Flutter Entertainment said it processed an estimated 180 million bets across its brands during the 2026 football World Cup. The company reported that the Spain-Argentina final generated its highest betting volume and revenue of the tournament, with about 350,000 outright bets backing Spain before the final.
Flutter’s reported tournament betting activity offers operators and investors insight into its performance during the World Cup.
Quarter ended 30 September 2026
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DraftKings lost as much as $50 million during the 2026 World Cup group stage, according to estimates from Bank of America reported in the report. Flutter also reported that British customers won €4.1 million on England’s 4-2 victory over Croatia, while a goalless England-Ghana draw more than offset those losses, the company said. The article attributed the figures to analysts and company statements.
Flutter Entertainment's Sky Bet and Paddy Power brands have begun their World Cup 2026 marketing campaigns. Both campaigns use celebrities, with Sky Bet's advert featuring two of its long-running footballing figures. The report noted betting marketers in the UK face a difficult environment.
Flutter expects to gain UK market share as higher gaming tax pressures smaller operators. Richard Clarke, managing director at Paddy Power and Betfair, said Flutter expects a £500m impact from next year. He warned that faster growth in unlicensed gambling would undermine gains for regulated operators.
Flutter expects to gain UK market share as the remote gaming tax pressures smaller operators, Richard Clarke, managing director at Flutter-owned brands Paddy Power and Betfair, said at the SBC Summit in Lisbon. Clarke said Flutter expects a £500m impact from next year, adding that the effect has already begun to appear this year and is being managed. He declined to set out the company's response in detail, saying plans would not be shared and that four areas for optimisation would be allowed to play out over the coming months.
The Irish Bookmakers Association urged officials not to raise betting duty in Ireland, warning that higher taxes could lead to shop closures, job losses and more business for unlicensed operators. The report said the government was considering an increase to the current 2% duty on retail and online wagers, but no new rate was stated.
Peter Jackson, outgoing chief executive of Flutter Entertainment, has restated the company's intention to strengthen its position in the UK market. Flutter leads the UK through its Sky Bet, Paddy Power and Betfair brands, the report said.