Groupe FDJ reports a strong business momentum as its financial performance begins to outmatch pre-COVID 2019 results.
Publishing its Q3 trading update (period ending 30 September), FDJ recorded a group turnover of €529 million (Q3 2020: €503m) generated from the combined lottery and sports betting sales of €4.5 billion (Q3 2020: €4.3bn).
France National Lottery operator reopened its entire AMIGO point-of-sale network from the beginning of June. Improved Q3 Lottery results saw FDJ instant game sales up 8% to £2.2 billion, and FDJ weekly draws sales up 2% to €1.4 billion.
Trading against a record-breaking comparative period, FDJ sports betting unit saw its turnover decrease by 3% with results failing to match €1 billion wagers recorded during Q3 2020 – a period that FDJ stated had benefitted “from a delayed sports schedule”.
Yet a continued recovery sees FDJ track cumulative year-to-date sales (lottery and sports betting) of €13.6 billion, up 8% on 2019’s pre-COVID and pre-Paris IPO results of €12.5 billion.
Benefitting from a ‘normalised business environment’, FDJ’s YTD turnover stands at €1.57 billion up 7% on 2019 results of €1.47 billion.
Of note, FDJ has outperformed its 2019 YTD comparatives across its core corporate metrics of lottery sales (+9%), Sports Betting wagers (+25%), online sales (+57%) and return to players (10%).
Concluding its trading statement, FDJ maintains confidence in achieving its 2021 financial target of turnover of €2.2 billion generated from sales totalling circa €18.8 billion – with outcomes dependent on a ‘stabilised trading environment’.
Stéphane Pallez, CEO of the Groupe FDJ declared: “The good recovery of our activities in the second quarter continued, both in digital and in our network of points of sale, with a 5% increase in sales in the third quarter.”
“We are confident in achieving our annual objectives and in our sustainable growth strategy, which combines financial performance and commitment to responsible gaming. In addition, the FDJ group recently renewed its support for the most vulnerable groups, with an exceptional program of 2 million euros intended for young people particularly affected by the health crisis.”