ADI Predictstreet, FIFA’s official prediction market partner for the 2026 World Cup, has been banned from operating in Germany by the country’s gambling regulator.
The Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder, known as the GGL, launched formal proceedings against the company over its unlicensed offering in the German market.
ADI Predictstreet only launched its platform in early April, just days before the World Cup began, after being named a FIFA partner more than two months prior.
The company holds a licence from Gibraltar’s regulator as a betting intermediary and operates in the US through regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission via its partnership with Fanatics.
Fanatics is notably the first US sportsbook to launch its own predictions market, giving ADI Predictstreet a regulated foothold in one of the world’s largest betting markets.
Despite its logo appearing clearly on LED advertising boards and big screens during German broadcasts of the 2026 World Cup, the company does not hold a German gambling licence.
A company spokesperson previously told RND that ADI Predictstreet did not conduct marketing or advertising activities specifically targeted at Germany, maintaining it had not breached German law.
FIFA has not publicly commented on the GGL’s regulatory action despite repeated requests from German media, according to RND.
Amid the controversy, ADI Predictstreet has announced a significant partnership with US prediction market operator Kalshi, which will see co-branding across stadium, TV, and online placements.
The two firms confirmed plans to develop a co-branded World Cup hub for the knockout stages, providing access to “a wide range of global football prediction markets, alongside tournament updates and exclusive content.”
The Kalshi deal is also intended to give ADI Predictstreet a platform for future international expansion, adding long-term strategic value beyond the tournament itself.
Kalshi has itself been a prominent beneficiary of the 2026 World Cup, having struck partnerships with the Argentina and Croatia football teams, resulting in promotional Instagram posts from both Lionel Messi and Luka Modrić.
Kalshi also claims to have recorded daily trading volume of over $1bn throughout the tournament, underlining the explosive growth of prediction markets during this World Cup cycle.
The German gambling market has broader structural problems that extend beyond ADI Predictstreet, with the German Sports Betting Union stating there are 11 times more illegal betting providers than licensed ones operating in the country.
H2 Gambling Capital has estimated channelisation rates in Germany to be between 22% and 25%, with projections suggesting that figure could fall further to 20% by 2030.
White label partnerships with the UK’s Matchbook and the US’ Fanatics have allowed ADI Predictstreet to operate across select jurisdictions, though the company’s own platform URL now redirects to Matchbook’s site for UK users.
The GGL has become the first European regulator to formally remove ADI Predictstreet from its jurisdiction, though fellow regulators across the continent may well follow suit.
