World Cup Betting Boom: How to Avoid Gambling Pitfalls

As you slip on your favourite soccer jersey and head to the nearest pub with friends to watch a World Cup match this month, you may also feel tempted to place a wager on your team. Sports betting apps are ubiquitous—advertised on TV, promoted across social media and designed to make betting fast and simple. While most people do not develop a gambling disorder, experts urge caution and practical limits before you dive in.

“Treat sports betting and gambling as you would any recreational activity,” said Andrew Kim, an associate psychology professor at Toronto Metropolitan University and a Tier II Canada Research Chair in addictions and mental health comorbidity. “Don’t think of it as a way to make money; set aside the amount you can afford to lose and stick to that budget.” For example, that might mean setting a maximum of $100 per month and being prepared to accept that sum as entertainment expense.

Setting up guardrails on gambling

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) has published practical guardrails for people curious about betting. One recommendation is to limit betting to no more than 1% of your annual household income. Broken down monthly, that equates to modest sums: for someone earning $30,000 a year, the CCSA’s guidance works out to roughly $25 a month.

That guidance also suggests limiting the number of days you bet—no more than four days per month—and restricting the variety of gambling activities you participate in. Narrowing the types of bets you place can reduce impulsive decisions and make it easier to track spending.

Sarah McCarthy, CEO of the Responsible Gambling Council, emphasizes planning ahead. “Decide what you can afford to lose before the event begins,” she said. The council operates as a gambling-neutral harm-reduction agency focused on prevention and advisory services for businesses and industry stakeholders.

Many sports betting apps include built-in safety features: spending limits, deposit limits, and tools to restrict how much time you spend on the platform. McCarthy advises setting these controls in advance to curb impulsive wagers that often come during high-emotion moments in a game.

She also warns against betting when your judgment is impaired. “Avoid gambling when you’re upset, stressed, or under the influence of alcohol or other substances,” McCarthy said. Emotions and substances can severely affect decision making, and betting during those times increases the risk of harm.

For residents of Ontario, McCarthy recommends using licensed apps that have commercial operating agreements with Ontario iGaming and are registered with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). Licensed operators must meet player protection standards that unlicensed platforms may not provide.

Never chase gambling losses

One of the most important rules is: don’t chase losses. “If you’ve lost the amount you budgeted, stop,” McCarthy said. Trying to recover losses by increasing stakes or making riskier bets usually leads to larger losses.

Certain bet types are notably high risk. Parlay bets, which bundle multiple wagers into one, can offer larger payouts but reduce your chances of winning with each added selection. “They can look attractive, but the odds of winning fall sharply as you add events,” McCarthy noted. Live in-play bets present similar dangers because they encourage quick, emotion-driven decisions during the match. Those micro-decisions can add up fast and make it easy to exceed your budget.

Experts also caution against the illusion of control—when passionate fans assume their sports knowledge gives them a reliable edge. “When we look at the data, the majority of people actually lose,” Kim said. Only a small fraction of bettors consistently make money from sports betting.

How to know if gambling is becoming addictive

It’s easy to abandon self-imposed limits in the heat of the moment, and early signs that gambling is becoming a problem can be subtle. You might start spending more time on betting apps than intended, checking odds first thing in the morning, or feeling compelled to chase losses—behaviours that can snowball quickly.

Kim identifies preoccupation as a red flag: “You’re devoting significant time to betting or thinking about betting.” That can show up as excessive research into odds, player statistics, matchups, or nonstop planning about what to bet on next.

Other warning signs include repeatedly failing to keep to your limits or being unable to pay regular living expenses because of betting. Financial strain is a common consequence when sports wagering gets out of control.

There is help available for those who need it, from self-help measures to professional treatment. “Delete the apps, take a break, and reassess your relationship with sports betting,” Kim advised. If you choose to return, do so with strict safeguards and realistic limits. For some people, a pause is enough to regain control; for others, avoiding gambling entirely may be the safer option.

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