The COVID-19 lockdown may have hit much of the gambling industry hard, but online poker in France has proven to be a major exception. As land-based venues shuttered and live sports events came to a halt, French poker players flocked online in record numbers, driving substantial gains for the industry.
ARJEL Reports Massive Online Poker Growth
According to the French gambling regulator ARJEL, France’s online gambling sector brought in a total of $493.7 million in revenue during the first quarter of 2020, marking a 20–22% increase year-over-year.
A standout within this growth story was online poker, which saw revenue skyrocket by 44% year-over-year, reaching $111 million. The number of active poker player accounts surged by 37% to 374,000, and the overall online gambling player base expanded by 17%, now approaching 2.6 million accounts.
Tournament Poker Leads the Charge
While cash game revenue rose by 25% to $31 million, it was poker tournaments that really stole the spotlight, with a staggering 54% growth and $79.4 million in revenue. These gains came even as bonus offers declined by 5%, indicating that player engagement remained strong without promotional incentives.
Sports Betting Takes a Hit
Not everything was rosy in the French gambling market. Sports betting revenue dropped by 4%, marking the first decline in nine years — a direct result of the near-total global sports shutdown during Q1. Still, the dramatic rise in online poker more than offset the losses in other sectors.
What’s Next for French Online Poker?
With poker rooms in Europe slowly reopening and traditional gambling options returning, online poker may see a dip in the coming months. However, the Q1 surge could mark a turning point in how French players engage with poker going forward, possibly leading to sustained interest even post-pandemic.
As the world adjusts to new norms and digital entertainment continues to thrive, France’s online poker boom offers a compelling look at how crisis can reshape gaming habits — and profitability.
