French lottery giant FDJ United wants to bid in Austria

The listed company FDJ United is active in 13 markets in the lotteries, online gambling and betting segments and can point to 33 million players. The company was founded in 1933 and is among the largest lottery providers worldwide. The French state holds 21 percent, veterans' associations 16 percent of FDJ United. In the past fiscal year, the group generated gross gaming revenue of 8.7 billion euros, almost three quarters of which came from lottery products. The EBITDA margin stands at 25 percent.

Market data: France, Ireland and Austria compared

FDJ is a member of Euromillions, as are the Österreichischen Lotterien. In France, according to the group, every second person plays Lotto; in Ireland it is 72 percent of the population. By comparison: in Austria the player rate is around 40 percent. D'Esposito also pointed to FDJ United's commitment to player protection. "Voraussetzung sei ein faires und transparentes Verfahren," she stressed with a view to the planned tender.

The existing Austrian monopoly formally expires at the end of September 2027. The current concession will, however, be extended until the tender for the new concession is completed. A central point is online distribution: according to the available coalition draft for the new gambling law, the online distribution of lottery products remains reserved exclusively for the concession holder.

Online distribution remains core of the tender

Which bidders will also apply for online concessions is still open. At FDJ United, according to the company, this question has not yet been decided. FDJ United recorded, according to its own figures, an average growth in the online share of lottery stakes of 13 percent over the past five years. Average growth rates for total lottery stakes are 4.9 percent.

The Österreichischen Lotterien, according to their most recent annual report, generated a net profit of around 109 million euros from online gambling and lottery in fiscal year 2024. For 2025, an annual profit of just under 159 million euros was reported. Casinos Austria, the parent of the Österreichischen Lotterien, is majority-owned by the Czech Allwyn group of billionaire Karel Komarek.

Competitors Brightstar and Izi Group

The US group Brightstar, which describes itself as the international number one in the lottery sector, had already gone public with its interest in the Austrian market before the French. "Vor den Franzosen hatte bereits der US-Konzern Brightstar sein Interesse am österreichischen Markt bekundet." Originally, the Austrian Post was to be won as a partner, but it ultimately backed out. "Ebenfalls an einem Einstieg interessiert sein soll die Izi Group aus Malta," sources further report.

In 2023, FDJ had taken over Lotteries Ireland, thereby completing its entry on the Emerald Isle. With a view to the planned Austrian bid, FDJ United wants to pursue a model similar to that of the British-American Brightstar group and enter the market with distribution and media partners. "Aber auch die Izi Group aus Malta wurde bereits als Interessent genannt."

D'Esposito also pointed to FDJ United's commitment to player protection. "Voraussetzung sei ein faires und transparentes Verfahren," she emphasized with a view to the upcoming tender. She linked this demand with the note that participation in the process is tied to a fair and transparent procedure. This makes it clear: should the award procedure not meet the French side's expectations, a withdrawal cannot be ruled out.