French FDJ acquires betting software developer LVS

FDJ said that the acquisition would help build on the company’s technological strengths, reinforcing its position as a leading provider of integrated sports betting products ahead of the planned liberalisation of the French gaming market later this year.

LVS employs approximately 40 people and was selected last month by FDJ to provide a fixed odds betting platform to both the company’s online and retail customers via the FDJeux.com website and network of 26,7000 retail terminals across France. FDJ and LVS are also working together to build a new live betting platform.

“This is an important acquisition in the context of the opening of the French online betting market to competition,” said Christophe Blanchard-Dignac, Chairman and CEO of FDJ. “By buying this company, La Française des Jeux reinforces its technological control on the overall activity - sports betting and lotteries – in the sake of the safety of our customers.”

Last year FDJ recorded a 24% increase in sports betting revenues to 783 million euros, accounting for approximately 8% of total turnover, with online betting up by 61% to 43 million euros. With the French sports betting market on course to be opened up to competition in time for the football World Cup in June, the company added that it expects sports betting turnover to reach 1 billion euros this year through both its online and retail platforms, representing 10% of total turnover.

 “We’re delighted that La Française des Jeux has chosen to strengthen even further the successful relationship we already have,” said Simon Ordish, CEO of LVS. “It will enable us to take the business to the next level and exploit new opportunities. The acquisition means we can both grow and prosper at a very exciting time for the betting and gaming industry.”

LVS also supplies betting and gaming software to some of the biggest names in the industry including the likes of William Hill, bwin and Victor Chandler. Friday's announcement of the acquisition of LVS by FDJ followed news earlier in the day of the tie up between France's PMU and UK-listedPartyGaming.