OpenBet hails record-breaking World Cup as US interest soars
Sports betting supplier notes upticks in bet builders, in-play and North American engagement during month-long tournament
OpenBet processed more than 200 million bets at this year’s World Cup in what was a record-breaking tournament for the supplier.
The firm, which is now owned by Endeavor after the $800m purchase of OpenBet from Light & Wonder, powers some of the largest operators on both sides of the Atlantic, including Sky Bet, Ladbrokes, William Hill, FanDuel and DraftKings.
Releasing its data for the tournament in Qatar, OpenBet revealed more than $2bn (£1.6bn) was wagered across all its channels, with a 13% rise in the number of bets compared to the 2018 World Cup.
There was record-breaking performance for European and Canadian clients, with an increase in engagement levels of 22% and 21%, respectively.
Looking at the US, more than 12 million bets were placed on the US’ fixtures, with the group stage clash with England attracting 5.6 million bets alone. In total, the US’ matches recorded $100m in stakes.
Elsewhere, North American operators reported the World Cup had been more than 200% the size of college basketball’s March Madness, further compounding the growing appeal of the sport.
Bet builders and in-play betting also saw spikes in activity during the 64-match tournament.
There were more than five times the amount of bet builders processed compared to last year’s Euro 2020 tournament, with more than 50% of bet builder stakes coming from the US.
In the final, which saw Lionel Messi lead Argentina to a third World Cup, around a third of bets and nearly 50% of stakes were placed in-play.
Jordan Levin, OpenBet CEO, said the combined strong performance in Europe as well as growth in North America put the supplier in good stead for the next World Cup in 2026.
Levin said: “This year’s World Cup has been a record-breaker in terms of engagement, and we are thrilled to have provided operators and bettors with an experience to match the sporting spectacle displayed in Qatar.
“Alongside a strong performance in Europe, the growth we have seen in North American markets demonstrates our ability to cater to these rapidly regulating jurisdictions, and this also puts us in good stead for the 2026 World Cup, set to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico,” he added.