Gambling regulators across Europe are calling on bettors to maintain disciplined behaviour as the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway this week.
The tournament officially began on Thursday, 11 June, marking the biggest edition of the World Cup in history, featuring 48 teams competing across three North American countries.
With such an enormous global event attracting unprecedented attention, betting operators have mobilised their marketing teams worldwide to capitalise on the increased exposure.
Regulators are working to balance that commercial enthusiasm by reminding players to keep their gambling behaviour firmly under control throughout the competition.
France’s ANJ regulator is anticipating a surge in betting activity, with more than half of the French population, some 57%, expected to follow the tournament closely.
ANJ forecasts that 41% of all French World Cup viewers will place bets during the event, representing a 5% increase compared to the 2022 World Cup and 6% more than Euro 2024.
A notable 30% of expected French bettors have said they plan to wager more money than they did during previous major football events, compared to just 19% who said the same back in 2022.
In response, ANJ has partnered with marketing agency LIBRE on a nationwide campaign, placing yellow police-style tapes across betting advertisements running throughout the tournament.
Germany’s GGL has also taken action, with Chief Executive Officer Ronald Benter stating: “Big sporting events such as the World Cup regularly lead to an increased interest in sports betting. Consumers should therefore find out on the official whitelist which offers are legal.”
The GGL is actively monitoring betting promotions, analysing concurrent broadcasts, and reviewing online sports betting offers throughout the competition to protect German consumers.
German bettors are being encouraged to regularly check the GGL’s official communication channels and consult the whitelist to confirm which betting brands hold valid licences in the country.
The Malta Gaming Authority, a prominent partner of FIFA, has issued notices to local licensees urging them to monitor their platforms and report any suspicious betting activity promptly.
MGA licence holders are reminded they must maintain robust internal governance arrangements to protect the integrity of the World Cup and all sports within their product offerings.
Belgium has adopted an approach similar to Germany’s, publishing a list of available support options for bettors who may experience gambling-related harm during the tournament.
The Belgian regulator’s notice also includes direct links to the national operator whitelist and a timely reminder that betting involves financial loss, and that punters should only wager what they can afford to lose.
