Entain says World Cup betting drove first-half growth

Tournament football, instant traffic

The update says the expanded summer tournament helped bring in first-time customers and drove more use of BetBuilder-style bets.

• Net gaming revenue reportedly rose 5% in the six months to 30 June
• Online revenue was said to be up 7%
• UK and Ireland revenue reportedly increased 8%
• Online growth there was put at 13%

That matters because tournament football creates repeated touchpoints: team news, knockout jeopardy, in-play swings and the appeal of building personalised bets around a single match narrative.

Digital keeps stretching away from the high street

Entain’s figures, as presented in the report, also underline a broader shift already reshaping the industry.

• The group reportedly closed 45 shops across Ireland and Northern Ireland
• In the UK, gaming revenue was said to be up 13%
• Sports betting reportedly rose 11%

That split is becoming harder to ignore. Big football tournaments appear to amplify the advantage of digital platforms, where sign-ups, promos and live engagement can move much faster than any retail estate.

Strong top line, tougher backdrop

David also pointed to “strong momentum and volume growth continuing,” even with pressure elsewhere. The report says underlying earnings came in at £479m, down 2%, while tax pressure increased after remote gaming duty rose from 21% to 40%.

The next storyline is whether that World Cup lift has real staying power. If tournament traffic can keep flowing into the domestic season, operators will hope football’s biggest stage has done more than deliver a short-term spike.