FIFA Signs Gambling Sponsor in New Zealand for Women's World Cup

FIFA has its first gambling sponsor for the Women’s World Cup, announcing a deal Monday with the New Zealand state monopoly betting agency TAB.

FIFA said TAB will be promoted in the four New Zealand stadiums at the July 20-Aug. 20 tournament being co-hosted with Australia. The value of the sponsorship was not disclosed.

The deal follows a gambling sponsorship for FIFA at the men’s 2022 World Cup in Qatar, also in the third-tier “supporter” category, to promote the Betano brand in Europe.

The New Zealand betting agency returns commission to sports it takes bets on, and paid NZ$2.4 million ($1.48 million) to the national soccer federation last year.

Soccer bodies are increasingly making deals with the gambling sector even as their own rules bar players, referees and officials from betting on games or having financial interests in betting industry operators.

UEFA signed betting operator bwin to a three-year deal in 2021 for the Europa League and Europa Conference League.

The English Premier League has agreed to reduce the prominence of betting sponsors on team jerseys though not for three more seasons.

Match-fixing in soccer has long been connected to betting syndicates and unregulated markets, particularly in Asia.

More In Business

Musk loses crown as world’s richest to software giant Larry Ellison

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison wrested the title of the world’s richest man from longtime holder Elon Musk early Wednesday as stock in his software giant rocketed more than a third in a stunning few minutes of trading. That is according to wealth tracker Bloomberg. A college dropout, the 81-year-old Ellison is now worth $393 billion, Bloomberg says, several billion more than Musk, who had been the world’s richest for four years. The switch in the ranking came after a blockbuster earnings report from Oracle. Forbes still has Musk as the richest, however, valuing his private businesses much higher.

The Man Studios Listen To: Kevin Goetz on Testing 3,000+ Films at Screen Engine

Kevin Goetz, CEO of Screen Engine, shares how testing 3,000+ films—including Barbie—helps studios shape stories audiences love.

Scaling Prefab with AI: Dextall CEO Aurimas Sabulis Tackles Housing Crisis

Aurimas Sabulis, CEO of Dextall, unveils how AI‑driven prefabricated façades slash design time by 80%, labor by 87%, and accelerate affordable housing delivery.

Home Prices Continue to Rise Despite Declining Sales

U.S. home sales slowed to their weakest pace in nearly 14 years, with rising mortgage rates and affordability concerns affecting market activity.

Jobs Report Underwhelms as Job Growth Stalls

Mark Hamrick of Bankrate helps make sense of the jobs report despite inflation but warns that uncertainty around tariffs could disrupt growth.

Star Trek plans Lego sets for the franchise’s 60th anniversary

Not many franchises have fueled society’s timeless fascination with the boundless possibilities of a utopian future like “Star Trek.”

Robinhood joins new band of companies calling the S&P 500 their home

Online broker Robinhood Markets will join the S&P 500 index Online broker Robinhood Markets will join the S&P 500 index as its stock rides higher on a cryptocurrency wave.

How you too can become a Hollywood insider at a test screening

Anyone can sign up to attend a test screening before a movie is completed.

Big Business This Week: Why does the Fed’s independence matter?

Trump wants interest rates to plummet to make borrowing cheaper and boost growth. Fed chair Jerome Powell and his allies say not so fast, they need to bala

LSD shows promise for reducing anxiety in drugmaker’s midstage study

A midstage study of the psychedelic drug LSD showed positive results for easing symptoms in people with generalized anxiety disorder.

Load More