French lottery firm FDJ eyes Austrian license as market opens

Française des Jeux (FDJ), France's state-controlled lottery company, has expressed interest in acquiring Austria's lottery license as the country prepares to tender it. The current concessions for lotto and online gambling in Austria expire by the end of 2027, opening the door for international operators.

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For the French, who also operate the lottery business in Ireland, Austria is an attractive market.

Currently, only the Austrian Lotteries, with its platform "Win2day," holds the concession for online gambling. Brightstar and Allwyn have also signaled their interest in the upcoming tender. FDJ, which also operates lotteries in Ireland, views Austria as an attractive market with significant expansion potential.

FDJ's international business chief, Ysabel Rollet, noted that only 40 percent of Austrian adults play lotto or buy scratch cards, compared to 52 percent in France and 70 percent in Ireland. "International lotteries are one of the company's four business segments," Rollet stated, highlighting that lotteries and sports betting in France remain the largest area, followed by online betting and gaming, and payments and services.

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Only 40 percent of adults in Austria play lotto and buy scratch cards. In France, market penetration is 52 percent, and in Ireland, it is 70 percent.

FDJ, which went public in 2019, has seen its international revenue grow, with 22 percent of its 3.7 billion euro turnover coming from international operations, including its Irish lottery business acquired in 2023. The company also co-founded EuroMillions in 2004. FDJ aims to attract a broad base of players rather than encouraging excessive gambling, believing this approach leads to sustainable revenue.

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International lotteries are one of the four business segments of the company.

The company finds the proposed player protection measures in Austria's new gambling law generally agreeable, though it suggests even stricter regulations could be implemented.

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The strategy is not to encourage excessive gambling by individuals, but to appeal to the population broadly. This is how sustainable money can be made.