Bet365 has refused to comment on reports it is planning to launch in France.
The Stoke-headquartered operator is currently operational in several countries including Italy, Spain and Gibraltar, as well as a number of US states including Pennsylvania, Indiana, North Carolina and Ohio.
Its expansion into the US is beginning to pay off, with boutique analysis firm Eilers & Krejcik Gaming reporting in August that the three months to June 30 was bet365’s best quarter in the US – its net gaming revenue share increased to 4% in Q2.
And rumours have now surfaced that it plans on expanding into France ahead of next year’s World Cup, held across the US, Mexico and Canada.
France regulated online sports betting, poker and horseracing in 2010, with bet365 opting not to enter the market at that time.
Asked by EGR to comment on a potential expansion into France, bet365 refused to confirm or deny the rumour.
Entering a new market would come just months after the privately owned operator announced its withdrawal from China, telling EGR at the time that the exit centred around the decision to focus on taking market share in its core markets.
A French launch would also follow recent speculation the Coates family could be weighing up a sale or a plan to float on a US stock exchange.
Should it begin operations in France, bet365 would be in a market that has recently reported a growth in gross gaming revenue (GGR) of 3.5% year on year to €5.7bn in H1 2025, on the back of online sports betting and FDJ United consolidating its market share.
The Kindred-owned operator holds a monopoly on retail sports betting as well as online and offline lottery in France, while PMU holds the retail monopoly on horseracing.
The growth in the French market’s revenue came despite the increase in taxation that came into effect from 1 July, which saw tax on online sports betting GGR rise from 54.9% to 59.3%.
Tax on operators’ advertising expenses also rose to 15%.
But financially, bet365 would likely be in a position to absorb those costs after reporting revenue of £3.7bn for the 53 weeks to 31 March 2024, while operating profit soared to almost £400m.
The post Bet365 refuses to confirm reports it is planning France launch first appeared on EGR Intel.
Rumours surface regarding privately owned operator expanding into new European market ahead of 2026 World Cup
The post Bet365 refuses to confirm reports it is planning France launch first appeared on EGR Intel.