Macquarie forecast that global betting on the 2026 World Cup could exceed $50bn, according to the bank. It estimated wagers on the 2022 tournament topped $35bn and projected a 2–5% uplift to operator EBITDA in the following year, depending on factors including retention and cross-selling.
The forecast gives operators and suppliers an estimate of potential wagering activity and post-tournament earnings effects.
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Genius Sports chief executive Mark Locke said prediction-market activity could create opportunities for traditional betting suppliers even if regulation changes the sector. He said demand for sports wagering would persist, while the article reports that Kalshi’s retail demand was concentrated in states without online sportsbooks, citing July figures from Eilers & Krejcik.
DraftKings shares closed up 8.39% at $24.03 after its second-quarter report. The Motley Fool reported that sales fell 5% and results missed analyst expectations, while annualised volumes on DraftKings Predictions quintupled from April to July. DraftKings maintained its 2026 guidance.
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.
Short sellers have recorded at least $2.3 billion in paper gains from online gambling stocks during 2026, reportedly, as share prices fell. The reported estimate includes about $2 billion from Flutter’s decline and $351 million from positions against DraftKings; the figures are estimates rather than realised returns.
Analysts issued views on DraftKings, Wynn Resorts, Inspired Entertainment and Genius Sports in notes published around their recent results and developments. DraftKings’ notes cited a 7% EBITDA beat against consensus and differing ratings, while Inspired reported first-quarter revenue of $57.2m, below consensus of $58.9m. The roundup also discussed Wynn’s planned Macau hotel tower and Genius Sports’ Q2 guidance.