World Cup: 9 countries oppose unregulated betting
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18 Jun 2026 •
Reading time: 4 minutes
As the 2026 World Cup kicks off against a backdrop of intense betting activity, nine European gambling regulators are calling for increased vigilance regarding prediction market platforms. According to them, these services expose consumers to major risks, without sufficient safeguards.
A joint warning
Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland are speaking with one voice. In a joint statement, their gambling regulators are warning against prediction markets – platforms that allow users to bet on the outcome of political, sporting or geopolitical events.
The message comes at a strategic moment. The 2026 World Cup is described as one of the most important and high-profile tournaments in the world. Such an event naturally leads to an increase in betting activity. But for the authorities, the issue is not limited to traditional betting operators. A new form of gambling, still relatively new in many jurisdictions, risks gaining visibility during the competition.
Regulators do not merely take issue with the existence of these platforms. Above all, they criticise the way they operate when they are not licensed in the countries where they target or attract users. In such cases, they do not comply with the national rules governing gambling and do not provide the safeguards required of licensed operators.
Why prediction markets are a cause for concern for the authorities
Prediction markets are based on a simple idea: allowing users to bet on whether or not an event will occur. This could be a sporting result, a political decision, an international event or a geopolitical development.
These platforms have several addictive features. They may be open 24 hours a day. They may have no built-in betting limits, apart from the amounts staked by users. They may also impose no time limits. Identity checks are sometimes lax, particularly when it comes to verifying that the user is of the required legal age.
Taken individually, each of these elements is already cause for concern. Combined, they create a particularly high-risk environment. The visibility of these platforms, their ease of access and their viral nature can form what regulators describe as a significant cycle of addiction.
Unlicensed platforms, with no safeguards for players
Regulators emphasise a fundamental principle: prediction markets must comply with the licensing obligations and regulatory requirements of each relevant jurisdiction. In other words, a platform cannot exempt itself from national rules simply because it takes a new form or differs from traditional betting.
In countries where such platforms are not authorised, their operations may pose serious risks of illegality. Consumers may find themselves exposed to frozen funds, fraud involving the use of inside information, or significant financial volatility.
Magali Clavie emphasises in this context that imposing strict rules on legal operators is an absolute necessity. However, she adds that this remains insufficient if, at the same time, a multifaceted illegal market is flooding European markets.
The 2026 World Cup: a high-risk period
The 2026 World Cup represents a particularly sensitive period for regulators. Major sporting events traditionally attract both casual bettors and regular gamblers. They also create a context of high media exposure, in which betting offers can proliferate.
The signatory authorities anticipate an increase in gambling activity during the tournament. They also expect prediction markets to attract a great deal of attention during the competition. Football, given its global popularity, provides an ideal setting for these platforms: match results, team performances, tournament-related events and sporting scenarios can all become subjects for betting.
However, regulators stress that the popularity of an event does not justify relaxing the rules. On the contrary, the greater the exposure, the more consumer protection must be strengthened. This is why they are announcing close cooperation during this period.
European cooperation set to continue
The joint statement is not limited to the World Cup period. The regulators have announced their intention to develop stronger cross-border cooperation during the tournament and beyond. This cooperation will involve the exchange of information, expertise and best practice.
The joint statement by the nine European regulators therefore serves as a warning. It is not merely intended to highlight a risk, but to prevent things getting out of hand during one of the world’s biggest sporting events.