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One in Eight Young UK Adults Defrauded by Unlicensed Betting Sites Ahead of World Cup

Madiha Khatoon JUNE 17, 2026 1 minute read

New research by TransUnion has found that adults aged 25 to 34 are both the most active demographic for sports betting ahead of the 2026 men’s World Cup and the group most exposed to fraud on unlicensed platforms. The study, conducted by OnePoll between 11 and 14 May and covering 1,000 UK adults, found that 43 per cent of this age group planned to increase their betting frequency during the tournament, the highest of any age bracket. It also found that one in eight, or 12 per cent, had knowingly been defrauded via an unlicensed betting site, compared with 10 per cent among those aged 35 to 44 and just one per cent among those aged 55 to 64.

A recurring theme in the findings was the gap between consumer trust and regulatory verification. Respondents selected betting platforms on the basis of perceived brand familiarity and convenience without checking whether the operator held a valid licence. The Malta Gaming Authority has specifically urged bookmakers to tighten monitoring protocols for the World Cup period, with particular attention to illegal gambling and suspicious player behaviour. Various other European regulators have issued similar warnings ahead of the tournament.

The risk is further compounded by underage access concerns. Research published by Jumio in May 2026, drawing on responses from more than 8,000 adults across the US, UK, Singapore, and Mexico, found that 63 per cent of consumers are worried about minors accessing sports betting applications during the World Cup. Seventy-four per cent believed preventing underage betting is the responsibility of platforms and their technology partners.

For licensed operators, these findings reinforce the need for age verification and identity controls that can handle the volume of onboarding that major sporting events generate. Shufti’s gaming compliance solutions deliver real-time document and biometric checks across 10,000-plus document types, helping operators meet their regulatory obligations without adding friction at peak traffic moments.

Protect your platform from fraud and underage access. Contact Shufti to learn how our age verification and KYC solutions help operators stay compliant ahead of major sporting events.

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