Employers are being urged to watch for signs of gambling-related harm in the workplace as this summer’s expanded FIFA World Cup brings weeks of daytime matches, office distractions and increased betting activity.
The 2026 tournament begins on 11 June in Mexico City and runs until the final on 19 July in New Jersey, spanning more than five weeks across the United States, Canada and Mexico. It will also be the biggest World Cup in history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches.
That schedule is expected to create a prolonged period of football-focused activity across workplaces, with many fixtures taking place during UK working hours because of the North American time difference.
Two charities warned that the tournament could allow gambling harms to “hide in plain sight” at work as betting becomes woven into daily conversations, office culture and mobile phone use during matches.
Campaigners said managers should watch for warning signs including irritability, declining work quality, longer lunches and secretive behaviour around phones or computer screens. More serious indicators may include requests for early wages or attempts to borrow money from colleagues.
Long tournament raises workplace concerns
The warning was issued by gambling support charity Betknowmore UK and suicide prevention charity Ripple Suicide Prevention, which develops technology designed to intercept harmful online searches linked to suicide, self-harm and gambling distress.
The organisations said major sporting tournaments often intensify existing gambling problems because betting becomes normalised socially and harder to detect.
Alice Hendy, founder and chief executive of Ripple Suicide Prevention, said the World Cup could increase pressure on people already struggling with gambling addiction.
“Many people will already be tackling the impacts of a gambling addiction, and the World Cup will place even greater social pressure on those currently struggling,” she said. “By knowing the early warning signs and having open and honest conversations in the workplace, we hope that even more people will get the support they need, preventing them from reaching the point of crisis.”
Former professional footballer Clarke Carlisle, now business development executive at Betknowmore UK, said gambling harm was still too rarely discussed during mental health crises.
“The connection between gambling harm and suicidality isn’t an academic one; it’s real, and I have lived it,” he said. “We must broaden our understanding of gambling harms beyond the financial, into the emotional and behavioural.”
HR teams may face hidden wellbeing risks
The charities are now developing workplace training and digital support tools aimed at helping organisations identify gambling-related harm earlier. The issue may present challenges for employers because gambling problems can initially resemble ordinary workplace stress, distraction or financial anxiety.
Some HR specialists believe the length and timing of the 2026 World Cup could amplify those risks more than previous tournaments, particularly with expanded fixtures spread across weekdays and evenings over a 39-day period.
The charities cited research suggesting suicide is among the leading causes of death for people with gambling disorder.
Employers are increasingly introducing financial wellbeing initiatives, mental health support and manager training aimed at spotting behavioural warning signs earlier. But campaigners warned many organisations still overlook gambling harms because they remain less visible than other workplace wellbeing issues.
William Furney is a Managing Editor at Black and White Trading Ltd based in Kingston upon Hull, UK. He is a prolific author and contributor at Workplace Wellbeing Professional, with over 127 published posts covering HR, employee engagement, and workplace wellbeing topics. His writing focuses on contemporary employment issues including pension schemes, employee health, financial struggles affecting workers, and broader workplace trends.
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
