Almost €30bn is the figure that will be spent on World Cup bets, according to the Seattle Times, an increase of 65 per cent on the previous competition and driven by the online market.
The figure is the forecast from Barclays analysts, says the newspaper, which goes on to say that the statistics are helped by the fact that the matches are being played at prime times in Europe and during the winter months when fewer people are away on holiday.
A bonus for the betting companies comes from the results themselves, as several have been "operator friendly."
In the US, the total wagered is expected to be small, only around $1.7m, way down on US events such as the Super Bowl, which attracts $7.6bn.
