The ring fenced French online gambling market, continually hampered by high taxation and limited player liquidity had a better – but still losing – 2012, according to figures officially released this week by regulator ARJEL.
Losses to operators were over 50 percent lower at Euro 85 million than they were in 2011 (Euro 183 million in losses), with operators drastically trimming marketing budgets to cut costs – especially in sports betting and poker.
The heaviest losses were recorded in the online sports betting sector, where operators had to absorb Euro 40 million in losses. Internet poker also fared badly, with operators reporting Euro 36 million in red ink, whilst online pari-mutuel operators recorded Euro 10 million negative.