World Cup expected to trigger record betting surge, says expert

KATHMANDU: The upcoming FIFA World Cup is expected to generate unprecedented global betting activity, with total revenue projected to exceed $50 billion, according to betting industry experts.

Darren Small, Managing Director of Managed Trading Services at Sportradar Group AG, described the tournament as “the biggest circus in town” in an interview with AFP.

He said betting volumes for the next World Cup are expected to significantly surpass the 2022 edition, partly due to the expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams.

Small noted a shift in betting behaviour, with punters increasingly focusing on individual player performances rather than traditional team-based wagers. He said modern betting markets now include “player props” and customizable “bet builders,” allowing users to construct complex scenarios such as goal types, assists, or match statistics.

“We expect a lot of interest around player props and bet builders,” Small said, adding that customers are increasingly interested in creating narrative-style bets combining multiple in-game outcomes.

David Stevens, head of public relations at English bookmaker Coral, also told AFP that the scale of the tournament will make it the largest betting event in history. He added that so-called bet builders are among the fastest-growing segments of the industry, particularly among younger customers seeking more dynamic betting options.

Early betting trends reportedly show strong support for teams such as Argentina and France, while England remains among the top contenders despite long odds of ending their decades-long wait for a World Cup title.

Attention is also focused on star players including Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland, who are among the leading favourites for the Golden Boot award.

Experts say the tournament’s hosting across the United States, Canada and Mexico could create scheduling challenges for European audiences, but may increase engagement in South American markets.

Despite growing global interest, analysts note that some betting patterns remain unusual, including unexpected wagers placing lesser-known players among top scorer contenders.

The World Cup is scheduled to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.