FDJ Group

History and Founding

FDJ United’s origins lie in the French National Lottery created in 1933 to support wounded World War I veterans. The modern corporate entity was established in 1976 as the Société de la Loterie nationale et du Loto national (SLNLN) after several restructurings. In November 2019, the French state sold a majority stake via an IPO, and in 2020 the company acquired a 19% stake in Premier Lotteries Ireland, taking full control in 2023. The group rebranded to FDJ United in March 2025 to reflect its pan-European ambitions.

Business Model and Revenue Streams

FDJ United generates revenue through four segments. French Lottery & Retail Sports Betting includes Loto, Euromillions, Illiko instant games, and sports betting via over 31,000 retail points of sale under Parions Sport. Online Betting & Gaming, open to competition in France, offers sports betting, horse-race betting, poker, and casino games through ParionsSport.fr and other digital brands, bolstered by acquisitions such as Relax Gaming (2021) and Kindred Group (2024, adding Unibet). International Lottery covers exclusive contracts in France and Ireland plus partnerships in other European and African markets. Payment & Services leverages its retail network for bill payment and money transfers. In 2025, revenue reached €3.7 billion, up 30.7% year-on-year driven largely by the Kindred acquisition, with net financial debt of €1.72 billion.

Key Products and Brands

The flagship lottery draw games are Loto (launched 1976) and the pan-European Euromillions. Illiko is the leading instant scratch-card brand. Parions Sport is the dominant sports betting brand in French retail, with an online counterpart at ParionsSport.fr. Via the Kindred acquisition, FDJ United now operates Unibet across multiple European markets. The B2B division FDJ Gaming Solutions provides technology platforms such as IRIS for lottery draw games, while Relax Gaming supplies online casino content and aggregation.

Market Position and Regulation

FDJ United holds exclusive concessions for the French national lottery until 2044 and the Irish national lottery until 2034. Its online operations are licensed by the French gambling regulator (ANJ) and other authorities across 15 regulated markets including the UK, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The company is one of Europe’s largest gaming operators, combining a monopoly in French lottery with a growing digital business, and competes with other national lotteries and online betting operators.

Responsible Gaming and Innovation

FDJ United operates a proprietary “Safe Play” programme that includes mandatory player limits, self‑exclusion, and AI‑based anomaly detection. The company publishes an integrated annual report covering ESG metrics. In technology, FDJ Gaming Solutions provides retail lottery transformation and instant lottery modernisation. In 2025, FDJ United signed an expanded odds feed agreement with Kambi Group and collaborates on agentic AI with H Company, backed by Bernard Arnault and Eric Schmidt.

Recent Developments and Strategic Direction

The rebranding to FDJ United underscores a broader European strategy. The acquisition of Kindred Group in 2024 significantly expanded the online betting and gaming footprint, adding a strong international brand. The group continues to invest in digital innovation and B2B technology, aiming to grow its presence in regulated markets while maintaining a strong focus on responsible gaming.