World Cup 2026 Betting: Record $50bn in Biggest Gambling Event

Macquarie forecasts approximately $50 billion in global wagers on the 2026 World Cup, a 43% increase from the estimated $35 billion wagered during the 2022 tournament in Qatar. This works out to roughly $500 million per match across the 104 scheduled fixtures.

Three main factors drive the surge: the expanded format with 48 teams and 104 matches (up from 32 teams and 64 matches), the favourable time zones in the US, Mexico, and Canada for European and Latin American audiences, and the dramatic growth of legal sports betting in the United States, where 65% of the population now has access to regulated wagering.

Approximately 65% of the US population can now legally place sports bets, up from roughly 40% during the 2022 World Cup. This makes 2026 the first World Cup where the majority of Americans have access to legal sports betting markets.

Critics warn that the scale of betting promotion during the tournament could fuel gambling addiction. Research from the UK's National Centre for Social Research shows that 79% of gambling company winnings come from the top 10% of spenders, who each lose at least £5,639 per year. Campaigners also raise concerns about the cross-promotion of casino content alongside sports betting.

Crypto sportsbooks are expected to capture a growing share of World Cup betting volume, offering faster payouts, privacy features, and access in jurisdictions where traditional betting is restricted. Platforms like Cloudbet provide odds data and crypto-denominated wagering, though regulators including the CFTC are proposing stricter oversight of prediction markets and digital betting platforms.