Massachusetts World Cup Betting Boom Expected to Generate Record Tax Revenue for State

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is delivering what experts predicted it would: a historic betting event that is putting serious money into state tax coffers. Massachusetts, home to DraftKings, is expected to see record sports betting tax revenue tied to the tournament — revenue that could exceed what the state generated from the Super Bowl and March Madness combined, according to an analysis by WBUR.

Massachusetts raised approximately $150 million in sports betting tax revenue in fiscal year 2025, according to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Final figures for the World Cup’s contribution to the state’s haul won’t be available until after the tournament concludes on July 19, but the trajectory is pointing firmly upward. The state taxes sports betting companies on the revenue they retain from wagers placed within state borders, and the sheer volume of World Cup action has been unlike anything the U.S. market has previously seen.

A Tournament Unlike Any Other in Betting History

The global scale of World Cup betting is almost difficult to process. Macquarie, the Australian investment firm, projects total worldwide wagers tied to the 2026 tournament will exceed $50 billion — a figure that would make it the largest single sporting event in betting history. In the U.S. alone, where soccer has historically been a secondary market for sportsbooks, World Cup handle is on pace to surpass both the Super Bowl and March Madness, according to multiple industry analysts.

Nearly three dozen states have legalized online sports wagering, and operators in those states — including Massachusetts-headquartered DraftKings and FanDuel — have been reporting record daily handle during major matches. The concentration of World Cup games on U.S. soil, spread across venues in Massachusetts, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and other major markets, has created natural local interest that translated into betting volume.

Public Health Concerns Alongside Tax Windfall

The betting boom has not gone unnoticed by public health advocates. Massachusetts recently piloted a sports betting awareness curriculum in 15 high schools and seven middle schools, with the rollout specifically timed to coincide with the World Cup. The state’s gaming commission and advocacy groups have raised concerns about increased exposure to gambling among younger populations during major events.

Beyond traditional sportsbooks, the World Cup has also accelerated engagement on prediction market platforms, which are federally regulated but do not generate tax revenue for states — a distinction that has not gone unnoticed in state capitols. Polymarket recently reported annualized revenue surpassing $1 billion on World Cup volume alone, while Kalshi reported $17 billion in total World Cup trading across the tournament’s first two weeks. Massachusetts bettors looking for current offers can find all available platforms at the Massachusetts sports betting guide or review operator-specific bonuses including the DraftKings promo code and FanDuel promo code.