As the United States men’s national team has failed to qualify for the next year’s tournament, the Nevada sports books are expecting a 15-30 percent decrease in betting handle on 2018 World Cup. Some books are even expecting more severe drop-offs.
“It’s going to be crickets,” said Jay Rood, vice president of race and sports for MGM. The 2018 World Cup starts off June 14 in Russia. This is going to be the first World Cup without U.S. since 1986. Nevada bookmakers said that betting interest on the World Cup had surged in the past tournaments. The 2014 World Cup fueled record handle at multiple regulated sports books in the state. In 2014 World Cup, US team advanced to the knockout stage. During the 2014 World Cup, $87 million was bet in June and July, while in the same months in 2013 it was approx to only $26.3 million.
Nevada sports books have had odds to win the 2018 World Cup. Germany and France are co-favorites at 5-1.