Key Takeaways
- FDJ United confirms commitment to maintaining Unibet’s presence in Britain following a 24.1% decline in Kindred UK gross gaming revenue during Q1
- Remote gaming duty in the UK jumped from 21% to 40% of GGR this April, intensifying financial challenges
- Group-wide GGR increased 1% to reach €2.175 billion, while online betting and gaming revenue declined 8%
- Gaming division head Pascal Chaffard identifies departmental fragmentation as a core problem and outlines integration strategy
- Company anticipates UK recovery within several quarters rather than multiple years
French gambling operator FDJ United has reaffirmed its dedication to the British market, dismissing any possibility of withdrawing its Unibet brand despite mounting financial pressures and declining revenues.
Pascal Chaffard, who recently assumed leadership of FDJ’s betting and gaming operations, addressed these strategic decisions during the organization’s first-quarter 2025 financial results presentation on April 22.
The company disclosed that gross gaming revenue from its Kindred UK operations plummeted 24.1% during the initial three months of the year. This downturn coincided with the British government’s implementation of substantially higher remote gaming duties, escalating from 21% to 40% of GGR beginning in April 2026.
Beyond the UK, FDJ encountered similar headwinds in the Dutch market, where recent taxation increases have created additional operational challenges.
Across all operations, the group recorded a modest 1% increase in GGR, reaching €2.175 billion for the quarter. However, consolidated revenue retreated 3% to €895 million.
Digital Operations Report Revenue Contraction
FDJ’s digital betting and gaming segment, which encompasses the Kindred portfolio, experienced a 1% contraction in GGR alongside an 8% revenue reduction throughout the period.
Excluding the troubled UK and Netherlands markets from calculations painted a more encouraging picture. The remaining online betting and gaming operations demonstrated 6% GGR growth, with revenue declining only marginally by 1%.
Chaffard, who transitioned from his previous chief financial officer position to spearhead the digital division’s strategic restructuring, directly confronted speculation about a potential UK market exit during analyst discussions.
He emphasized that while Unibet commands only a low single-digit share of the British market, the operation continues generating profits.
“We don’t have any intention to withdraw from the UK,” Chaffard said. “The point is that we have some problems to solve.”
He noted that rival operators have successfully expanded their UK presence while maintaining regulatory compliance. “We are not less smart than them,” he stated.
Integration Strategy Targets Departmental Silos
Chaffard pinpointed insufficient interdepartmental communication as a fundamental obstacle hampering UK performance.
He explained that teams responsible for marketing, product development, responsible gambling initiatives, and anti-money laundering compliance had been operating independently. Each function pursued separate agendas without meaningful cross-functional engagement.
FDJ said in its Q1 report that the company had established “targeted task forces” in both Britain and the Netherlands specifically to enhance coordination among various operational teams.
“What I’ve done is to take all the specialists and lock them in the same room,” Chaffard told analysts. He said the different elements of the business are “totally linked.”
Chaffard characterized the UK challenges as operational rather than fundamental in nature. He framed them as execution and collaboration deficiencies rather than structural flaws.
He assured analysts that resolution would not require years of effort. Instead, he projected visible improvements emerging within “some quarters.”
“There is absolutely no question of getting out of the UK,” he said. “The top priority is to fix this problem.”
The company indicated its intention to maintain robust compliance investments while simultaneously developing strategies to restore growth momentum in the British market over upcoming quarters.
