FIFA World Cup: Nearly $2B Will Be Wagered By 20M-Plus People In The U.S.

By Barry Janoff

November 15, 2022: The 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup Qatar is expected to be viewed by five billion people worldwide, topping the record 3.5 billion people who watched the 2018 World Cup in Russia, according to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

Perhaps equally impressive, 20.5 million American adults plan to bet a total of $1.8 billion on the World Cup, according to the American Gaming Assn.

The FIFA World Cup is scheduled for Nov. 20-Dec. 18, airing in the U.S. on Fox Sports (English language) and Telemundo and Peacock (Hispanic language).

"As the first World Cup with widespread availability of legal sports betting, this will certainly be the most bet-upon soccer event ever in the U.S.," Casey Clark, American Gaming Assn. svp, said via the organization.

“With more than half of all American adults having access to legal betting options in their home market, legal sports betting will deepen American fan engagement in the most-watched sporting event in the world."

To date, 31 states and Washington DC currently feature live, legal sports betting markets, with five additional legal markets awaiting launch.

Legal wagering is currently available to 132 million Americans in their home states compared to only ten million during the 2018 World Cup, when just three states featured live, legal markets, according to the American Gaming Assn.

By comparison, the Washington DC-based organization earlier this year said a record of more than 31 million sports wagering participants in the U.S. set a record of $7.6 billion-plus in wagers on Super Bowl LVI between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals.

"As the first World Cup with widespread availability of legal sports betting, this will be the most bet-upon soccer event ever in the U.S."

However, “unlike other major events like the Super Bowl and March Madness that have significant casual betting components —  including bracket or squares contests — the vast majority of World Cup bettors (72%) plan to place traditional bets either online, with a bookie or at a physical sportsbook,” according to the American Gaming Assn.

According to organization, 24% of those surveyed are picking the U.S. to win (which would be its first FIFA Men’s World Cup title), followed by Brazil (19%), Argentina (17%) and Germany (10%).

By comparison, according to numerous wagering sites, the favorites (with slight variations) are Brazil, France, Argentina, England, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, Denmark, Croatia, Uruguay, Senegal, Switzerland, Mexico and then the U.S.

According to the survey, 29% of American adults who plan to watch the World Cup intend to wager on the tournament, and 78% of World Cup bettors say it is important for them to place their bets legally.

Gen Z (11%) and Millennial (14%) adults are more interested in betting on the World Cup than Gen X (8%) and Baby Boomers (2%).

Also among those in the U.S. who plan to wager on the World Cup:

• 9.8 million (48%) plan to place a bet online.

• 6 million (29%) plan to place a casual bet with a friend.

• 4.7 million (23%) plan to place a bet at a physical casino sportsbook.

• 4.1 million (20%) plan to place a bet with a bookie.

• 3.5 million (17%) plan to place a bet as part of a paid pool or fantasy contest.

"As the World Cup kicks off, anyone getting in on the action should have a game plan to bet responsibly,” said Clark.

“That means setting a budget, keeping it fun, learning the odds and playing with legal, regulated operators."

American Gaming Assn. said its Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly campaign is bringing sports betting stakeholders together to promote responsible gaming.

Morning Consult conducted the online survey on behalf of the American Gaming Assn. between Nov. 3-5, 2022, among a national sample of 2,213 adults.

Telemundo has a multi-media ad campaign for the World Cup, “Hear the Call.”

Fox Sports’ campaign is running under the umbrella “Tis The FIFA World Cup.”

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