The World Cup could turn out to be the biggest-ever sports betting event. Rapid changes in betting technology will allow more opportunities to place a wider range of bets. For example, at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, there was no such thing as betting on a iPhone app. Google still banned gambling advertising in the UK.
The World Cup could turn out to be the biggest-ever sports betting event. Rapid changes in betting technology will allow more opportunities to place a wider range of bets. For example, at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, there was no such thing as betting on a iPhone app. Google still banned gambling advertising in the UK.
This time bookies expect most World Cup bets to be placed online. Warwick Bartlett, of Global Betting and Gaming Consultants, estimates that global betting turnover for the tournament’s 64 matches will be £3.4bn. France is opening its market to online sports betting with new laws being rushed through to ensure that online bets on the World Cup will be possible. Other European countries continue to restrict sports betting, but the real hive of activity will be in Asia where gambling is deeply ingrained in the culture of many countries.
There are losers as well as winners in the gambling industry, however, in particular online gaming operators. For example, 888 derived 70 per cent of its revenues last year from poker and casino websites. Its shares lost more than a fifth of their value after the online gambling operator warned on profits and said it expected trading to be hit further by the World Cup. Online poker players are expect to desert their computer screens to watch World Cup matches.