iCanBet Research · 19+

How Canada Is Betting on the 2026 World Cup

With the tournament on home soil, we pulled together the latest independent Canadian polling on World Cup betting intent, the host-nation effect, and responsible-gambling awareness. Every figure below is attributed to its original research publisher — Angus Reid, Pollara, CPA Canada, Research Co., and the Responsible Gambling Council.

What the data shows

Six findings from independent Canadian surveys published in May–June 2026. Full sources below.

13%

Canadians likely to place a bet during the tournament

Rises to 49% among regular sports bettors

CPA Canada / Leger, May 2026

46%

Ontarians who expect to wager on the World Cup

9% of them would be first-time bettors

Paysafe 2026 (reported by CasinoCanada)

ON 15% · AB 14%

Past-year sports-betting participation, by province

BC 14%, Atlantic Canada 8%; 13% nationally

Angus Reid Institute, May 2026

92%

World Cup watchers cheering for Canada, at least in part

Only 27% cheer exclusively for Canada — the host-nation effect

Pollara, June 2026

52.7%

Soccer bettors who say event betting is not their normal routine

A safer-play flag during major tournaments

RGC Sports Betting Study, June 2026

76%

Canadians who see a heightened addiction risk from sports betting as a problem

69% worry problem gambling will rise as betting expands (Angus Reid)

Research Co., May 2026

The host-nation effect

Canada co-hosting changes the picture. Pollara finds 40% of Canadians are likely to watch matches, and 92% of those watchers are cheering for Canada at least in part. That emotional pull historically shows up in wagering: during the 2022 World Cup — when Canada was merely participating — BCLC reported 99% of PlayNow bets backed Canada to advance from its group, and OpenBet measured a 21% jump in betting engagement over a typical football event.

In 2026, on home soil, that engagement is expected to be materially higher. iGaming Ontario’s first-year reporting already had soccer at 15% of all wagers, second only to basketball — and Paysafe research suggests 46% of Ontarians expect to wager on the tournament, nearly one in ten of them for the first time.

Safer play during the tournament

Major events change betting behaviour. The Responsible Gambling Council reports 52.7% of soccer bettors say their betting during big tournaments is not typical of their normal routine, with high rates of live in-play, micro-betting, and parlays among soccer bettors. The RGC’s tournament message is simple: “bet within your budget” — set a limit, understand the bet, and check in with yourself before and during matches.

Concern is widespread: Research Co. finds 76% of Canadians view the increased addiction risk from sports betting as a problem, and Angus Reid finds 69% worry the number of problem gamblers will grow as betting expands. If gambling stops being fun, free, confidential help is available across Canada — see the resources below.

Sources & methodology

iCanBet did not conduct this research. Each figure is drawn from the independent surveys below; follow the link for full methodology, sample size, and margin of error.

CPA Canada Gambling Study (Leger) ↗
Online survey of 1,532 Canadians 18+, fielded May 29–31, 2026.
Angus Reid Institute — Sports Betting ↗
Online survey of 1,803 Canadian adults, May 7–11, 2026; margin of error ±2 pts.
Pollara Strategic Insights — FIFA 2026 World Cup ↗
National survey on World Cup viewership and support, released June 9, 2026.
Responsible Gambling Council — Sports Betting Study ↗
Five-year longitudinal study; World Cup findings released June 16, 2026.
Research Co. — Gambling in Canada ↗
Online survey of 1,002 Canadian adults, May 12–14, 2026; margin of error ±3.1 pts.
CasinoCanada — Canada’s betting infrastructure & the 2026 World Cup ↗
Analysis citing Paysafe 2026 research, iGaming Ontario figures, and BCLC 2022 World Cup data.

Coming — Wave B
iCanBet is fielding its own national survey of Canadian adults (19+) on World Cup betting behaviour. Our first-party findings will be added to this page when the data is in, clearly labelled as original iCanBet research.

World Cup Betting Guide →Responsible Gambling →

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