Jumio Study: 33% Adults Will Bet on 2026 World Cup

Global Trend: "One in Three"

Company analysts have recorded that one in three adults globally (33%) will place bets on the 2026 World Cup matches. The study is based on a survey of over 8,000 respondents in four key regions: the USA, the UK, Singapore, and Mexico.

Interest in betting varies by country:

• Mexico: Leads in engagement levels, with 43% of the adult population planning to bet on game outcomes.

• United Kingdom: 33% of respondents expressed readiness to place wagers.

• Singapore: 29% of respondents.

• USA: 26% of survey participants.

The "Newcomer" Factor

One of the report's most notable findings is that 20% of respondents have never used online betting platforms before. The mass influx of new users, attracted by the hype surrounding the championship, creates new challenges for digital space security.

Nearly half of the respondents (47%) stated that betting is their primary way to add "spice" and emotion to watching football.

Security and Risks: A Challenge for Operators

Jumio, a company specializing in identity verification, emphasizes the serious risks posed by this "betting boom":

1. The underage issue: Due to the huge volume of traffic on match days, operators may face difficulties in instantly verifying users' ages. This creates risks of minors attempting to access betting services.

2. Identity fraud: The increase in new accounts creates a fertile ground for using others' documents or creating "fake" profiles.

3. Regulatory pressure: Government regulators are already increasing oversight of platforms. Companies that fail to ensure reliable age verification risk facing huge fines and license revocations.

Conclusion for the Industry

The 2026 World Cup will be not only a football celebration but also a large-scale "stress test" for the gambling industry. Artificial intelligence technologies for facial recognition and document verification are becoming a minimum requirement for bookmakers who want to operate within the legal framework.

For the average fan, this means one thing: the registration process on betting sites during the tournament will likely become stricter than ever before.

Source: Jumio Online Identity Study (2026), conducted by Censuswide among 8,003 adult respondents in April 2026.