France’s Gambling Sector Continues to Struggle with Channelization
Blask data shows 83.9% of French online gambling searches target offshore operators as the regulated sector stagnates.Summary
AI market analytics platform Blask released a report showing that offshore operators continue to dominate France's online gambling market, accounting for 83.9% of online gambling searches between 29 September and 12 October, up from 67.5% in the prior period. French regulations do not permit online casino games, so that traffic flows to unlicensed offshore sites; nine of the ten most popular operators in France were offshore, with gtBet and Leon the most popular and Betclic the only licensed operator on the list at eighth. The surge did little for the regulated industry, whose revenues rose only 0.5% year-on-year in the first half of the year despite a World Cup boost to online sports wagering. Authorities continue enforcement, including last year's crackdown on a massive online gambling ring worth an estimated $1.2 billion, and the ANJ's recent order blocking Polymarket and warning that advertising its services carries fines up to $114,000, mirroring restrictions in Germany, Italy, and Spain. Despite these efforts, data shows French users increasingly turning to offshore platforms.
(Source：Gamblingnews)