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Stéphane Pallez

Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer, FDJ UNITED

Search every verified Stéphane Pallez interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Stéphane Pallez, Chairwoman and CEO of FDJ United, has been discussing the company's financial performance, its use of artificial intelligence, and regulatory challenges. In early 2026, she described the group's 2025 results as impacted by a significant increase in taxes on its activities, with net profit falling 55.9% to €176 million. She stated that the company maintained its margin at 24.5% through a performance plan and said the company plans to return to growth in 2026, though she noted that growth would be "amputated by fiscalité." Pallez described FDJ United as a "defensive growth stock" and told investors she believes it is a "good entry point" for the stock. Pallez has also spoken extensively about the company's AI strategy, stating that 80% of employees will be trained on AI by 2026 and 100% by 2027. She argued that AI should be seen as a tool to "free humans to be more human, more creative, more interactive, more connected" rather than as a replacement for people. She emphasized the importance of maintaining a "cockpit of sovereignty" to manage technological dependencies. On regulation, Pallez warned that excessive taxation and regulation can drive players toward the illegal market, and she reiterated that the company's role is to offer a regulated, safe alternative. She also noted that the company is focused on responsible gaming, using AI to monitor player behavior and alert at-risk players.

Recent appearances

Notable quotes

“je pense que toute entreprise doit avoir ce que j'appelle un cockpit de souveraineté. Nous, c'est ce qu'on a maintenant pour se demander comment est-ce qu'elle garde une forme d'indépendance, en tout cas comment est-ce qu'elle limite ses dépendances et comment est-ce qu'elle peut éclairer ses choix avec ça.”

“2026 nous on compte bien revenir à la croissance. Malheureusement cette croissance va être amputée par la fiscalité mais le train sous-jacent plus de croissance. ça sera le déploiement supplémentaire de notre plan de performance qui va permettre de maintenir notre marge et de continuer donc à distribuer un dividende en augmentation, ce qui fait partie de notre modèle.”

“quand c'est si je puis dire trop fiscalisé et trop régulé et bien qu'est-ce qui se passe ? bien le marché illégal se développe. Voilà, donc c'est une activité où la régulation... quand la régulation devient trop stricte, il y a une sorte de d'effet assez naturel d'offre de jeu illégal où les gens vont jouer parce que ils trouvent que le système légal lui-même devient trop trop restrictif.”

“We believe that the future of work and the future of play will be more human than ever. But only if we choose to put our people at the center every step of the way because ultimately every successful AI transformation is a human transformation.”

“What if everything that you've heard about artificial intelligence about machines replacing people was only half of the story? What if instead AI could be the very force that brings us closer together, that frees human to be more human, more creative, more interactive, more connected.”

“La régulation des jeux, elle est là pour faire que les gens soient toujours incités à jouer dans des cadres légaux et contrôlés et pas d'aller se faire escroquer.”

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