France’s online sports betting operators positively pummeled punters in the third quarter of 2019, while online poker got a double-digit boost from increased tournament activity.

Figures released Thursday by French gambling regulator ARJEL show the country’s licensed online gambling operators generated combined revenue of €346m in the three months ending September 30, a strong 27.7% improvement over the same period last year and around €3m more than the market reported in Q2 2019.

Sports betting was the primary engine of Q3’s growth, with the 13 betting licensees reporting revenue up 44% year-on-year to €214m, despite online betting stakes rising only 9% to €1.08b and active bettors dipping 1%.

Total return to sports bettors dipped 5.3 points year-on-year, which is partly a reflection of the final match of the FIFA World Cup, in which France triumphed over Croatia, resulting in a €36.5m payout to patriotic punters in Q3 2018. Operators’ bonus offers to bettors fell by €3m to €17m, reflecting the lack of a similarly marquee sports event in the most recent quarter.