Big Surge Coming in First-Time Betting for World Cup 2026
According to Paysafe data, World Cup 2026 is predicted to see a spike in casual and first-time wagering. How well operators can keep those people once the tournament is over will be their biggest obstacle.
19% of consumers worldwide who are interested in watching this summer's World Cup in Canada, the US, and Mexico intend to make their first online wager during the soccer competition, according to the study.
19% Want to Place Their First Bet
According to a survey published by Paysafe titled "All the Ways Players Pay: World Cup 2026," 60% of World Cup fans worldwide intend to place their bets online, which presents a significant revenue opportunity for online sportsbooks.
62% of Americans who live in states where sports betting is allowed plan to place a wager, with 29% doing so for the first time. With 68% intending to gamble, including 26% for the first time, the increase is anticipated to be much more pronounced in Mexico. According to a Paysafe statement, 46% of Ontario residents anticipate placing a wager, with 9% being novices.
Internationally, the same level of interest is evident, particularly in the recently regulated markets of Peru (85%) and Brazil (66%). Mature European jurisdictions such as the UK (60%) and Italy (64%) also have high appetites.
In order for sportsbooks to profit in the long run from all the betting excitement, the payments platform is clearly concentrating on the requirement that operators provide quick payouts and flexible, dependable payment stacks. Their analysis found that while 38% of respondents value brand trust, 33% also cite quick payouts as a factor.
Steer Clear of Bonuses
Phill Gray, an industry sports betting consultant and former head of trade operations at Sports Interaction, claims that the first-time "extravagant" sign-up bonuses that the industry has been accustomed to seeing have been phased out.
“Fraud and abuse continues to be an issue, so books are focusing on retention more than ever for FTD’s (first-time deposit),” said Gray. “Branding across channels (social media and devices) drive conversion. The real key is ‘frictionless onboarding’. An easy, obstacle-free path from first click to first deposit.”
Sports Bettors Converting to Casinos
With incentives like "free chips with your first bet," "free bet offers on your first win," or even "get your money back if a certain bet loses," digital gaming companies are still making a concerted effort to get customers into casino play right away, he continued.
"Terms and conditions as well need to be transparent and clear for first-time visitors,” said Gray. “This goes not only to listed rules that are front and center on offers, but as well having quick and easy responses from a qualified customer service agent.”
"Having instant withdrawals also proves to improve retention by at least 25%," Gray continued. The necessity to continue interacting with new users after an event, like the World Cup, concludes is another crucial factor. Given the client's location and preferred sports, this also includes offers and natural pushes towards other events that might be of interest to them.
