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Betting on the World Cup
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Unexpected result: Japan's forward No. 09 Kaoru Mitoma (left) crosses the ball for his team's second goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group E football match between Japan and Spain at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Dec. 1. The defeat of a favorable team, such as Spain who lost to Japan, is one reason why many gamblers lose. (AFP/Giuseppe Cacace) (AFP/Giuseppe Cacace)
T
he World Cup is not just a battle between the competing countries, but also between millions of gamblers worldwide involving billions of dollars.
The World Cup is one of the world’s most-watched sporting events. In 2018, FIFA reported that its broadcast acquired over 3.57 billion viewers worldwide, breaking the previous viewership records of the events. The 2022 World Cup is expected to pull in 5 billion viewers, according to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
A boon for bookies, it is also a ripe betting season for long-time gamblers.
Indonesia has long waged a battle against the online gambling industry. The Communications and Information Ministry reported that it had blocked at least 118,320 online gambling-related content as of August 2022.
Analysts expect a massive increase in sports betting on this year’s World Cup compared with the 2018 tournament. Barclays analysts claim the tournament is expected to see US$35 billion in wagers. This is 65 percent higher than the 2018 World Cup.
Continuing habit
