’ activity and sport dynamics, GGR provides more insight into operators’ pricing policies and results. GGR depends on three factors: the volume of bets, operators’ pricing strategies, and the unpredictability of sporting results. The rise in net betting yield explains the gap between the growth in bets (+12.0%) and GGR (+10.4%). However, this gap is more pronounced in certain sports, such as tennis and rugby, due to shifts in margins rather than changes in punters’ behavior.

Return to Player (RTP) Ratios and Their Implications

French bookmakers are required to maintain an RTP ratio capped at 85% annually. In 2025, operators’ RTP stood at 84.67%. Despite a temporary increase to 85.9% in September, the RTP ratios for October and November were lowered to 82.3% and 74.2%, respectively, bringing the cumulative figure back to 84.67% by the end of November. Individual sportsbooks’ RTPs are monitored separately to ensure compliance.

ANJ’s Concerns Over Excessive Risks

ANJ’s analysis of football betting in the first half of 2026 revealed that excessive bettors account for a higher proportion of wagers on less popular competitions. These bettors represented more than 80% of bets on leagues from Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Australia, while recreational bettors favored major events like the 2026 World Cup. Similar patterns were observed across bet types, with recreational players preferring tournament outcomes, and excessive bettors accounting for 80% to 89% of stakes on in-play outcomes, depending on the sport.

The Need for Stronger Player Protection

These findings underscore the need for stronger player-protection measures on licensed betting platforms. The scale of live betting varies, with 26% to 35% on Champions League and major national leagues, rising to 48% on secondary competitions, and reaching 50% to 58% on European second divisions and other less-known leagues. South American and Asian leagues cover global time slots, further influencing betting behavior.

Conclusion: Balancing Growth with Responsibility

While the French sports betting industry continues to grow, it faces challenges related to excessive risks and the need for robust player-protection mechanisms. ANJ’s findings highlight the importance of monitoring and regulating betting activities to ensure a safe and responsible gambling environment.