French national lottery operator Française des Jeux (FDJ) has begun exclusive negotiations for the acquisition of horse racing and online sports betting brand, ZEturf Group.
Details of the negotiations and financial terms of the possible deal were not disclosed, but the FDJ said the purchase would form part of plans to expand its presence in France’s online gaming market.
Founded in 2001, ZEturf employs approximately 100 staff and processed nearly €800 million in bets, including more than €100 million in pool betting, in 2021.
According to the FDJ, online horse racing betting accounts for more than 50% of ZEturf’s betting. Therefore, the group emerges as the second largest operator in France in this segment, with a market share of around 20%. In addition to its activities in France, ZEturf operates in the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain.
If the acquisition moves to the next stage, the deal will be subject to approval by competition and regulatory authorities. The negotiations take place after the FDJ, in July this year, also announced that it had closed with Aleda, a provider of points of sale and payments, with the intention of buying the business.
The operator said the planned acquisition is part of FDJ’s strategy to develop its payments and services business, while also reinforcing its commitment to merchants by helping them manage their points of sale.
When releasing first-half results in the same month, FDJ also announced the acquisition of L’Addition. The company specializes in payment management, point of sale systems and management services for the cafeteria, hotel and restaurant sector.
About the FDJ
Française des Jeux is the operator of France’s national lottery games and the main sponsor of the FDJ cycling team. The company name loosely translates to The French Games [Company].
