Bet365 launches free-to-play Club World Cup £50k predictor

This weekend sees the start of the FIFA Club World Cup – the first time it has been played under the new 32-team format. Participating clubs are playing for a share of the $1billion (£740million) prize pot, with the victorious team taking away $125m (£92m). 

To mark the event, bookmaker Bet365 has launched a new free-to-play match predictor game. Participants will be playing for a possible total prize pot of £100,000, including a £50,000 top prize. All competitors who finish in the top 10,000 receive free bet prizes. 

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The international club tournament started in 2000, under the name FIFA Club World Championship. Following a break from 2001 to 2004, it returned in 2005 and was renamed the FIFA Club World Cup in 2006. Between 2005 and 2023, it has been held as an annual event. 

However, following the 2023 tournament, FIFA announced that it would undergo a revamp and the new tournament largely mirrors the format of the World Cup, taking place every four years and being contested by 32 teams.

Manchester City are the current holders, after beating Fluminese 4-0 in 2023’s final. However, Real Madrid have the most victories, taking the prize five times.

This year’s competition could net participating teams significant money. Participants receive between $3.58m and $38.19m just for turning up. Group stage wins receive $2m each while draws during this stage will earn $1m. $7.5m is awarded for reaching the round of 16 with $13.1m being given to the quarter-finalists, $21m to semi-finalists, and $30m for reaching the final. The winner receives an additional $40m. 

If an English club won the tournament, they would net nearly £100m in prize money. Chelsea and Manchester City are the two English teams with a chance of winning this year’s trophy. 

The tournament features some of the biggest clubs from around the world, as well as some lesser-known clubs from minnow nations. While some results may look easy to predict, there are sure to be some surprises, which will make topping the Bet365 predictor table difficult. 

Players need to log into their accounts, visit the game, and make their predictions for every available match. Participants are awarded points for correct predictions and awarded prizes according to how they compare to others. 

The player with the highest score at the end of the tournament will receive a £50,000 cash prize with cash prizes awarded to all of the top 100 ranked players. The top 10,000 players receive free bets ranging from £1 to £25 in value. 

There are also additional leaderboards for each group stage matchday and the round of 16 with winners receiving £12,500 and prizes awarded for players ranked up to 100th.

In total, Bet365 is giving away £100,000 in prize money across the whole event. The predictor game has been launched in partnership with software provider Incentive Games and is the latest in a series of similar predictor and free-to-play games launched by the pair.

When the game was launched a bet365 spokesperson said: “As the revamped Club World Cup kicks off in June, bet365 are delighted to announce the addition of the free-to-play Tournament Predictor game, in collaboration with Incentive Games, with plenty on offer to new and eligible customers. The latest in our portfolio of engaging free-to-play games, we’re confident that global football fans will enjoy testing their prediction skills against fellow fans.”