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Containment and risk of gambling addiction: ARJEL’s advice to retain control over your game

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In this period of containment, the offer of sports and horse betting is extremely limited. As a result, ARJEL notes that players tend to refer massively to poker, which even attracts new players. Other players might be tempted to play on the illegal offer which continues to offer some bets but mainly casino games (slot machines). Echoing operators’ initiatives in the area of responsible gambling, ARJEL remains particularly attentive to the risks of excessive gambling and advices players to keep control of their gambling so that it remains a recreational leisure activity.

 

ONLINE POKER

For several weeks now, ARJEL has observed that poker is attracting more players and in particular new players, a more intensive practice and a GGR (Gross Gaming Revenue) which has increased significantly in recent weeks.

This significant increase of online poker has led ARJEL to call on operators to be very vigilant. As such, operators should not multiply incentives to gambling by bonuses. Moreover, they must be particularly vigilant with players whose behaviour could reveal a loss of control and approach them to provide them with prevention advice. Licensed online poker operators offer poker players ways to stay in a recreational game.

 

The player can do this on the online poker website:

➢ Set his limits in terms of deposit on his account and the limit in terms of stake for each gambling action

➢ Set a limit on his playing time with some online poker operators. This option will soon be extended to all poker operators

➢ Exclude themselves for a limited period of time when they feel they are losing control of their game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARJEL’S TIPS FOR KEEPING THE GAME AS A LEISURE ACTIVITY

To control your game, you have to:

➢ Set a budget and stick to it

➢ Set a time limit

➢ Alternate leisure activities

➢ Accepting losses and knowing when to stop. Don’t try to “make it up”

➢ Don’t overestimate your expertise

➢ Take regular breaks to take a step back

➢ Know how to stop playing when you no longer enjoy it

 

Remember that :

➢ You don’t make a living from gambling

➢ It is not because you won at the beginning that you are stronger than chance. Gambling is always based on chance

➢ Chance is present in sports competitions, poker and even more so in lotteries.

 

EXISTING TOOLS AND SUPPORT RESOURCES

EVALUJEU

In order to evaluate its gambling practice, ARJEL offers on EVALUJEU site an anonymous test and adapted advice.

http://www.evalujeu.fr/static/

 

Help organizations

If gamblers feel that they are in difficulty with gambling or if they have questions about their practice, there are specialized organizations to answer their questions or those of their entourage, and to accompany them if necessary.

Joueurs Info Service, the national information and prevention service on drugs and addictions, answers by chat, by telephone.

SOS joueurs, a non-profit association that offers psychological, legal and social support to players and their families.

 

ILLEGAL OFFER

The feeling of boredom caused by the containment and the suspension of the majority of sports competitions could encourage some players to turn to the illegal offer.

ARJEL recalls that no site offering casino games and slot machines is legal in France. Many players who visit these illegal websites never get their winnings paid and are not protected if they lose control of their game. It is also possible that some of the sports competitions offered for betting may in fact be fake competitions.

The greatest caution is needed with online slot machines, which are among the most addictive games available.

To be protected, players must play on ARJEL-approved websites, a list of which can be found here:

http://www.arjel.fr/-Liste-des-operateurs-agrees-.html.

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FDJ UNITED Confirms Strong Half-Year Progress and Maintains 2025 Guidance

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FDJ UNITED, a leader in lottery, betting and gaming in Europe, announced its results for the first half of 2025.

• First-half revenue of €1867m: up +31% compared with H1 2024 reported and down -2% on a restated basis

• Buoyant performance by the French lottery and retail sports betting BU with revenue of €1290m, up +4% on a restated basis

• Lottery revenue rose by +6% to €1065m. This performance can be attributed to the whole range of games and all distribution channels, particularly digital, which rose by +16% to €160m

• Point-of-sale sports betting revenue fell by -6% to €225m. This change reflects unfavourable sports results for the operator, despite stakes boosted by an attractive football offering (+4%)

• Online betting and gaming BU2 revenue of €466m, down -12% on a restated basis

• This change reflects a very unfavourable 2024 comparison base, due in particular to the Euro football tournament, as well as tax and regulatory impacts in 2025, particularly in the Netherlands and the UK. Excluding these two markets, revenue would be up 5% thanks to the performance of other countries, including France

• Second-quarter revenue came to €235m, up +2% compared with the first quarter of 2025

• Recurring EBITDA of €441m, representing a margin of 23.6%, or 24.4% excluding the cost of the employee share ownership plan (€14m)

• Adjusted net income of €222m

• This reflects the impact of the financing of the Kindred acquisition on the financial result and the one-off tax contribution on the profits of large French companies

• 2025 objectives reiterated: stable revenue versus 2024 pro forma, with a recurring EBITDA margin of over 24%

• Successful employee share ownership plan bringing the share of capital held by employees to 4.6%

• Taken up by more than half of employees and largely oversubscribed

“2025 stands as a transition year for FDJ UNITED, with the integration of Kindred well on track. In this context, our first-half performance is in line with the expected full-year trajectory. Besides, we are pleased by the success of the employee share ownership plan launched by the Group, reflecting our long tradition of sharing FDJ UNITED’s value creation with all stakeholders,” Stéphane Pallez, Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of FDJ UNITED.

