FIFA World Cups are usually held in four-year intervals. It is held during the off-season of domestic football, beginning in May and ending in August. The tournament is great for fans across the globe as it brings everyone together. There’s always an entertaining event, even though the local football season is on break. Meanwhile, the idea of a global football tournament is always good for betting operators and gamblers. During this period, gamblers have more time to analyze bets before staking.
The just concluded World Cup held in Qatar was a grand spectacle despite the controversy that came in the beginning. That tournament is the global sporting event that was betted on the most in history. Meanwhile, reports show that the last tournament in 2018 saw the online betting industry hit record betting margins. How did the Qatar World Cup affect the online betting sector?
What We Expected
There’s a good reason why this FIFA World Cup may bring the highest online sports betting figures. Consider the research discussed here. Experts anticipated an increase in online betting before the 2022 tournament. It was tipped to be the most significant betting event of 2022. Experts also predicted that football’s most important event would see stakes as high as 300 million pounds.
According to data collected from betting sites not on Gamstop, one in six Americans plays sports betting. Meanwhile, a third of this figure is men below 55. Additionally, half of these men started betting recently when the Qatar World Cup began. Others became gamblers within the last two years. It is surprising to say that 71% of sports betting customers bet once every week. Another 11% bet several times daily.
Gamers Play Online Sports Betting for Money
People play sports betting for different reasons. Firstly, most gamblers play online sports betting for money. Additionally, people play online betting of the thrill and entertainment it brings. Some gamers have cited less important reasons for betting on football games. These reasons can be because of watching the game with friends.
Some gamble because their friends and family are playing online sports betting on World Cup games. Meanwhile, many of these people see betting as a fun activity. They don’t mind losing money as long as they are having fun. Hence, the more games available on online sports betting platforms, the higher the number of gamblers. The FIFA World Cup offers more games to play. Meaning more people have put their money into betting during this period.
How Did the Qatar Tournament Affect Online Betting?
The FIFA World Cup is arguably the most extensive online sports betting event. Hence, many gamblers pay close attention to the betting calendar during a World Cup year. Besides, the fact that the host nation is hosting a 28-day tournament (shorter than usual) presents an opportunity to bet on many exciting games in a short period. Apart from the prospect of betting on more games, fans can expect to view plenty of football action. Based on the above data on the rise of online betting during the World Cup, we can agree that gamblers will have put lots of money into sports wagers.
According to one survey in the United States, the growing popularity of online sports betting this season has become a cause for concern. How did the study come to this conclusion? Six in every ten agree that online sports betting should be legal throughout the United States. Note that online gambling is still illegal in some parts of the U.S. However, another 58% of adults in the country agree that online sports betting should not be allowed fully. They insist that celebrities shouldn’t promote online betting. Additionally, eight in ten gamblers in the U.S. say they have family support. Overall, more than half the people in the United States don’t recommend online betting.
Verdict: More people played sports betting during the FIFA World Cup
Considering the number of people who approve of online sports betting, you can agree that more people play sports betting during FIFA World Cup competitions. The online betting figures also prove that millions of gamblers bet a lot during the just concluded FIFA World Cup. Meanwhile, whether the tournament’s impact on online sports betting is positive or negative remains to be seen. In any case, experts agree that betting addiction will likely rise, and more money will come into the betting space.
Even though the online sports betting boom slows down, the domestic leagues will kick off from where they stopped. Now it is mid-December, and Argentina has won the FIFA World Cup. Premier League action will commence weeks after the World Cup. Fans can immediately bet on soccer again. There’s always betting action as long as the domestic football season is ongoing.
