French Betting Regulator Releases Lackluster Results

France's betting regulator ARJEL has released their second quarter fiscal results for the country, noting weaker than expected performance in several key verticals.

Key financial indicators for the second quarter ending June 30th, 2015 were:

• Overall online wagering down 0.4 percent to Euro 1.945 billion;

• GGR down 0.1 percent to Euro 180.3 million;

• Deposits and revenue lower at 1 percent and 1.5 percent;

• Good performance from sports betting, which has replaced horse racing as the best performer;

• Q2-2015 sports betting stakes up 18 percent to Euro 338 million and sports betting revenue up 7 percent to Euro 63 million;

• Average weekly active accounts rose by 5 percent to 187,000;

• Horseracing turnover down 3 percent to Euro 248 million;

• Horseracing revenue down 3 percent to Euro 61 million - lower than that from sports betting for the first time in five years;

• Football continued to dominate sports betting with wagers up 5 percent to Euro 189.1 million;

• Tennis wagering was up an impressive 53 percent to Euro 87.6 million, the second biggest contributor to the sports betting vertical;

• In-play betting continued to feature prominently in both football and tennis, with live betting deposits accounting for 32 percent of football wagers and 61 percent for tennis.

• Mobile channels were again prominent, accounting for 47 percent of all sports betting, especially in the 18 to 34 year demographic.

• Online poker revenue slipping 2 percent overall to Euro 56.3 million, with tournament stakes up 16 percent to Euro 421 million, but cash games declining 10 percent to Euro 938 million.

No comments from officials with ARJEL regarding the country's betting performance was available as of press time.