Latin America delivered the strongest sportsbook acquisition growth during the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to new data from customer retention platform Optimove, although higher participation did not translate into greater average player value.
The region recorded bettor numbers 49% above its normal weekly average, compared with 39% in Europe and 18% in the US. First time depositors in LatAm peaked at 300% of the pre-tournament baseline, ahead of 200% in Europe and 171% in the US.
The gap between new depositors and overall bettor growth was also widest in LatAm at 156%. Europe recorded a gap of 61% and the US 55%, indicating that the tournament attracted a particularly large cohort of new customers across Latin American markets.
Average activity per player fell across all three regions. In Latin America, the average number of bets declined to 69% of the pre-tournament baseline, while the average stake fell 10% to US$47.
In the US, bets per player were 94% of the baseline and the average stake declined from $266 to $239. Europe recorded a fall in bets per player to 78% of normal levels, with average stakes down about 16% from $99 to $83.
Optimove say the figures show that a larger tournament audience does not automatically produce higher customer value. Optimove recommends more targeted retention strategies during knockout stages, with segmentation based on betting history, customer value, region and engagement.
The report was based on aggregated data from major sportsbook brands covering about 19m active bettors per month across Latin America, Europe and the US between April and June 2026.
