State Reports Reveal Sharp Increase in Soccer Wagering During 2026 World Cup
Dana Patterson · Sep 3, 2026
State Reports Reveal Sharp Increase in Soccer Wagering During 2026 World Cup
State regulator reports document a substantial rise in soccer betting handle across multiple jurisdictions during the summer months of the 2026 World Cup, with figures showing year-over-year increases that far exceed typical seasonal patterns for the sport. Maryland recorded nearly four times the handle compared to the previous year while Oregon posted more than five times the prior total, and New York saw a 47 percent jump over its six-week World Cup window. Operators including Flutter Entertainment and DraftKings released corresponding global and platform-specific numbers that align with the state-level data, confirming the scale of activity concentrated around the tournament period.
Maryland and Oregon Post Record Multiples
Maryland's June and July combined soccer handle reached $125.5 million according to state filings, up from $33.9 million in the same period the year before, while Oregon reported $52.8 million against $10.1 million twelve months earlier. These totals come from monthly sport-by-sport handle reports submitted by licensed operators and aggregated by regulators in each state. The growth multiples place soccer well above its usual share of summer wagering activity, which historically accounts for between 5 and 8 percent of overall handle during non-tournament periods.
New York Registers 47 Percent Rise Over Six Weeks
In New York the six-week World Cup span produced $3.06 billion in soccer handle, a 47 percent increase from the $2.09 billion recorded in the comparable window the previous year. Regulators compile these figures from daily operator submissions that break out wagers by sport and league, allowing direct comparison across tournament cycles. The absolute dollar increase in New York alone exceeds the combined growth posted by Maryland and Oregon, illustrating how larger markets amplify percentage gains when a major event drives volume.
Operator Results Track State Trends
Flutter Entertainment, parent company of FanDuel, reported $3 billion in global World Cup handle across its international platforms, while DraftKings noted handle 650 percent higher than during the prior World Cup and recorded two million bets placed on the final match alone. These company disclosures cover both regulated U.S. markets and overseas operations, yet they correspond closely with the percentage increases seen in individual state reports. The alignment between public operator statements and regulator data indicates the surge was not confined to any single jurisdiction but reflected broader participation during the tournament.
Handle represents the total amount wagered before any payouts or deductions, so the reported figures capture the full volume of bets placed rather than net revenue retained by operators. Because soccer's baseline share of summer handle remains modest outside major events, the documented multiples point to a temporary but pronounced shift in customer behavior concentrated around the 2026 tournament schedule.
Seasonal Context and Typical Shares
During non-World Cup summers soccer typically contributes 5 to 8 percent of total sports betting handle in states that publish sport-by-sport breakdowns. The 2026 figures moved well beyond that range for the duration of the event, with Maryland and Oregon showing the clearest departures from historical norms. New York's 47 percent increase, while lower in multiple terms, still represents the largest absolute addition to handle among the three states examined. Regulators continue to release updated monthly reports each September, allowing ongoing comparison of post-tournament trends against the peak World Cup numbers.
Conclusion
The data compiled by state regulators and released by major operators establish that soccer betting handle experienced marked growth during the 2026 World Cup summer months, with specific multiples and percentage increases documented across Maryland, Oregon, and New York. Operator-level results from Flutter and DraftKings provide additional confirmation that the elevated activity extended beyond individual jurisdictions. These figures remain available in the monthly sport-by-sport handle reports issued by each state's regulatory body for further analysis of the tournament's impact on wagering volumes.