The World Cup is causing a betting frenzy, with experts saying it’s on track to become the biggest betting event of all time.

“I think we were unlucky. We played a very good game; we played well, and Morocco is a very good team. In fact, I bet on them to win the World Cup, so I think we did well.”

“He even placed a bet on the match and… Unfortunately, I lost it, but at least we… We scored a goal and we’re happy about that.”
Fan comments

Even before the knockout stage begins, the increased number of teams and the market-friendly kickoff times are driving the biggest betting companies wild. The bets are beyond anything anyone could have imagined…

“Fans are no longer just betting on the results, as they used to, but also on completely outlandish scenarios. One of them has become particularly popular on social media. Will Cristiano Ronaldo break down in tears at this World Cup?”
Luxembourg Radio and Television

Representatives from the largest betting companies speak to Reuters.

“Overall, we expect the amount wagered to be at least double what we recorded in Qatar.”
Flutter Entertainment (FLTRF.L)

Total bets on the World Cup are expected to exceed $50 billion worldwide, compared to $35 billion for the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

“We’ve seen a threefold increase in first-time users of our predictions and an 87% increase in transaction volume.”
Greg Karamitis – Executive Vice President, DraftKings

Cypriots Are on a Roll

Cypriots are also in a betting frenzy.

“We’re forecasting—and I think it’s clear—that there will be growth in both the second quarter of 2026 and the third quarter due to the World Cup.”
Panagiotis Trisokkas – Chairman of the Betting Authority

The scale of the event and the extensive coverage on social media are driving even more people to place bets and many to try their luck for the first time. As he notes, 8 out of 10 Cypriots gamble online.

“There is a very useful tool available to us that we want to utilize. It is the self-exclusion platform, which allows a player to opt out and prevent themselves from betting. “The most important thing for me is player protection. We’re taking a new bill to Parliament that provides even greater protection for players.”
Panagiotis Trisokkas

The goal, Mr. Trisokkas emphasizes, is for this activity to remain a form of entertainment and not a cause for people to lose their homes.

Currently in Cyprus, a Class B online betting company is very close to receiving a license by the end of the year, bringing the total number of companies to 20. At least two other betting companies have expressed interest in investing.

See the report by Kleio Vourkou: