Playtech has agreed to provide its poker network services and content to French operator La Française des Jeux (FDJ).
Under the deal, FDJ will have access to cash tables, poker tournaments and Twister Poker, Playtech’s flagship poker game.
FDJ will also join Playtech’s Ipoker.eu network of operators across a number of European markets.
“Playtech has a great track record as a poker network and content provider in Europe’s regulated markets,” FDJ’s sports business unit chief executive Richard Courtois said.
“The company’s involvement in our selection process demonstrated a clear commitment and deep understanding of our long-term strategy.
“Thanks to Playtech, we are pleased to offer our players a new range of games. This move enables FDJ to complete its presence in the French market open to competition. This is based on a business model that combines performance and responsibility to keep gaming fun.”
Playtech’s vice-president of interactive gaming, Marat Koss, added: “We are very proud that FDJ has chosen Playtech as its partner. The addition of FDJ to our Ipoker.eu is a vital step in the network’s expansion as the buoyancy of the French online gambling market continues.
“We look forward to a long and successful partnership with FDJ.”
French online gambling growth
The deal comes after French regulator l’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) reported record gross gaming revenue (GGR) in 2022. Annual GGR for the 12 months to 31 December 2022 amounted to €12.90bn (£11.08bn/$14.04bn).
France’s online gaming market GGR increased by 0.8% to €2.18bn. Of this, 64% was from sports betting, 20% online poker and 16% from bets placed on horse racing.
Online poker performed best for all online games in 2022 in terms of GGR, hitting €442m – up from €421m in 2021.
For online sports betting, GGR hit €1.38bn, another record. Stakes of €8.3% here also represented another record.
Lottery, meanwhile, generated €5.6bn in 2022, representing a 10.2% rise in revenue from 2021.
For casinos, GGR was €2.5bn during the year, up from €1.08bn in 2021 and just edging up on €2.4bn brought in pre-pandemic, in 2019.
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