Industry News
Increased player activity boosts France’s online gambling market
France’s regulated online gambling market saw first quarter revenue grow by 28 per cent year-on-year, driven predominantly by an increase in active players across all verticals.
Figures released at the beginning of this week by the French gaming regulator ARJEL show the country’s licensed online sports betting operators handled wagers worth €847m in the three months ending March 31, a 34% rise over the same period last year and a new record for online betting handle since the regulated market launched in 2010.
Online betting revenue fared even better, rising 55% year-on-year to €147m – another quarterly record – thanks to favorable sporting results that pushed the return to players down 2.1 points to 85% (the minimum return allowed under French law). The average number of weekly active bettors surged 36% to 462.5k, enticed in part by operators’ bonus offers, which jumped 53% to €19.6m.
Football wagers were up 34% year-on-year to €465m, accounting for 55% of Q1’s total wagering handle. The presence of French football clubs in the Champions League and Europa League finals pushed wagering in these leagues up 47% and 73% year-on-year, respectively.
Tennis wagers grew 26% to €163m for a 19% share of Q1’s overall handle, while basketball wagers jumped 53% to €125m, representing a 15% share. Betting on National Basketball Association games accounted for €80.6m, just €500k less than the sum wagered on Ligue 1 football matches in Q1.
Only €4.4m was wagered on the 2018 Winter Olympics, although this was more than double the €2m wagered on the 2014 event. Nearly half (44%) of all Olympic wagers were live bets, despite the time disparity between the host nation South Korea. Regardless, the total paled in comparison to the €34m wagered on the 2016 Summer Olympics, which also suffered from significant time-shifting.
Online horseracing wagers improved 9% to €270m, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of year-on-year growth. The rise was aided by race betting bonus offers nearly doubling to €8.1m, while weekly active race betting accounts rose 6% to 148k. Race betting revenue improved 8% to €65m.
France’s once-struggling online poker market reported cash game spending jumping 18% to just over €1.1b but cash game revenue slipped 2% to €24.1m. Online poker tournament fees were up 14% to €594m and tourney revenue gained 15% to €44.8m.
Despite the cash games spending rise, cash games recorded a 1% decline in weekly average players to 79k. By contrast, weekly active tournament players rose 5% to 252k.
Women still make up a tiny fraction of France’s online gamblers, but their ranks are growing faster than their male counterparts. Weekly active female online gamblers improved 30% to 222k in Q1, while male actives were up 24% to 1.63m.
Source: calvinayre.com
Industry News
Amusnet Wins Best Game Studio at the SiGMA East Europe Awards 2024
Amusnet has won the prestigious Best Game Studio title at the SiGMA East Europe Awards 2024, held in Budapest. The event set the stage for a night of celebration, aligning with SiGMA’s highly anticipated conference and expo, which welcomed over 9000 attendees from the iGaming and emerging tech sectors.
Securing the Best Game Studio marks another significant milestone for Amusnet, demonstrating its robust portfolio of over 300 casino games. This honour underscores the company’s steadfast dedication to high quality within the iGaming sector, further solidifying its position as a trusted partner for industry partners in East Europe and beyond.
Amusnet’s products are centered around its diverse online slots, including classic and contemporary fruit themes, innovative dice slots and progressive jackpots. These games are distinguished by their exceptional graphics, user-friendly interfaces and engaging features designed to enhance player experience.
Industry News
FBMDS and FBM Foundation host solidarity keepy-uppy initiative at G2E Las Vegas 2024
FBM Digital Systems (FBMDS), a leader in iGaming innovation, and FBM Foundation are joining forces to host a special solidarity initiative linked to the Ronaldinho Crash game by FBMDS at this year’s Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas. From October 8th to 10th, visitors to booth 2848 will have the opportunity to participate in a Keepy-Uppy Challenge, designed to give back to communities in need while promoting the spirit of solidarity.
The initiative invites attendees to show off their soccer skills in a simple but meaningful way: for every successful keepy-uppy (juggle) a participant completes on the newest Ronaldinho Crash game, the FBM Foundation will donate $1 to support vulnerable communities around the world. These donations are going to be made to individuals affected by natural disasters, children in need of educational resources, and other vulnerable groups.
This is FBM Foundation’s first ever participation at an international casino gaming trade-show and the choice of G2E Las Vegas to make its debut was not random. Choosing a stage like the Global Gaming Expo was the right move to showcase the Group’s will to make a difference in the world, sharing its solidarity footprint with a broader, diverse audience of casino gaming enthusiasts, casino operators, players and industry professionals.
“We believe in the power of coming together for a greater purpose,” says Renato Almeida, Director of FBM®️ Group. “This initiative not only highlights the team-building spirit that defines FBMDS, but it also allows us to showcase the work of the FBM Foundation and our commitment to making a positive impact on the world with the help of G2E Las Vegas.”
FBM Foundation has long been dedicated to supporting causes that promote education, community development, and relief efforts for those impacted by crises in the Philippines, Brazil and beyond. “Through this keepy-uppy challenge, FBMDS and FBM Foundation aim to inspire action and demonstrate how collective efforts—whether on the field or off—can make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most”, shares FBM Foundation’s representative, Vítor Francisco.
The Ronaldinho Crash game is one of FBMDS’ latest product releases, featuring the global football legend Ronaldinho Gaúcho on a thrilling keepy-uppy crash gaming experience. The game, which was officially launched during the American Cup and will be available to try at the fair, is already winning over crowds in multiple countries around the globe.
In addition to Ronaldinho Crash, visitors to G2E Las Vegas 2024 will be able to experience for the first time the new Infinity Series video bingo line and the new Sapphire Fever bingo, the new Safe Blaster slot game, as well as the popular Champion Tales crash game, the famous Top+Plus table games collection and much more.
Attendees at G2E Las Vegas 2024 are encouraged to stop by booth 2848, take part in the challenge, and help support the initiative between FBMDS and FBM Foundation. Whether you’re an expert juggler or simply want to get involved, every attempt counts towards the greater goal of raising funds for global causes.
Industry News
CT Gaming Celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a Three-Day Team-Building Event
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, CT Gaming hosted an unforgettable three-day team-building event for its employees at the picturesque “Katarino” complex. The programme as dynamic, filled with diverse activities that fostered team bonding—from fun quizzes and sports tournaments to refreshing mountain hikes and moments of complete relaxation. The highlight of the event was the glamorous gala dinner, themed “Classic Stars,” where employees and departments with outstanding contributions to the company’s success were rightfully honoured by company Founder Milo Borissov and Vice President Rossi McKee. Following the formal part of the evening, the beloved actor and comedian Krasi Radkov brought smiles and laughter to the audience.
“Twenty-five years in the business is a significant achievement, one we couldn’t have reached without the dedication and ambition of the team behind CT Gaming. That’s why we decided to celebrate this milestone all of us – together,” Mr. Borissov, founder of CT Gaming, said.
“As we mark this anniversary, we celebrate not only the success of our products but also the dedication of our incredible team, as well as the trust of our partners and clients. Looking ahead, CT Gaming remains focused on business expansion and actively shaping the future of the gaming industry,” Rossi McKee, Vice President of CT Gaming, said.
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