Market focus:France
A two minute briefing on the most exciting new market in Europe...
FRANCE HAS virtually never left the news in recent months since the French government announced its draft regulation for online gaming and betting.
The French market is viewed as being highly promising and numbers bear this out.
The levels of taxation are yet to be determined, but with the monopolies Francaise des Jeux and Pari Mutuel Urbain each recording 9bn in turnover in 2008, the stakes are high.
x Population: 65 million. 5% play or bet online, compared to 1% in 2003. 75% of all egaming in France is “illegal”, according to the government.
x Gross gaming revenues of non-monopoly egaming: 200m-300.
x Internet penetration levels: 60%
x Key operators: apart from the monopolies, Unibet, Bwin, Everest Poker, Betclick
x Maximum payout ratio allowed under new legislation: 85%
x Tax proposed: 7.5% on sports bets + 1% for sports development, 2% for online poker.
Data source: H2 Gambling Capital