UKGC World Cup Study Finds 85% Felt Informed About Betting Decisions
Most respondents in a Gambling Commission study felt they had the information needed to make betting decisions during the 2026 World Cup.
The findings also identify a gap for people new to football betting, a distinction relevant to how UK betting sites explain their products.
Published on November 10, 2026, the regulator's Beyond The Bet research found that 85% of respondents felt sufficiently informed.
That rose to 91% among existing football bettors and 83% among occasional bettors, compared with 60% among those betting on football for the first time.
Experience Shaped Confidence In Offers
The study separates respondents by previous football betting experience, not how frequently they gamble.
Existing bettors had bet on regular-season football, occasional bettors had previously bet only on major tournaments, and new bettors were placing football bets for the first time.
The detailed findings show that experienced bettors were more confident and accurate when answering questions about promotional offers.
New bettors were the least confident, with 80% saying they did not know whether accumulator insurance meant receiving their full stake back in cash if one selection lost.
Promotions were also more widely used by existing bettors: 70% reported using one, compared with 53% of occasional bettors and 43% of new bettors.
Among respondents who used an offer, 35% said they had not looked for further information before betting.
What The Information Gap Means
The Commission cautions against assuming everyone who wanted more information was asking about betting rules.
Some respondents wanted greater football knowledge, player and team statistics or match analysis. A small number wanted clearer explanations of how bets or offers worked.
It says the results raise questions about whether information is easy for newcomers to understand and whether they know where to find it.
The distinction is between making information available and helping consumers feel informed enough to use it.
The findings concern comprehension, rather than identifying bets to place. For readers, responsible gambling information provides separate guidance on managing gambling and finding support.
Small Survey With Clear Limits
According to the methodology, Yonder Consulting surveyed an initial 1,000 adults after the tournament. Removing inconsistent responses left 834 participants, including just 70 new football bettors. The data was not weighted.
The regulator's limitations section says the findings describe those surveyed and should not be generalised to all football bettors.
Responses were self-reported and collected at a single point in time, so the survey cannot establish that experience causes greater understanding.
The Commission says it will build on the research to fill gaps in its evidence base and inform work to ensure gambling is conducted fairly and openly.
The publication says supporting data tables will follow in due course.
