Created in 1930 by the French horseracing associations allowed to offer off-track betting, PMU is the sole off-track horse racing betting operator in France where only pari-mutuel principle is authorized. The company designs, promotes, markets and processes bets 365 days a year. It also manages horseracing Channels, notably Equidia which is broadcast in private homes and in the commercial network.

PMU became an Economic Interest Group (EIG) in 1985, gathering together 52 non profit-making racing associations, and its activity is placed under the supervision of the Agriculture and Finance Departments.