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.

The post Paysafe research: First-time and casual betting to surge for 2026 World Cup appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Conduet, a leading AI-driven customer experience (CX) and operations partner, has officially announced the European expansion of its gameLM platform. Specifically built for the high-pressure environments of online sports betting (OSB) and iGaming, gameLM is designed to help operators deliver scalable, compliant, and highly efficient player interactions.

The move comes after six successful years in the United States, where Conduet has established itself as a trusted partner for major brands including Hard Rock Digital, BetSaracen, Soaring Eagle, and Jackpocket Casino.

Solving the Scaling Challenge

Traditional customer support models often struggle to keep pace with the rapid growth and seasonal surges inherent in sports betting. gameLM addresses this by automatically resolving over 80% of player enquiries in real-time.

By handling routine tasks like account verification, promotion queries, and password resets, the platform:

• Reduces Handle Times: Instant responses lead to higher player satisfaction.

• Lowers Operational Costs: Drastically reduces the need for large, manual support teams during peak events.

• Frees Human Agents: Allows staff to focus on complex, high-value interactions that require empathy and advanced problem-solving.

Dual-Module Strategic Deployment

Unlike generic AI tools, gameLM is built on Conduet’s deep operational experience in the gaming sector. It is delivered via a low-friction PAM (Player Account Management) integration and features two core modules:

1. gameLM AI Agent: A standalone solution that handles player enquiries end-to-end with accurate, compliant, and multi-language support.

2. gameLM CoPilot: An agent-assist tool that provides human teams with real-time guidance, suggested responses, and policy insights to ensure consistency across every chat.

This “controlled” approach allows operators to choose their level of automation—starting with human-assisted support and moving toward full AI autonomy as confidence grows.

A Proven Industry Partner

The effectiveness of the platform is already being felt by Conduet’s long-term partners. Neal Atkinson, Senior Director of Sportsbook at BetSaracen, noted:

“We recently chose to implement gameLM for its industry expertise and ability to handle complex customer interactions. We see meaningful value in how it supports our business and our players.”

Justin Heath, Co-Founder and CEO at Conduet, emphasized the importance of a bespoke approach: “One-size-fits-all solutions can introduce real risk in iGaming. With gameLM, we work in close partnership with our clients to tailor the AI to their specific workflows and risk appetite, reinforcing trust and long-term player value.”

Experience gameLM at ICE Barcelona 2026

Conduet will be showcasing the gameLM platform in action at ICE Barcelona 2026. Industry professionals are invited to see how AI can transform their CX operations and drive operational maturity in a competitive global market.

Book a meeting with the Conduet team at ICE 2026 to discover the future of player engagement.

The post Conduet Launches gameLM in Europe: Scaling AI-Powered CX for iGaming and OSB Operators appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.