"We have started on the privatisation of Francaise des Jeux which will take effect in the coming months," Le Maire told a conference hosted by the MEDEF business organisation.

The privatisations of companies such as airports group ADP and FDJ are integral to President Emmanuel Macron's plans to raise money to fund innovation projects and boost the overall economy.

In July, France named a host of investment banks to work on its planned privatisation of the FDJ.

(Reporting by Myriam Rivet and Leigh Thomas; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)