Majority of Young UK Gamblers to Bet More During FIFA World Cup

A vast majority of gamblers aged 18-24 expect to gamble more frequently due to major sporting events such as the upcoming FIFA men’s World Cup, with addiction and covering essential bills given as reasons for doing so.

According to research published by Nationwide Building Society, 83% of bettors in the 18-24 cohort would be likely to bet more often when a major sporting event is being held in 2026, which is more than double the rate of players aged over 55 (37%). The data was based on a poll of 2,000 gamblers in the UK.

Close to one in five (18%) players aged 18-24 said addiction was a reason they gamble, which was about nine times higher than the rate among over-55s (2%).

One in four (25%) of the 18-24 bracket said they gamble to earn more money which can pay essential bills, while just 7% of gamblers over the age of 55 said this applied to them.

However, close to three quarters (74%) of 18-24-year-olds said they have used self-restriction tools, against just 22% of over-55s. A total of 77% of gamblers aged 18-24 said gambling has had a negative impact on their lives, while 20% of over-55s said the same. One in five (20%) felt guilty or ashamed after gambling, while 16% felt stressed or anxious.

An expanded World Cup

This year’s FIFA men’s World Cup will provide more betting opportunities than any previous World Cup finals, with a record 104 matches taking place between Thursday, 11 June and Sunday, 19 July.

This is due to the expansion from 32 teams qualifying for the tournament to 48. In the UK specifically, betting volumes could be influenced by the progress of England and Scotland; England will be expected to reach the latter stages of the tournament.

The tournament will be hosted in the US, Canada and Mexico, with a majority of matches taking place at evening/late night times for the UK audience.

The data suggests male players are driving betting increases, with more than three quarters (76%) set to gamble more frequently in 2026, compared with six in ten women (60%).

The World Cup was listed as the standout major sporting event, with 59% of those planning to bet more saying the World Cup was the biggest draw, some way ahead of the UEFA Champions League (34%) and horseracing’s Royal Ascot (20%).

“A clear generational divide”

Kathryn Townsend, Head of Customer Vulnerability for Nationwide, said:

“Major sporting events bring people together and we know most will enjoy the World Cup responsibly – but our research shows a clear generational divide, with nearly one in five young gamblers describing themselves as addicted and a quarter of this group saying they’re gambling to help pay essential bills – which is of concern.”

Raminta Diliso, Senior Partnerships Manager for charity GamCare, said:

"Sporting events like the World Cup often see a spike in betting activity and we know the challenges it presents for those experiencing gambling harm. We’re particularly concerned about young adults who may be at-risk this summer, with more games and overnight fixtures offering more opportunities to gamble.”

Previous worrying figures

A previous report published by GamCare showed the number of people seeking financial guidance from gambling harms charity Ygam, which aims to build awareness about the dangers of gambling for young people, more than doubled in 2025, to 1,954.