Press Releases
Paysafe research: First-time and casual betting to surge for 2026 World Cup
First-time and casual online betting is expected to surge during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, creating a significant revenue opportunity for online sportsbooks that prioritize trusted brands and localized, reliable payment experiences. This is according to new research released by global payments platform Paysafe (NYSE: PSFE).
The findings are outlined in Paysafe’s All the Ways Players Pay: World Cup 2026 report, which shows that 19% of global consumers planning to follow the tournament intend to place their first-ever online bet during the competition. Overall, 60% of World Cup fans worldwide expect to wager online, underscoring the scale of opportunity facing regulated sportsbooks ahead of the five-week tournament.
With the World Cup returning to North America for the first time since 1994, interest in online wagering is especially strong across the host markets of the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as well as in Europe and Latin America. In U.S. states where sports betting is legal, 62% of fans plan to bet, with 29% doing so for the first time. Mexico is expected to see even stronger growth, with 68% planning to wager, including 26% first-time bettors. In Canada, 46% of Ontarians intend to bet, with 9% new to online wagering.
Internationally, enthusiasm remains high in both newly regulated and mature betting markets. In Brazil, 66% of fans plan to bet online, while Peru stands out with an exceptional 85% expressing intent to wager. Established European markets also show strong engagement, including Italy (64%) and the United Kingdom (60%).
The research highlights that brand reputation and payments performance will be decisive factors in converting and retaining bettors during the tournament. While brand trust is the top consideration when choosing a sportsbook (38%), rapid payouts are even more influential, cited by 33% of bettors—outweighing odds, promotions, user experience, and market coverage. In markets such as Peru, fast cash-outs (38%) are considered even more important than brand reputation (34%).
Other payment-related features also play a critical role, with 24% of bettors prioritizing fast deposits and 22% favoring access to preferred payment methods. As a result, offering a broad and localized payment mix is increasingly essential.
Globally, debit cards remain the most popular payment method, preferred by 39% of bettors and rising sharply in markets that restrict credit card use, such as the U.K. (53%) and Massachusetts in the U.S. (56%). However, alternative payment methods (APMs) continue to gain traction. Pay-by-bank and bank transfer solutions are preferred by 27% of players, while digital wallets appeal to 25%, making them the leading choice in some markets like Peru (36%).
Payment localization is emerging as a key differentiator, with 19% of bettors favoring local payment methods. This trend is particularly strong in Brazil, where the central bank’s Pix instant payment system is expected to be the top choice for 48% of bettors.
With the World Cup spanning five weeks, retention will be just as important as acquisition. The report reveals that 88% of global bettors would switch sportsbooks after a poor payment experience, with players in the U.S. and Ecuador among the most sensitive at 93%.
Commenting on the findings, Zak Cutler, President of Global Gaming at Paysafe, said that the 2026 World Cup will be the largest tournament to date for regulated online sportsbooks. He emphasized that optimizing cashier experiences and payment infrastructure will be critical not only for player acquisition during the event, but also for long-term customer retention beyond the tournament.
The post Paysafe research: First-time and casual betting to surge for 2026 World Cup appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Bumble Mobile
SCCG Announces Partnership with Bumble Mobile for White-Label Wireless
Bringing Branded Mobile Services to Casinos, Sportsbooks, Sports Franchises, and Prediction Market Operators Nationwide
SCCG Management, a global advisory firm specializing in the gambling and sports entertainment industries, today announced a strategic partnership with Bumble Mobile, Inc. to bring white-label wireless solutions to casinos, sportsbooks, sports franchises, prediction market operators, and affinity brands across the global gambling industry. The partnership positions SCCG as Bumble Mobile’s market representation channel into the gaming and entertainment sectors.
Bumble Mobile operates as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) with partnerships across major U.S. carrier 5G networks and satellite connectivity. The company enables organizations to launch fully branded wireless services, including mobile plans, home internet, and device warranty programs, without any infrastructure investment, regulatory burden, or customer service overhead. Bumble Mobile handles all compliance, billing, and customer care as the carrier of record, allowing brand partners to focus entirely on marketing and fan engagement.
The white-label wireless model has already gained significant traction globally. More than 25 sports brand MVNOs have launched successfully worldwide, including programs with FC Barcelona, Red Bull, Bayern Munich, Fenerbahce, and Celtic FC. Year one revenues for these programs have typically ranged from $4 million to $11 million, driven by strong initial adoption, low marketing spend relative to subscriber revenue, and approximately 30% lower churn than standard carrier plans.
“Bumble Mobile gives every casino, team, and operator the ability to put their brand in the customer’s pocket 24/7. That changes the relationship entirely,” said Stephen Crystal, Founder and CEO of SCCG Management. “We see wireless as one of the most under-explored revenue and engagement channels in the gambling industry, and Bumble Mobile has the infrastructure, the carrier relationships, and the global proof points to deliver it at scale.”
Under the partnership, SCCG will deploy its commercial network, media footprint, and industry relationships to identify, qualify, and introduce brand customer prospects to Bumble Mobile across several target verticals, including tribal casino operators, commercial casino groups, online gambling operators covering sports betting, online lottery, and online casino, sports leagues and franchises, prediction market platforms, retailers with established loyalty programs, and other affinity brands with customer bases exceeding 25,000 end users.
