The 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off next week, and an American Gaming Association survey released today expects the event to attract $1.8 billion in legal sports betting wagers from about 20.5 million American adults.
The figure represents about 8% of the adult U.S. population, with the AGA survey also finding that 9.8 million American adults — representing 48% of all bettors — intend to place their bets via online sports betting sites. This is more than double the 4.7 million people (23%) expected to place wagers at a retail sportsbook and the 4.1 million (20%) who will be using a bookie.
Another significant statistic emerging from the AGA's inaugural World Cup survey is that the vast majority (78%) of those planning to bet on World Cup odds believe that it is important to be able to place legal bets rather than resort to illegal means, such as bookies and offshore betting sites.
Owing to the fact that the World Cup is held only once every four years, this year's tournament marks the first time that a majority of the American public will have the opportunity to legally wager on the event, which kicks off the first of 64 matches on November 20.
"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.," said AGA Senior Vice President Casey Clark. "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."
The spread of World Cup betting fever in the U.S. is the result of the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision that paved the way for the nationwide legalization of sports betting, which was previously permitted only in Nevada.
Much larger pool in 2022 than 2018
As a result of the PASPA being repealed, 132 million American adults are now able to legally bet on World Cup matches from the comfort of their homes, or via retail outlets, in 31 states and the District of Columbia. Maryland residents may also be able to partake in the online action later this month with the expected rollout of mobile sports betting in the Old Line State.
This is a dramatic increase when compared to the restricted pool of 10 million Americans who were able to bet during the 2018 World Cup, when only Nevada and two other states offered legal betting on the matches.
This year's tournament is also boosted in North America by the fact that both Canada and the USA are fielding squads in the 32-team competition. This only further heightens betting interest in an event that has been gaining awareness in North America for decades overall — especially in Ontario, which regulated sports betting in April, where Canadians no longer have to envy their Commonwealth brethren in the UK, who have enjoyed a long history of betting on what soccer matches.
Some additional statistical highlights of the AGA Survey include the fact that of all World Cup bettors:
- 6.0 million (29%) plan to place a casual bet with a friend.
- 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.
The survey also found that three out of every 10 U.S. adults that plan on watching the World Cup... plan to bet on matches.
Further, millennials (14%) expressed greater interest in betting on the tournament as compared to Generation Z (11%) and Generation X (8%), but perhaps the most surprising statistic is that only 2% of baby boomers plan to wager on World Cup matches — an indication that the World Cup is skewing much more heavily to younger people as compared to NFL and other pro sporting league competitions.
American bettors favor... America?
Currently, at PointsBet, Brazil is a +400 favorite to win the tournament, followed by Argentina (+550), defending champion France (+650), England and Spain (+8050), and 2014 champion Germany (+1,000). Oddly, the AGA survey reports that if they were given $50 to bet, most Americans would put their money on... the United States (24%), despite it being listed as a 150/1 longshot to win the World Cup, followed by Brazil (19%), Argentina (17%) and Germany (10%).
Team USA does, however, have a solid chance to advance beyond the group stage as it finds itself the second favorite to advance from a Group B — which includes England, Wales, and Iran — while Canada is the biggest underdog in Group F with Belgium, Croatia, and Morocco.
Finally, the AGA survey revealed that the vast majority (72%) of World Cup bettors intend to place traditional bets "either online, with a bookie, or at a physical sportsbook." This differs from wagering activity associated with major U.S. sporting events like the Super Bowl and March Madness that "have significant casual betting components," which include bracket or squares contests.
The AGA based its estimates on an online survey of 2,213 adults conducted by Methodology Morning Consult on behalf of AGA between November 3-5.
