Illegal gambling in France has overtaken the white sector

In France, the share of players on illegal online venues exceeded legal market, the Association of French Online Gaming (AFJEL) has reported. According to a new study, 5.4 million people will play at operators without a license in 2025 - an increase of 35% from two years ago.

Key Indicators:

• The gross gaming revenue (GGR) of the illegal sector reached €2 billion (+25% over two years).
• Budget losses from lost taxes - €1.2 billion (+30% by 2023).
• The social cost of treating gaming addiction is around €4 billion per year.

Market Structure:

• Online casinos - 3.1 million players;
• Sports betting - 1.3 million;
• Betting on cybersports - 1 million.

Social risks

AFJEL states that more than 3 million people in France have a gambling addiction, in particular due to the proliferation of illegal sites. At the same time, 82% users do not know that they play at operators without a license. As noted, 90% came to illegal sites through advertising.

The association believes that the growth of the shadow sector is related to the active promotion of illegal operators on the Internet and social networks, as well as the insufficient level of digital control by the state.