TWO of Jamaica’s main betting companies are reporting significant increases in wager activity for the 2026 World Cup as thousands of spectators seek to win big on and off the field, placing bets as high as $250,000 on their favourite team to clinch victory.

Island Bet CEO Adam Epstein said the company has seen a 200 per cent increase in new customers seeking to get in on the action, with one lucky customer already walking away with $1.2 million after placing a bet that Spain — a favourite to win the tournament — would draw with World Cup newcomers Cabo Verde. He added that loyal customers are also seeking to get in on the action, placing larger bets.

On his end, Supreme Ventures Gaming Limited CEO Stefan Miller said interest in the international football event has exceeded expectations, with the first eight days of the event bringing in a 40 per cent increase in betting activity when compared to the previous World Cup held in Qatar in 2022.