EKG expects $2.82bn wagered on the World Cup - more if the US advances

• Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (EKG) estimates that as much as $4.33bn might be placed on World Cup gambling in the United States
• The conservative estimate puts the gambling handle in legal sportsbooks at around $2.82bn - $4.33bn, depending on USMNT’s performance
• Globally, as much as $60bn may be wagered on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, based on another estimate by H2 Gambling Capital, another research firm

Marketing and research firm EKG expects huge interest surrounding the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to the firm’s estimates, at least $900m to $1bnwas wagered in the United States alone on the 2022 event, with the upcoming tournament to significantly improve these results.

FIFA World Cup to drive billion-worth gambling in the United States

Yet, the overall estimates for how much would be legally wagered far exceed this number. EKG expects that the total handle will initially reach $2.82bn, with the event getting underway next week on June 11 and running through July 19, with three host nations welcoming the world’s soccer elite.

Part of this has to do with the fact that there are 48 countriesparticipating and 104 matches to be played, up from the 64 games played during the last World Cup.

Whether the figure exceeds the company’s initial estimates, and reaches its full potential of up to $4.33bn, will depend on one key development: how far the United States would make it.

The USMNT has never won a World Cup, but the nation has been hoping that perhaps it could. A strong performance from the US Men’s National Team would result in higher betting enthusiasm among US residents, who could drive the betting handle further along.

"Our forecast comes with wide error bars because of the impact of a potential run from the U.S. Men's National Team, but our base case assumes they advance from the group stage before exiting in either the Round of 32 or Round of 16,"EKG said in its appraisal of the upcoming event.

EKG’s estimate is more or less in line compared to some of the other studies available out there. For one, H2 Gambling Capital, another research company, suggests that the global handle pulled by the World Cup would easily hit $60bn in total handle wagered across the world.

This would be a 71% growth over the gambling activity in 2022, the company estimates, with the host nations alone generating as much as $5.7bn in gambling action in the host nations alone.

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