Bookies.com Projects Record U.S. Wagering on 2026 World Cup
Bookies.com has released projections showing that Americans will place $3.1 billion in wagers on 2026 World Cup matches through legal online sports betting channels available across dozens of states, while prediction markets including Kalshi and Polymarket are expected to process an additional $2.4 billion in volume, and these combined totals would surpass the $1.8 billion recorded during the 2022 tournament hosted in Qatar.
Data from the forecast indicates that legal sportsbooks will capture the largest share of activity because regulated platforms now operate in more jurisdictions than at any previous point, and the expansion has created broader access for participants who prefer structured betting interfaces over unregulated alternatives.
Survey Findings on Planned Participation
A PwC survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults conducted in April 2026 found that 58 percent intend to wager on the event through at least one channel that includes sportsbooks, prediction markets, fantasy sports, or informal arrangements, while roughly one-third of respondents anticipate placing bets totaling $250 or more over the course of the tournament.
Those figures reveal a clear distribution of intended spending levels across the sample, and analysts who reviewed the responses noted that the one-third segment expecting higher outlays aligns with patterns observed in prior major international soccer events where dedicated bettors concentrate larger sums on group-stage and knockout matches.
Comparison With 2022 Results
The 2022 World Cup generated $1.8 billion in U.S. legal sports betting handle, yet the 2026 projections from Bookies.com point to nearly triple that amount when sportsbooks and prediction markets are combined, and the increase stems from additional states that have legalized online wagering since the Qatar tournament along with greater familiarity among users who have become accustomed to mobile platforms.
Prediction markets are forecast to contribute $2.4 billion on their own, a category that was smaller during the previous cycle, and platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket have expanded their contract offerings to cover match outcomes, goal totals, and tournament milestones that appeal to users seeking different risk profiles from traditional point-spread or moneyline bets.
Market Structure and Access Patterns
Legal online sports betting operates in dozens of states as of May 2026, and this geographic spread allows residents in those jurisdictions to place wagers directly through licensed operators without crossing into physical retail locations, while the same regulatory environment supports the integration of prediction market contracts that settle based on official FIFA results.
Observers note that the combination of sportsbook and prediction market activity creates parallel avenues for participation, and the PwC data shows that many respondents plan to use multiple methods rather than restricting activity to a single platform type, which mirrors the diversified approach already visible in other major sporting events.
Conclusion
The Bookies.com forecast, paired with the PwC survey results, outlines a measurable expansion in projected U.S. betting volume for the 2026 World Cup compared with 2022 totals, and the figures rest on current state-level legalization trends plus documented user intentions across more than 2,000 adults polled earlier this year. Additional details appear in the original reporting on the PwC survey.