Bookies and Sportsbooks Set to Generate Millions in Bets During the World Cup

(Sponsored) Every four years, the FIFA 2026 World Cup becomes more than just the biggest soccer tournament on the planet. It turns into one of the most important betting events in the global gambling industry.

Millions of fans from around the world tune in for the matches, and a large portion of them place wagers with sportsbooks along the way.

For sports betting sites, the World Cup represents a perfect storm of massive viewership, emotional investment, and betting-friendly formats that reliably generate enormous betting volume.

Recent tournaments have shown just how valuable the World Cup has become for sportsbooks.

With sports betting now legal in more markets than ever before and mobile wagering continuing to grow, operators are preparing for another tournament that could generate millions, and in some cases billions, in bets worldwide.

Why the World Cup Is So Valuable for Sportsbooks

One of the biggest reasons the World Cup is such a powerful betting event is its sheer scale.

According to an investment overview published by Gabelli Funds, World Cup finals regularly draw more than 1.5 billion viewers worldwide, making the tournament one of the most-watched sporting events on Earth.

That kind of global exposure is unmatched by most leagues or competitions, and it creates a massive funnel for sportsbooks.

Unlike club soccer, which tends to attract more knowledgeable bettors, the World Cup brings in casual fans who may not normally wager on sports.

National pride plays a major role. Fans are far more willing to place a bet when their home country is involved, even if the wager is small or based more on emotion than analysis.

Sportsbooks benefit from that emotional attachment, especially during the group stage and knockout rounds.

The betting markets themselves also help drive volume. Match winners, totals, group winners, and outright futures are easy for new bettors to understand, while more experienced bettors still have access to deeper markets and advanced analytics.

How Much Money Is Being Bet on the World Cup

The numbers from recent World Cups highlight just how massive this betting ecosystem has become.

Industry estimates cited by iGaming Today suggest that roughly $35 billion was wagered globally on the 2022 World Cup.

That represented a sharp increase from the 2018 tournament and reflected both the expansion of legal sports betting and increased engagement from casual bettors.

In the United States, where sports betting was still limited during the 2018 World Cup, growth has been especially noticeable.

The American Gaming Association estimated that more than 20 million American adults planned to wager approximately $1.8 billion on the 2022 tournament.

That figure underscored how quickly soccer betting has gained traction in the US market now that legal sportsbooks are widely available.

Across the Atlantic, sportsbooks in the United Kingdom also experienced heavy action. Flutter Entertainment projected that more than £300 million in bets would be placed across its UK and Ireland brands during the 2022 World Cup alone.

For operators in mature betting markets, the World Cup consistently rivals the biggest domestic sporting events of the year.

Why the 2026 World Cup Could Be Even Bigger

Looking ahead, expectations for future tournaments are even higher. The 2026 World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, placing it directly within some of the fastest-growing regulated betting markets in the world.

Research cited by Insider Sport suggests that nearly 70 percent of surveyed fans plan to place a bet during the 2026 tournament.

A significant portion of those bettors are expected to be first-time or infrequent wagerers, which makes the World Cup a major customer acquisition opportunity for sportsbooks.

Mobile betting will play a key role. With fans able to place bets instantly from their phones while watching matches at home, at bars, or even at work, sportsbooks expect higher engagement and more frequent wagering sessions than ever before.

The Types of Bets Driving Sportsbook Revenue

World Cup betting extends beyond simply picking match winners.

Futures markets are one of the biggest drivers of early betting volume. Outright winner odds, group-stage winners, and Golden Boot markets attract wagers weeks or even months before the tournament kicks off.

These bets keep money tied up for longer periods and allow sportsbooks to spread risk across dozens of possible outcomes.

Live betting is where sportsbooks often see the most sustained action. Soccer is particularly well-suited for in-play wagering due to constant momentum shifts.

Goals, red cards, injuries, and late-game drama can all swing odds dramatically, prompting bettors to place additional wagers as matches unfold.

Player prop bets have also grown in popularity. Markets like anytime goal scorer, shots on target, assists, and cards appeal to bettors who follow individual players more closely than teams.

These wagers typically carry higher margins, making them especially valuable to sportsbooks during a high-volume event like the World Cup.

Legal Betting and Industry Growth

The expansion of legal sports betting has significantly amplified the World Cup’s impact on the gambling industry.

Since legalization began spreading across the United States, sportsbooks have processed hundreds of billions of dollars in wagers, according to data tracked by Legal Sports Report.

That growth has turned global events like the World Cup into major revenue drivers for regulated operators.

On a global scale, the sports betting industry continues to expand rapidly. Market research from Polaris Market Research valued the global sports betting market at nearly $99 billion in 2024, with continued growth expected as more jurisdictions regulate wagering and betting technology improves.

At the same time, increased regulation has placed greater emphasis on responsible gambling practices.

Sportsbooks now face higher expectations around consumer protection, transparency, and education, particularly during high-profile events that attract large numbers of casual bettors.

Final Thoughts

The FIFA World Cup has firmly established itself as one of the most important events in the sports betting calendar. With billions in global wagers, millions of bettors, and growing legal markets, sportsbooks are once again positioned to generate massive betting volume during the tournament.

As betting becomes more accessible worldwide and technology continues to evolve, future World Cups are likely to push those numbers even higher.

For sportsbooks, the World Cup is a cornerstone event that drives revenue, customer growth, and long-term engagement across the entire betting ecosystem.

About the Author

Rob “Knuckles” McPhail is an industry-trusted sports betting expert with more than two decades of experience, specializing in wagering, odds evaluation, and long-term betting strategy.

Related coverage: Brazil’s Morning Call | Ibovespa Holds Near Record as Earnings Season Splits Brazili This is part of The Rio Times’ daily coverage of Latin American news and financial markets.