FDJ Group

History

FDJ UNITED (formerly La Française des Jeux) is the dominant lottery operator in France and a growing force in European online gaming and sports betting. The company's origins date to the National Lottery created in 1933 to support war veterans. In 1976, the modern LOTO draw was launched, and the state-owned Société de la Loterie nationale et du Loto national (SLNLN) was established in 1979. The company was renamed La Française des Jeux in 1991. After a public listing in 2019, the French government sold a majority stake, though it retains a significant minority holding. In 2025, the group rebranded to FDJ UNITED to reflect its broader pan-European ambitions following the acquisition of Kindred Group (announced in 2024 and closed in 2025).

Business Model

The company operates through two main divisions: Lottery (traditional draw games, scratch cards, and instant games under brands like LOTO, EuroMillions) and Online Betting & Gaming (sports betting via ParionsSport, and the newly integrated Kindred brands including Unibet, Maria Casino, and 32Red). The group’s technology arm, FDJ Gaming Solutions, sells its lottery and sports betting platform (including the Interactive Factory, Retail Lottery Transformation, and Instant Lottery Modernization pillars) to other state lotteries and operators globally.

Products & Brands

FDJ UNITED’s portfolio includes iconic brands such as LOTO (France’s classic lottery launched in 1976), EuroMillions (pan-European draw game), ParionsSport (online and retail sports betting for France), and the Kindred Group brands Unibet (international sports betting, casino, poker) and Maria Casino (focus on Scandinavia). The company also offers an affiliate program, FDJ UNITED Affiliates, covering eight online gaming brands.

Regulation & Responsible Gaming

FDJ UNITED is heavily regulated and emphasizes responsible gaming with a dedicated Safe Play program that includes prevention, detection, and support tools. The company holds a license for France’s national lottery and for the Republic of Ireland’s national lottery, and operates across 15 regulated European markets.

Financial Performance & Scale

Financially, the company reported €3.7 billion in revenue in 2025, with a net debt of €1.72 billion as of December 2025. The group employs over 5,700 people across offices in France, Sweden (Kindred headquarters), and several European countries. The company’s strategy focuses on sustainable growth through player protection, digital innovation (including an AI collaboration with H Company), and selective acquisitions.

Corporate Social Responsibility

The group also runs the FDJ UNITED Foundation, which promotes equal opportunities in education and integration.