A new report by Sweeps Pulse estimates American bettors will place total bets amounting to about $3.1 billion on the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This represents the most extensive single sport betting event ever conducted inside the US. The estimate also exceeds the $1.8 billion projected amount for wagers placed on the Super Bowl in 2024. Both amounts represent growth in the legal sports betting market. The 2026 football competition will be held in the US, Canada and Mexico.

Projected Betting Breakdown (2026 FIFA World Cup)

• $1.6 billion via licensed U.S. sportsbook apps

• $920 million via offshore and unlicensed platforms

• $380 million via retail sportsbook locations

• $200 million via sweepstakes and social sports formats

Why This Tournament is Different

There have been no previous World Cups where there is serious U.S. betting volume. This is due to the mobile sports betting being non existent in the U.S. for a large part of the time leading up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. There is now a huge difference when it comes to how mature (and big) the market is in 2026; all major players in the space are already established; they each have their own significant budgets to promote their brand(s); and users have developed four years worth of habits using the NFL, NBA, and College Sports to bet on games.

Another fact is that many of the 2026 World Cup games will be held in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Miami will generate much more local involvement.

The Mobile Factor

In terms of placement (mobile apps) it is estimated that 68% of all World Cup bets will be made using mobile apps. This is compared to an estimate of 41% of all bets taken in the 2018 World Cup. The sportsbooks have committed to spending an estimated $400 million on promotions related to the World Cup. These promotions include but are not limited to; Deposit Matches, Odds Boosts, Free-Bets, and other promotions targeting new soccer bettors.

Key mobile betting statistics:

• Average user session time per game is 23 minutes during major soccer events. Major soccer events average 38% longer than NFL regular season games.

• There is an expectation that live in-game betting will make up 44% of the total World Cup wagered amount.

• FanDuel and DraftKings are expected to take approximately 58% of the licensed app volumes.

The Soccer Audience is Younger and Growing

There are many factors that contribute to an increase in betting at this time. One major factor contributing to the surge in bets at this time is demographics. The data collected from surveys shows that 61% of Gen Z sports bettors have soccer as one of their top 3 wagering sports, while only 29% of bettors who are over 50 years old identify soccer as one of their top 3 wagering sports. This trend demonstrates how the demographics of the sports-betting population are changing.

FanDuel has announced a new partnership with the Toronto Tempo, becoming its first official iGaming partner.

This multi-year agreement brings together two brands committed to expanding women’s sports in Canada. Through this collaboration, FanDuel positions itself as the best Sportsbook and Casino for fans to engage with Canada’s women’s team, bringing them closer to the action and women’s basketball than ever before.

“Partnering with the Toronto Tempo in their inaugural season is an exciting opportunity for FanDuel customers and basketball fans. As a company that shares the same passion for community and empowering women’s sports, we are proud to support a new franchise that will celebrate fans and elevate women’s professional sports in Canada,” said Tom Burdakin, Vice President of Marketing at FanDuel.

“One word to describe this partnership is transformative. Welcoming FanDuel marks a significant milestone for our organization as we continue to build Canada’s first WNBA team and deepen fan engagement,” said Lisa Ferkul, Chief Revenue Officer at Toronto Tempo.

FanDuel has had a front row seat to the growth of women’s sports in recent years as a proud official partner of the WNBA. Through this partnership and FanDuel’s best in class WNBA offering, fans can engage in more ways than any other platform from tip-off to buzzer.

As the first Sportsbook and Casino partner, FanDuel and the Toronto Tempo will bring exclusive fan initiatives to FanDuel’s customers, as well as in-arena visibility and digital activations to connect fans with the excitement of the WNBA both on and off the court.

FanDuel, the premier online gaming company in North America, announced the launch of PokerStars exclusively on FanDuel, a new best-in-class poker experience available in Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The new platform brings together FanDuel’s market leading presence and the PokerStars legacy to deliver an elevated player experience through a new dedicated poker app and desktop site.

PokerStars exclusively on FanDuel merges player liquidity across markets, forming one of the largest regulated online poker networks in North America. Customers will have access to bigger games, larger prize pools, and a broader selection of tournaments and cash games.

“The launch of PokerStars exclusively on FanDuel brings together two of the most iconic names in gaming and represents a major step forward for online poker in North America. By combining PokerStars’ industry-leading poker experience with FanDuel’s scale and reach, we’re able to deliver bigger games, larger prize pools and a more dynamic experience. We look forward to welcoming players to the tables,” said Aaron Dugan, General Manager of PokerStars at FanDuel.

Players across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Michigan will be able to participate in the previously announced two $500,000 guaranteed Sunday Million tournaments. A range of promotions and events, including a $150,000 guaranteed “No Sweat” series alongside a full schedule of tournaments and cash games for players of all levels will also be introduced.