The post FDJ UNITED Confirms Strong Half-Year Progress and Maintains 2025 Guidance appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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EGT Launches Linked United Platform

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EGT has launched Linked United, an innovative platform aiming to redefine profitability and immersion in gaming establishments in Spain. This product marks a significant milestone in the company’s strategy to enhance the performance of bingo and gambling halls across one of the most important European markets.

Linked United enables the seamless interconnection of numerous products at a single station, thus creating a more dynamic and engaging entertainment network. The platform enables operators to integrate popular titles from EGT’s portfolio, such as Bell Link Plus, Gods & Kings Link and Sands Princess, along with exciting new offerings. The company plans to include all releases launched on the local market from now on in Linked United.

A key differentiator of the platform is its innovative shared Grand Jackpot system: a single, progressive level, involving all interconnected games within a group. This way, players’ chances of hitting enormous winnings increase manifold, which generates unparalleled vibrancy in the gaming hall.

Along with enriching the gaming journey, the product also contributes to increasing operational efficiency through space optimization, allowing a greater variety of games to be offered in a smaller area. Linked United also stands out with its impressive flexibility in terms of installation, as it enables venues to adjust the game mix based on performance and tailor it to the specific preferences of their customers.

Linked United brings a number of advantages for operators. First, it increases perceived value for players thanks to the wider diversity of game offerings and the irresistible appeal of the unified GRAND Jackpot, which results in enhancing the overall experience and building loyalty. Second, this leads to extended playing sessions, as more dynamic and connected entertainment encourages players to prolong their visits. Third, it allows for maximum leveraging of existing hardware investment, as Linked United integrates with current infrastructure, which optimizes costs while extending equipment lifespan. Finally, operators benefit from significant cost savings by proposing more games per station and utilizing space efficiently.

Diego Scotti, Sales Director of EGT Spain, said: “We are at a turning point in our market strategy. With Linked United, we are not just connecting games; we are opening the doors to an ecosystem of unlimited possibilities. It’s a strategic response to our operators’ demand for solutions that not only captivate their clients but also maximize their return on investment in a tangible way.”

The post EGT Launches Linked United Platform appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Main Street Sports Group Appoints Jim Keller as EVP of Advertising and Sponsorship Sales

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Main Street Sports Group, owner of FanDuel Sports Network, announced the appointment of Jim Keller as Executive Vice President of Advertising and Sponsorship Sales. In this new role, Keller will lead the entire ad sales portfolio for FanDuel Sports Network, overseeing linear, digital, and programmatic efforts. He will report directly to Eric Ratchman, Chief Revenue Officer of Main Street Sports Group.

Keller brings more than two decades of experience driving innovation, operational excellence, and revenue growth across every layer of the media ecosystem, from national networks to digital-first platforms. Most recently serving as Chief Revenue Officer at Fuse Media, Keller previously held executive roles at Warner Bros. Discovery, Hulu, and NBC Universal, leading cross-platform sales teams through industry-shifting transformations and high-growth phases. His background includes oversight of digital, streaming, mobile, addressable, and data-driven advertising, as well as advanced monetization strategies across premium content portfolios spanning sports, entertainment, and news.

“Jim is a proven leader with an exceptional track record across linear, streaming, and digital platforms. As FanDuel Sports Network redefines what local sports media can be – more dynamic, more engaging, and more impactful – Jim’s leadership will be key in creating smarter advertising experiences that deliver real value to our brand partners and local fans alike,” said Eric Ratchman, Chief Revenue Officer of Main Street Sports Group.

“There’s nothing more powerful than the connection a fan has with their local team, and FanDuel Sports Network is building a platform that truly honors that connection. From my earliest days as a sports seller at NBC Sports, to leading some of the industry’s most innovative ad strategies, I’ve always believed that the strongest media experiences are rooted in content and community. FanDuel Sports Network’s focus on building relevant, local, multiplatform fan experiences is exactly what the industry and advertisers need right now, and I couldn’t be more excited to help drive the next phase of growth,” said Keller.

Keller’s deep expertise in building modern ad operations, forging high-impact partnerships, and unlocking value across multiplatform products will be instrumental as FanDuel Sports Network continues to evolve into the future of local sports media. Main Street Sports Group’s continued transformation is rooted in reimagining local sports coverage, not just distributing games, but uniting the brands, features, and experiences fans want, tailored to each market.

The post Main Street Sports Group Appoints Jim Keller as EVP of Advertising and Sponsorship Sales appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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