76% Singaporeans flag underage gambling risk before FIFA World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is already building hype around the world, and it’s not just fans who are excited. Online sports betting platforms are gearing up for what could be their biggest moment for grabbing new customers. But there’s a flip side to all this buzz. A new Jumio Online Identity Study involving over 8,000 people from Singapore, Mexico, the US, and the UK is raising serious red flags about underage gambling during the tournament. With more betting activity expected, the risk of youngsters getting access to these platforms is real.
67 per cent of Singaporeans polled voiced serious concerns about children using sports betting apps during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. More shockingly, 82 per cent believe tech companies should take action to prevent underage gaming. Clearly, people want these companies to protect children rather than maximise profits. The challenge is striking a balance between business growth and safeguarding users. The industry needs to handle this well to meet what people want.
Global surge in sports betting
Research on betting during the World Cup demonstrates how closely gambling has grown linked to sports fandom. Approximately one-third of people worldwide want to bet, and nearly half of Singaporeans think betting is part of their tournament enjoyment. It’s also worth noting that the number of new internet gamblers is increasing dramatically. One-fifth of people globally, including 19 per cent in Singapore, will do this for the first time.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be significant for betting. Approximately one-third of individuals worldwide want to gamble on the event, with Mexico leading the way at 43 per cent, followed by the UK (33 per cent), Singapore (29 per cent), and the United States (26 per cent). It is a huge opportunity for the betting industry, but it also means that many people will put money on their favourite teams.
More than half of gamblers increasingly prefer to place bets online using their phones or laptops rather than visiting actual sportsbooks. However, with this convenience comes increased responsibility. When bets can be placed with a few clicks, we must keep young people out and promote responsible gambling behaviors. Strong security and age verification are no longer optional; rather, they are required. This stuff is required to make the entire system trustworthy.
Singapore’s strong concern
Singapore has the world’s highest level of concern over underage gambling during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Seventy-six per cent of people there are concerned about children using betting applications, which exceeds the global average of 63 per cent. This concern is understandable given that minors can easily locate betting information on social media, and the prevalence of smartphones makes those apps extremely accessible. Gambling becomes acceptable in sports culture.
Authorities and families worry that exposing youths to gambling at a young age could cause serious financial and behavioural issues later on, like debt and warped money views. The World Cup makes things worse because discussions about betting among friends and family can make gambling look harmless and normal.
Consumer expectations
According to survey results, a vast majority of consumers think online betting sites should be mainly responsible for stopping young people from gambling. In fact, 74 per cent of people worldwide say operators and tech companies have the main duty. That number climbs to 82 per cent in Singapore. Interestingly, almost everyone agrees on this point, showing a rare global consensus.
According to Bala Kumar, President and Chief Product and Technology Officer at Jumio, operators must move beyond viewing verification as a simple compliance requirement. Instead, verification should become a foundational element of platform design.
Verification challenges
A lot of football fans are planning to juggle multiple betting accounts during the World Cup. About 37 per cent globally and 27 per cent in Singapore. Some people use different platforms to get better odds or take advantage of various promotions, while others (including minors) might be bouncing between accounts to slip past weak verification systems. Criminals are also getting clever, exploiting the gaps between platforms’ different rules and regulations.
Young people break the rules when they switch accounts, such as when parents offer their passwords to their children or when friends share login information. When accounts are shared and used to sign up, the initial checks are no longer sufficient.
What is required is smarter, constant monitoring and improved ID verification that works across the board. It’s not about bothering legitimate bettors; it’s about detecting problems in real time and keeping everyone safe, whether they use one or five accounts.
Modern verification systems
Every day, online betting platforms receive a large number of new customers, and traditional manual identity checks are simply incapable of keeping up. That’s why AI is stepping in with smarter technologies like facial recognition, document verification, and behaviour tracking, which can detect fraudulent IDs and suspicious accounts in minutes. It is significantly faster and more dependable than the previous method of operation.
Legitimate players get quick confirmation, which cuts down on hassle. Meanwhile, the site owners stay compliant and kick out the fraudsters. It’s not just about abiding by the rules; it’s also about earning trust. Both sides see that ID checks work. This way, the platform stays safe, and legitimate users aren’t bothered.
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