Flutter CEO predicts strong customer additions as World Cup kicks off

(Sharecast News) - The chief executive of gambling firm Flutter Entertainment has said he expects the upcoming World Cup to present a big customer-acquisition opportunity, predicting up to 100,000 bets a minute at peak times. "it's a great way for us to acquire customers," Flutter boss Peter Jackson said in an interview with Barrons.

The FIFA World Cup, which kicks off on Thursday with the group A match between Mexico and South Africa, will be hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. For many consumers across North America, it is expected to be their first time betting on a premier football event.

"We are doing some education for American consumers with the way we're developing the product," Jackson said.

Flutter operates a local sportsbook across Canada, Scotland, Australia, Brazil, the US and England - all of which are competing in the World Cup this year.

The company, which owns American sports gambling business FanDuel, announced this week that a new partnership with OG Prediction Markets - Crypto.com's CFTC-regulated exchange and clearinghouse - to expand its prediction market offering just in time for the World Cup.

Flutter's London-listed shares were down 2.2% at 8,482p by 1217 BST.