Young Adults Fuel Men’s World Cup Betting Boom as London Leads the Nation – but One in Eight Have Already Fallen Victim to Fraud
· Over two fifths of 25–34-year-olds will bet more often during the World Cup
· England matches are the top pick for games to bet on
· Yet one in eight of those who have ever used online betting have already knowingly been a victim of fraud after using an unknown betting site
· London bettors are most likely to place a bet this World Cup
Young adults are driving a surge in betting on the Men’s World Cup 2026 this summer, with over two fifths (43%) of 25–34-year-olds more likely than other age groups to bet more often during the tournament, according to new research from TransUnion.
What is more – Millennials also bet more than regular gamblers from other age groups, staking £16.56 on average on each bet – compared to £9.54 across all bettors.
Enthusiasm for betting more frequently during the World Cup drops sharply with age: 36% of 35-44 year olds plan to increase how often they bet, falling to 19% of 45-54 year olds, 13% of 55-64 year olds, and just 4% of those aged 65 and over.
But as enthusiasm peaks among younger adults, so does their exposure to risk, with almost one in eight (12%) of 25–34-year-olds who bet online, saying they have already fallen victim to fraud after using an unknown betting site.
Comparatively, 10% of 35–44-year-olds, 5% of 45–54-year-olds, 1% of 55–64-year-olds and 2% of those aged over 65 stating they have fallen victim to this type of fraud in the past.
London is the Nation's Betting Capital
Geographically, London stands apart. Over half (52%) of London bettors plan to bet on England matches –the highest region in Great Britain.
London bettors don't just bet on England either: 42% plan to place bets on other major team matches during the tournament, and 29% plan to bet on who they expect to be the outright tournament winners, consistently outpacing the rest of the country across every market.
Security and Convenience Drive Betting Choices
When it comes to what drives betting preferences, ease of use is the single biggest factor overall (17%), followed closely by a preference for betting online (16%).
Among 25-34-year-olds, the ease of online betting is a stronger pull: 24% cite it as their primary influence, the highest of any age group, while flexibility and the ability to bet anywhere also resonates more strongly with 35-44-year-olds (15%) than older groups. Punters from the 25-34-year-olds are also twice as likely than the average to point to confidentiality, and the ability to bet in real time online as why they chose how to gamble.
Staying safe online continues to be a main priority for consumers with more than nine in ten (91%) online punters say they value a secure experience when placing bets, with three in five (60%) valuing it "a lot." London bettors place particularly high value on security, with 95% saying it matters to them, the highest of any region.
Chad Reimers, international vice president of fraud solutions at TransUnion, said: “The football World Cup is one of the biggest betting and social events of the year and fraudsters know it. Younger fans are the most enthusiastic punters, but that can bring heightened risk if they are not stopping to check the legitimacy of the provider. The gap between trusting a brand and checking whether it's legitimately regulated is exactly where consumers get caught out. At TransUnion our mission is to help consumers stay protected, we work closely with licensed and regulated operators to drive safe experiences for bettors.”
Betting Safely this World Cup: TransUnion's Guidance
Whether you're a seasoned punter or placing your first bet on your favoured nation to lift the trophy, TransUnion recommends the following steps to help protect yourself:
1. Check the operator is Gambling Commission licensed: Before depositing any money, verify that the site is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission at gamblingcommission.gov.uk. Licensed operators must meet strict standards for fairness, player protection and data security. If a site isn't on the register, don't use it.
2. Be wary of too-good-to-be-true promotions: Fraudulent sites often lure punters in with unusually generous welcome offers or odds. If a promotion seems exceptional compared to established operators, treat it as a warning sign rather than an opportunity.
3. Stick to brands you can verify - not just recognise: Brand familiarity is not the same as legitimacy. A professional-looking site with a recognisable name can still be fraudulent. Always cross-check against the Gambling Commission register.
4. Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication: Reusing passwords across betting accounts and other online services significantly increases your exposure if one account is compromised. Where platforms offer two-factor authentication, use it.
5. Monitor your financial accounts and credit report: Regularly monitoring your credit report can help you to identify unauthorised or unfamiliar transactions that could be fraudulent activity. This can be an important first step in discovering identity fraud following a breach of personal data. You can request a copy of your statutory TransUnion credit report for free through the TransUnion website, or access it for free via Credit Karma, MoneySuperMarket Credit Monitor, or TotallyMoney
6. Know where to get help: If you think you've been a victim of fraud, report it to Action Fraud (actionfraud.police.uk) and notify your bank immediately. If you're concerned about your gambling, free confidential support is available from GamCare (gamcare.org.uk) and the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.
