(Bloomberg) -- French lottery operator FDJ SA is considering adding a range of new payment services in a bid to diversify a business model that still heavily relies on gambling, according to people familiar with the matter.

The firm is working with digital lenders to allow customers to deposit cash in their bank accounts at its roughly 30,000 points of sale, one of the people said, asking for anonymity discussing private matters. FDJ aims to deploy this solution by the end of the year, and intends to work on a cash withdrawal offer after that.

The company is also exploring a full-fledged payment solution, such as a card, although the details remain to be fleshed out as the plans are at an early stage, the people said.

A spokesman for FDJ declined to comment.

FDJ has been looking to diversify by investing in new services adjacent to gambling, and has previously flagged payments as an area of interest. The company recently launched Nirio, a solution that allows households to pay bills issued by FDJ’s partners in its network, using cash or buy-now-pay-later options.

Last year, the firm acquired L’Addition and Aleda, which offer point of sale and payment solutions for restaurant operators, tobacco as well as book and stationery shops.  

With a revenue of €108 million ($114 million) in the first nine months of 2023, FDJ’s adjacent activities represent still less than 6% of its overall revenue.

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