FDJ sets 1bn target despite 6% growth in 2013
French operator sets sights on achieving 1bn in annual online revenues by 2018 as sportsbook continues to drive growth
Former French monopoly la Française des Jeux (FDJ) has targeted online revenues of 1bn after posting a 5.5% rise in full-year online gaming revenues to 410m in 2013.
The national lottery provider has set out to achieve the milestone by 2018 as part of a new strategic plan formulated by the Board of Directors last year in order to meet the growing online demands of its customers.
Remote revenues for the 12 months ended 31 December 2013 rose by 5.5% year-on-year to 410m from 388m, with FDJ’s online sportsbook the operator’s biggest growing vertical after revenues increased by 7.6%.
Online sports betting revenues grew to 75.5m, up from 70m in 2012, and FDJ predicts sports wagers to increase this year following the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Online lottery sales also increased last year after reaching 334m, a 5.1% rise compared to 2012.
The majority of the group’s total 12.35bn sales, a year-on-year increase of 1.7%, continued to come from the company’s retail business which accounted for 96.7% of total revenues.
“The strength of our activity in 2013 reflects the commitment of the French model of [the] game and is a tribute to the daily commitment of our 33, 400 retailers,” CEO of FDJ Christophe Blanchard-Dignac said the operator’s success in 2013 said.
“The company and its 1,700 employees are mobilised to offer a renewed, recreational and responsible gaming experience,” he added.
Last year the French operator broke the 12bn turnover mark for the first time after recording a 6.1% increase.