• The FIFA World Cup: Global wagers on the tournament are expected to top $50 billion, with U.S. bettors placing roughly $3.1 billion.
• March Madness: Americans legally wagered an estimated $3.3 billion on the NCAA Division I basketball tournaments.
• Super Bowl: The biggest single-day betting events regularly see over $1 billion wagered on a single game. 

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is shaping up to be one of the biggest economic and sports betting events in history, creating potentially lucrative opportunities for investors. 

As billions of fans tune in and wagering activity surges worldwide, sports betting stocks, online gaming companies, and related exchange-traded funds (ETFs) could see a significant boost in revenue and investor interest. For those looking to profit from the World Cup without placing risky bets, investments tied to the growing sports betting industry may offer a smarter and potentially more rewarding way to capitalize on the tournament’s global impact.

World Cup Momentum May Put DraftKings in the Spotlight

In fact, according to DraftKings (NASDAQ: DKNG), “Combined with our unified platform strategy, which allows customers to access either sportsbook or sports predictions, depending on location, and includes a Spanish-language feature, we believe the tournament has the potential to be a meaningful driver of both new customer acquisition and strong engagement across our existing customer base,” as quoted by CNBC.

In addition, according to analysts at Oppenheimer, who rate DKNG a buy, said the company’s push into prediction markets via the World Cup will serve as a trial run to prepare the platform for a rush of volume in the fall to coincide with the NFL season.

How Investors Can Approach Trading DKNG

Obviously, investors can buy DKNG stock, which has been aggressively bouncing back from its April low of $20.46 to a current price of $29.68.

But there are other ways to profit and, in some cases, collect yield.

The ETF That Monetizes DraftKings Price Swings

With an expense ratio of 0.99%, the YieldMax DKNG Option Income Strategy ETF (NYSEARCA: DRAY) last traded at $19.32 and is likely to gain even more traction with the World Cup. 

While the fund does not directly invest in DraftKings, it does generate monthly income by selling/writing call options on DKNG. Even better, it pays a weekly dividend. Most recently, it paid out just over 18 cents per share on June 12. Before that, it paid out just over 21 cents on June 5. And before that, it paid out just over 32 cents on May 29.

A Closer Look at the BETZ Sports Betting ETF

Or, investors can jump into an ETF that invests in sports betting stocks.  With an expense ratio of 0.75%, the $20 Roundhill Sports Betting & iGaming ETF (NYSEARCA: BETZ) offers diversification with Flutter Entertainment, Penn Entertainment, DraftKings, Churchill Downs, MGM Resorts, and many more.  What’s nice about an ETF is that it offers greater exposure at less cost. Last trading at $20, we’d like to see it run back to $30 a share initially.

The FIFA Effect: What It Means for Sports Betting Stocks

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to be one of the largest sporting events in history, attracting billions of viewers and generating significant betting activity around the globe. Whether through direct exposure to DraftKings, income-generating strategies like DRAY, or diversified exposure through BETZ, there are several ways to participate in the growth of sports betting. Also, as interest in online wagering expands, the World Cup could serve as a powerful catalyst for the companies and funds positioned to benefit from the surge in betting activity.

This time, that didn’t happen.

However, the gambling stocks in question are starting to rebound from excessively oversold conditions just days ahead of the big game.

According to data from the American Gaming Association (AGA), Super Bowl betting has grown significantly over the last several years:

• In 2021, an estimated $7.61 billion was wagered on the game.
• In 2022, that number climbed to more than $8 billion.
• In 2023, it exploded to $16 billion.
• In 2024, Super Bowl wagering reached approximately $23 billion.
• In 2025, that number came in at a whopping $30 billion.

With the 2026 Super Bowl set for early February, expectations are high for another record-setting year, particularly as legal sports betting continues to expand.

Also, as CBS Sports once noted, “The NFL remains king, and more money is wagered on the NFL than any other league. The NFL also attracts six-figure wagers (and sometimes seven-figure wagers) on a regular basis throughout the season.” 

For investors looking to trade the 2026 Super Bowl, oversold conditions have created an opportunity in gambling stocks.

Gambling Stocks to Buy: DraftKings

DraftKings, one of the most recognizable names in U.S. online sports betting, has seen notable pre-Super Bowl price action in recent years. In 2024, DKNG climbed from a January low near $32 to a post–Super Bowl high of $45.62. In early January 2025, the stock rallied from roughly $17.60 to $20.88 as betting volumes increased and optimism returned to the sector.

Today, DraftKings trades at about $27.24, where it appears to have found double-bottom support dating back to November.

While the stock recently sold off on news of increased competition and cut price targets, that negative sentiment now appears largely priced in. From a technical perspective, DKNG is oversold and stabilizing at a key support level, suggesting downside risk may be limited in the near term.

Gambling Stocks to Buy: Flutter Entertainment

Flutter Entertainment has also been a consistent Super Bowl winner. In early 2024, FLUT rose from a January low of around $160 to a high of $220.78. In January 2025, the stock rallied again, moving from approximately $260 to $300 as betting volumes increased and investors rotated back into the sector.

Nowadays, Flutter is excessively oversold and is beginning to pivot higher from around $153.90 per share. As a global sports betting powerhouse with a market capitalization near $27 billion, Flutter owns leading brands such as FanDuel and Paddy Power. 

Like DraftKings, Flutter has already absorbed a significant amount of negative news related to competition and margin pressures, potentially setting the stage for a relief rally as Super Bowl betting momentum builds.

Gambling Stocks to Buy: Roundhill Sports Betting & Gambling ETF

Investors seeking broader exposure may also want to consider the Roundhill Sports Betting & Gambling ETF (NYSEARCA: BETZ). The ETF provides diversified access to the sports betting and online gambling industry.

From an August 2024 low of approximately $15.56, BETZ rallied to a December 2024 high of $20.28. More recently, after climbing from a 2025 low of $16.73 to $24.35, the ETF pulled back to around $18.50 as some holdings sold off amid rising competition concerns.

With an expense ratio of 0.75%, BETZ offers exposure to industry leaders such as DraftKings, Flutter Entertainment, Entain PLC, Genius Sports, and Rush Street Interactive, among its 31 holdings. For investors bullish on continued growth in legalized sports betting, weakness in the ETF could be viewed as a chance to accumulate ahead of a historically strong seasonal catalyst.

The Bottom Line on Gambling Stocks

With Super Bowl wagering volumes hitting record highs year after year, oversold gambling stocks and ETFs may offer attractive trading opportunities heading into the 2026 Super Bowl. While competition remains intense, much of the bad news appears priced into the sector.