Beyond connectivity, the partnership unlocks a significant data advantage for operators. Bumble Mobile’s platform captures first-party subscriber data from both carrier networks and satellite sources, delivering substantially greater data volume than standard carrier sources alone. Combined with behavioral insights generated across the company’s ecosystem of over 15,000 apps worldwide, this creates a personalization and player development layer that no social media channel or email marketing campaign can replicate. For casinos and sportsbooks focused on lifetime value and player retention, this data capability represents a material competitive edge.
Bumble Mobile also offers fixed wireless internet solutions for both commercial and residential use, along with in-house credit card processing capabilities spanning standard and high-risk verticals. These additional services create further revenue and bundling opportunities for gaming and entertainment brand partners.
SCCG’s marketing support for Bumble Mobile will include features across the SCCG Weekly Newsletter, which reaches over 26,000 gambling industry professionals, targeted articles with SEO backlinks, LinkedIn amplification, dedicated email campaigns, co-branded webinars, and conference visibility at major industry events including G2E Las Vegas, ICE, SBC, NIGA/IGA, and SiGMA Americas.
Matthew Kincaid, CEO of Bumble Mobile, added, “We built this platform so that any brand with a loyal audience can offer wireless as a service. SCCG’s network and credibility in the gambling industry gives us the fastest possible path to the operators and franchises that will benefit most from this model.”
About SCCG Management
SCCG Management is a global advisory firm with more than 30 years of experience connecting clients to strategic partners across the gambling industry. With an ecosystem of over 130 gaming-related partner companies, SCCG provides market representation, business development, capital introductions, and managed services to operators, technology providers, and brands worldwide. For more information, visit sccgmanagement.com.
About Bumble Mobile
Bumble Mobile, Inc. is an MVNO with partnerships across major U.S. carrier 5G networks and satellite connectivity, providing white-label wireless solutions to organizations across sports, entertainment, retail, education, and financial services. The company’s backend infrastructure supports global brands and enables rapid deployment of branded mobile services within 16 weeks of contract execution. For more information, visit bumblemobile.com.
The post SCCG Announces Partnership with Bumble Mobile for White-Label Wireless appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Belatra Games
Belatra heads to Lima for Peru Gaming Show 2026
Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, is heading to Lima to attend the Peru Gaming Show (PGS) 2026, one of Latin America’s most important international gaming trade fairs.
PGS is now in its 23rd year and will take place on 17-18 June 2026 at the Jockey Exhibition Center, a landmark event that unites the leading brands, manufacturers and suppliers shaping the future of gaming across the region.
Belatra will use the event as an opportunity to reconnect with clients and partners while expanding its network across the Peruvian market – an increasingly important territory in Belatra’s Latin American growth strategy. The Belatra team will be on hand throughout the show to discuss its award-winning portfolio and to explore new commercial opportunities in the region.
As part of its time in Lima, Belatra will also be hosting an exclusive Belatra Cocktail Experience for friends and partners. The evening sees leading names from across the industry come together for drinks, conversations and the chance to celebrate the connections forged across the region. The celebrations will continue into the evening, with Belatra also inviting guests to a watch party for Argentina’s clash with Algeria on 16 June.
Prior to arriving in Lima, Belatra will be at SBC Americas in Fort Lauderdale this week. The event is another important chance for the team to meet with existing clients and potential new partners, whilst also showcasing Belatra’s LatAm-ready content to operators from across North and Latin America.
The post Belatra heads to Lima for Peru Gaming Show 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Brazil
MediaTroopers Commits to Serving Brazilian Regulated Market with Development of New Local Entity
MediaTroopers, the leading digital marketing and customer acquisition firm, has doubled down on its commitment to serving Brazil’s regulated gaming market with the announcement of a new local entity, including a registered company, a front office, and local banking infrastructure.
The newly established entity will serve as a strategic bridge for MediaTroopers’ global partners, including operators, vendors, and financial institutions, seeking to enter the newly regulated Brazilian market. The local entity will also serve as a point of contact for active operators in the market, offering its tools as a local service hub to help operators enhance their business outreach in the region.
As Brazil’s regulated market continues to position itself as one of the most important regulatory opportunities for operators across the globe, MediaTroopers continues to cement itself as the go-to acquisition firm to help clients make the most of this growth by providing localized market access, operational support, relevant acquisition strategies, and targeted solutions designed to enhance performance in the region.
Through its local entity, MediaTroopers can continue providing services, such as localized player acquisition, media buying, affiliate strategy, and more, at a more regional level. For MediaTroopers, Brazil aligns with its broader strategy of delivering sustainable, compliant operations in high-growth markets.
“Brazil represents one of the most exciting growth opportunities in regulated iGaming, and MediaTroopers is fully committed to supporting operators in this market,” said Shmulik Segal, CEO of MediaTroopers.
“By establishing a local company, front office, and banking infrastructure, we are creating a stronger operational foundation for our clients. This presence allows us to act both as a bridge for international brands entering Brazil and as a service hub for active operators looking to scale responsibly and efficiently.”
The post MediaTroopers Commits to Serving Brazilian Regulated Market with Development of New Local Entity appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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