According to Jumio’s 2026 Online Identity Study, concerns about underage sports betting have been particularly prevalent in Singapore. In total, the study surveyed 8,003 adult consumers in the United States, the UK, Singapore, and Mexico.
Singapore Stands Out in the Survey
Globally, 63% of respondents said they were concerned about minors using sports betting apps during the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, in Singapore, the number was even higher, reaching 76%, which is the highest level across markets covered by the study.
This finding is interesting since Singapore was not the market demonstrating the highest intentions to bet. As per Jumio, only 29% of adult respondents in Singapore planned to engage in sports betting. Mexico took the lead on this metric, with 43%, followed by the UK with 33%.
For the industry, the key challenge goes beyond the volume of expected bets. Instead, it lies in preventing minors from accessing digital betting platforms.
Online Betting Adds Pressure
The research also highlights that online platforms are likely to carry a large share of World Cup betting activity. In Singapore, 51% of respondents said they would prefer to place World Cup bets through online channels. Meanwhile, another 19% of Singapore respondents expect to use a new online gaming platform during the event.
However, such first-time users may add some additional pressure to the onboarding process. Although it is necessary to verify user information quickly, insufficient verification procedures may result in problems with reputation and regulations.
According to Jumio’s research, 42% of respondents in Singapore already have a sports betting account they plan to use during the World Cup. Besides, 27% expect to use multiple platforms during matches.
The percentage of platform switching is still lower than the international average of 37%. Nevertheless, it shows that some bettors may move between apps during live events. This can make consistent age controls harder, especially when user checks differ from one operator to another.
Platforms Face Clear Expectations
Consumer expectations in Singapore put the operators, along with their technology partners, under pressure. According to Jumio, 82% of respondents in Singapore felt that the prevention of underage betting is something that should be dealt with by online platforms and their technology partners. Just 4% of Singaporeans disagreed that it should be treated as a critical priority for the gaming industry.
This places verification companies within this discussion as well. Age verification, identity checks, fraud prevention, and onboarding processes are no longer considered as back-office solutions only. In an international tournament, such solutions get exposure in the consumer experience.
Bala Kumar, Jumio’s president and chief product and technology officer, said operators need layered identity and age verification to protect minors while maintaining ease of access for adults.
Bottom Line
The Singapore findings show where the pressure may land first. A World Cup betting spike can help operators acquire users, but it can also expose gaps in age assurance. The operators in the strongest position will be those that test verification flows before demand peaks, rather than treating age checks as a last-minute compliance step.
