Norway's World Cup win triggered $2.1B in global betting handle, the tournament's heaviest. Playtech and Evolution Gaming shares rose. Haaland's goal settled prediction-market contracts at 733% returns.
Norway's 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast in the World Cup Round of 32 on Tuesday triggered an estimated $2.1 billion in global sports-betting handle, according to data from two industry tracking firms. The match, decided by Erling Haaland's 86th-minute winner, was the most heavily wagered World Cup game in the tournament's opening round, surpassing the England-Argentina group-stage match by roughly 15%.
Bookmakers in Norway and Scandinavia saw the heaviest action. Norwegian betting operator Norsk Tipping reported a 40% surge in new account registrations during the match window, a company spokesperson said. The win, Norway's first knockout-stage victory at a World Cup, sent local shares of gaming-technology providers higher. Playtech, which supplies trading platforms to several Nordic operators, rose 3.1% in Helsinki trading. Evolution Gaming, a live-dealer studio based in Stockholm, added 2.4%.
The Ivory Coast side drew significant backing from West African betting markets. Match-fixing monitors flagged no unusual wagering patterns, according to a report from the International Betting Integrity Association. The group's data showed pre-match betting volumes aligned with historical norms for a Round of 32 fixture involving an African team.
Haaland's goal itself became a traded event on sports-derivative platforms. Kalshi, the U.S.-based prediction market, listed a contract on "Haaland to score in the 80th minute or later" at $0.12 before kickoff. The contract settled at $1.00 after the goal, a 733% return. Polymarket, a crypto-based prediction platform, saw $4.7 million in volume on Norway-Ivory Coast contracts, with the "Norway to win" contract trading at $0.68 at kickoff and settling at $1.00.
The win sets up a Round of 16 match against Brazil. Brazil is a -180 favorite to advance, according to DraftKings odds. Norway is +150. A Norway victory would mark the biggest upset of the tournament so far by betting-market probability.
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