French gaming regulator the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) has released the results of a survey showing that 31% of French football fans are expected to place a bet on the UEFA European Football Championship (Euro 2020).
The results of a survey commissioned by ANJ and conducted by Harris Interactive showed that 48% of France’s population said it intended to follow Euro 2020, which ANJ said was a proportion similar to those that said they would watch the 2018 Fifa World Cup.
Most of these fans are men and people aged under 50, the regulator said, which is similar to the profile of football fans in France generally.
The survey found that while 49% of those who plan to follow the Euros expect to have a friendly bet with friends or family members, around 31% are also expected to stake money on the games with sports betting operators.
Of those, 63% expect to place bets online and 56% at land-based retail locations.
ANJ offered a reminder to sports betting operators prior to the tournament, that their marketing communications should stress the importance of maintaining a moderate and controlled level of gambling, and that bonus or welcome offers should be explained clearly to potential customers.
In addition, the survey found that 80% of respondents were aware of the harm that can be cuased by gambling.
It said it will closely monitor the bonuses offered to bettors during the tournament, and will also be vigilant on monitoring the player return rate, which must not exceed 85% in sports betting.
For bettors, the regulator offered additional advice, including being careful not to overestimate their expertise or underestimate the likelihood of losing.
It offered a warning for bettors to be vigilant with the advice of tipsters, and any promises of guaranteed earnings, and reminded players not to chase their losses.
Finally, ANJ reminded both bettors and operators of its commitment to fighting corruption and match manipulation in football. It said it is supporting the Anti-Match-Fixing Assessment Group, set up by the Copenhagen Group and the Council of Europe, with Interpol and Europol.
The country recorded a total 2.5 million active sports betting accounts in Q1 2021, with bettors averaging a monthly spend of €45 (£38.66/$54.56). Most bets were placed on football, with tennis and basketball coming is as the next most popular sports for betting.
ANJ said that the first quarter of 2021 saw record sports betting stakes in the jurisdiction, up 79% year-on-year, while the number of sports bettors also increased by 29%.
