World Cup could see global betting volume exceed $50B, new forecast warns
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to see global sports betting volumes exceed $50 billion. This surge is attributed to the increasing accessibility of legal betting markets, particularly in the U.S. and Canada. Experts warn that the normalization of sports betting may lead to a rise in addiction among some individuals.
- ▪The World Cup will feature over 100 games held across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.
- ▪Average wagers per game could exceed half a billion USD, according to a report by Macquire.
- ▪65 percent of the U.S. population now has access to legal betting markets, up from 40 percent during the 2022 World Cup.
- ▪Experts express concern about the potential for increased gambling addiction as sports betting becomes more normalized.
- ▪Ontario is expected to see significant growth in wagers due to its competitive gambling market.
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off next week with Canada, the U.S. and Mexico jointly hosting the mega event, and sports betting is expected to surge this year, a new report warns. With more than 100 games held over six weeks, total betting volumes are expected to exceed US$50 billion worldwide, a report by investment bank Macquire released on Wednesday says.For each game, the average wagers could exceed half a billion USD, the report added.The growth of the sports betting market in the last four years, particularly in the U.S., has meant that 65 per cent of the population has access to legal betting markets, as opposed to 40 per cent during the 2022 World Cup, it said.This edition of the World Cup comes with the skyrocketing popularity of soccer in Canada and the U.S.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Global News.
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