- Status
- Judgment entered (judgment)
- As of
- 30 Sep 2025 · read from the court record
- Court
- Conseil d'État, 5e-6e chambres réunies · Supreme or high court
- Docket
- 436439, 436441, 436449
- Filed
- Dec 2019
- Type
- Operator v. regulator, licensing and administrative court cases
- Money
- EUR 380m paid by FDJ for 25-year exclusive rights (cahier des charges art. 3), raised by EUR 97m after the Commission procedure; BGC ordered to pay EUR 3,000 each to the State and FDJ
- Payout
- No payout exists as of 14 Nov 2026
Status words follow the court record: a complaint states one side's allegations, only the court's orders decide anything. Filing a settlement claim is always free.
What this case is about
When FDJ was privatised in 2019 it received 25-year exclusive rights over lotteries and retail sports betting for EUR 380m. The UK Betting and Gaming Council attacked the implementing decrees. On 14 April 2023 the Conseil d'État held the monopoly compatible with EU law and the 25-year term not excessive, rejected most pleas, but stayed the state-aid plea pending the European Commission's formal investigation (SA.56399, SA.56634). After the Commission found no aid on 31 October 2024 (France having raised the payment by EUR 97m), the Conseil d'État rejected the remaining claim on 30 September 2025, closing the last privatisation challenge.
What this case is about
This is a challenge before the Conseil d'État (5th and 6th chambers combined), dockets 436439, 436441 and 436449, by The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) against the Prime Minister and La Française des jeux (FDJ). Betclic Enterprises Ltd intervened. The case was filed in December 2019.
When FDJ was privatized in 2019, it received exclusive rights over lotteries and retail sports betting for 25 years, in return for EUR 380m. BGC, the UK operators' body, attacked the implementing decrees 2019-1060 and 2019-1061 of 17 October 2019.
It relied on Arts. 49 and 56 TFEU (establishment and services) and on Arts. 107-108 TFEU (unnotified state aid). This page belongs to the licensing and administrative court cases category.
Who is covered
The ruling affects operators that wanted access to the French lottery and retail betting market, and FDJ as the holder of the exclusive rights. The parties were BGC and Betclic Enterprises Ltd against the Prime Minister (acting with the economy minister) and FDJ.
It does not cover players as a class. For other French rulings, see gambling lawsuits in France.
Is there a payout?
No payout exists in this case for players. The EUR 380m was paid by FDJ for the 25-year exclusive rights under article 3 of its specifications, and France raised the payment by EUR 97m after the Commission procedure.
That is a price for rights, not a fund for claimants. For how real settlement money is split, see payout per person.
The only order for money is a costs award: BGC must pay EUR 3,000 each to the State and to FDJ.
What the court decided
As of 14 November 2026 the litigation is closed. The orders came in two steps.
On 14 April 2023 the Conseil d'État held the monopoly compatible with EU law and the 25-year term not excessive. It rejected most pleas but stayed the state-aid plea in docket 436441 while the European Commission investigated (SA.56399 and SA.56634).
The Commission found no state aid in Decision (EU) 2025/892 of 31 October 2024, after France raised the payment by EUR 97m through amendment 1 (decree of 30 April 2025).
On 30 September 2025 the Conseil d'État rejected the remaining claim in no. 436441, admitted Betclic's intervention and ordered the EUR 3,000 payments. The record describes this as closing the last privatization challenge.
Why it matters
The ruling confirms that a member state can grant a private company exclusive gambling rights for 25 years if the grant is justified under EU law and the state-aid review finds no aid. It sets the legal base for the French lottery and retail betting market for the next two decades.
Readers who follow disputes between operators against regulators and states can compare this case with others in the category.
Questions people ask
Did the Conseil d'État uphold FDJ's monopoly?
Yes. On 14 April 2023 it held the monopoly compatible with EU law and the 25-year term not excessive, and on 30 September 2025 it rejected the last remaining claim in no. 436441.
How much did FDJ pay for its exclusive rights?
FDJ paid EUR 380m under article 3 of its specifications. France later raised the payment by EUR 97m through amendment 1 (decree of 30 April 2025) after the Commission procedure.
Did the European Commission find illegal state aid?
No. Commission Decision (EU) 2025/892 of 31 October 2024 found no aid in SA.56399 and SA.56634.
Related cases
- EGBA, SPS Betting and Betclic: a parallel challenge to ordinance 2019-1015 and the FDJ and PMU decrees.
- State aid SA.56399 and SA.56634: the Commission decision that found no aid in FDJ's exclusive rights.
- Zeturf v Premier ministre: the earlier CJEU case C-212/08 on French gambling exclusivity.
Who is involved
Plaintiffs: The Betting and Gaming Council (UK operators' body); Betclic Enterprises Ltd intervening
| Defendants | Premier ministre / ministre de l'économie; La Française des jeux (FDJ) |
|---|---|
| Claims |
|
Is there a payout?
No payout exists in this case as of 14 Nov 2026. The court record shows EUR 380m paid by FDJ for 25-year exclusive rights (cahier des charges art. 3), raised by EUR 97m after the Commission procedure; BGC ordered to pay EUR 3,000 each to the State and FDJ.
What happens next
No future date is on the record we hold. The case is closed on the record we hold; later appeals or enforcement steps would be added here.
Timeline
2 dated steps on record, oldest first. Future dates come from court notices and can move.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec 2019 | Filed |
| 30 Sep 2025 | Judgment entered |
Documents and sources
2 primary sources (court file, administrator notice, regulator) and 0 secondary. Press is supporting evidence only.
- Docket: conseil-etat.fr
- Court document: conseil-etat.fr
| What it supports | Source | Type | Retrieved |
|---|---|---|---|
| CE 14 April 2023: art. 2 sursis à statuer on 436441 pending SA.56399/SA.56634; surplus and 436449 rejected; 380,000,000 euros | conseil-etat.fr | primary | 14 Nov 2026 |
| CE 30 Sept 2025 n° 436441: requête rejetée; Commission Decision (EU) 2025/892 found no aid after EUR 97m increase; CE n° 436441, 5e-6e chambres réunies, 30 Sept 2025, ECLI:FR:CECHR:2025:436441.20250930, tables: Betclic intervention admitted, BGC requête rejetée, 3 000 euros each to the State and LFDJ; indemnity 380 millions (art. 3 cahier des charges) raised by 97 millions (avenant n° 1, décret 30 April 2025); Commission Decision (EU) 2025/892 of 31 Oct 2024 (SA.56399, SA.56634) found no aid. CE 14 April 2023 (nos 436439, 436441, 436449, PDF): art. 2 sursis à statuer on 436441 pending SA.56399 | conseil-etat.fr | primary | 14 Nov 2026 |
Related cases
3 cases in the record share parties, claims or a settlement with this one.
| Case | Court | Status |
|---|---|---|
| EGBA, Kindred and Betclic challenge the 2019 gambling reform; ordinance annulled in one point | Conseil d'État, 5e-6e chambres réunies | Judgment entered |
| Commission closes FDJ state-aid probe: no aid after France adds EUR 97m to the EUR 380m payment | European Commission, Directorate-General for Competition (formal investigation under art. 108(2) TFEU) | Judgment entered |
| CJEU Zeturf: France's PMU horse-betting monopoly can be justified if coherent | Court of Justice of the European Union (Eighth Chamber), reference from the Conseil d'État, France | Judgment entered |
Last checked against the sources on 14 Nov 2026. Found an error? Tell us and we correct the record with a dated note.