Germany’s gambling regulator has launched a formal review of ADI Predictstreet, the official prediction market partner of the FIFA World Cup 2026, over concerns that its tournament advertising may breach national gambling laws.
The investigation, initiated by the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), focuses on the company’s extensive pitch-side advertising during World Cup matches broadcast in Germany. Regulators are examining whether ADI Predictstreet is effectively offering gambling-related services to German consumers despite not holding a local licence to operate in the country.
ADI Predictstreet entered the spotlight earlier this year after securing a betting intermediary licence in Gibraltar and signing a landmark agreement with FIFA as the tournament’s first official prediction market partner. The platform launched globally ahead of the World Cup and has been promoted as a new way for fans to engage with matches through forecasting outcomes and tournament events.
According to reports, the regulator is assessing both the legality of the company’s prediction market offering and whether German residents can access and participate in its services. The advertising review was intensified after ADI Predictstreet branding appeared during Germany’s opening World Cup match, including broadcasts shown on children’s television channel KiKa.
Should the GGL determine that violations have occurred, enforcement measures could include cease-and-desist orders directed at the operator as well as third-party providers such as payment processors, hosting companies and telecommunications firms.
ADI Predictstreet has rejected suggestions that it intentionally targeted the German market. The company stated that it conducts no advertising campaigns aimed specifically at German consumers and argued that its visibility during the World Cup stems from global sponsorship and media-rights agreements connected to FIFA.
German broadcaster ZDF also noted that it has no control over stadium advertising displayed during international tournament feeds, as those visuals are supplied by the host broadcaster. The network maintains that the broadcasts comply with existing German media regulations.
The case comes as European regulators increase scrutiny of prediction markets. Earlier this week, multiple gambling authorities across Europe coordinated action against the sector, which remains largely unregulated across the continent. While prediction markets are often promoted as financial or forecasting tools, many European jurisdictions classify them as gambling products, making their operation subject to strict licensing requirements. Germany currently treats such offerings as prohibited unless specifically authorised.
The outcome of the GGL’s review could become an important test case for how European regulators approach prediction market operators seeking exposure through major global sporting events.