DAZN announced Monday in Zurich that it will embed ADI Predictstreet — FIFA's first official prediction market partner — directly into the live broadcasts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, enabling viewers to predict match outcomes without leaving the streaming interface. This marks the second prediction market deal for DAZN within three months, following a January partnership with Polymarket.
Integration Details: Prediction Markets Live
Under the agreement, ADI Predictstreet will be integrated before, during, and after live events on DAZN, offering interactive messaging, real-time sentiment tracking, and tournament-linked prediction experiences. While the World Cup serves as the launch platform, the deal extends to DAZN's entire sports portfolio, including major leagues and events. DAZN Group CEO Shay Segev called the partnership "a step toward embedding real-time predictions directly into the live viewing experience," while ADI Predictstreet CEO Dimitrios Psarrakis described it as "a defining moment for audience engagement in sports."
Technology Stack: ADI Chain and Zero-Knowledge Proofs
ADI Predictstreet runs on ADI Chain, marketed as the first institutional Layer 2 for stablecoins and real-world assets in the MENA region. It uses ZKsync's zero-knowledge proof technology "Airbender" and has been audited by OpenZeppelin and Hacken. ADI Chain also provides settlement infrastructure for a dirham-pegged stablecoin authorized by the Central Bank of the UAE. Predictstreet is the first consumer-facing application deployed on this chain.
Regulatory Controversy: Gibraltar License vs. Global Ambitions
Although ADI Predictstreet obtained a betting intermediary license from the Gibraltar Gambling Division on March 26 — becoming the first licensed prediction market operator in Europe — the license currently only permits servicing customers within Gibraltar's ~40,000 population. Gibraltar's Minister for Justice, Trade and Industry Nigel Feetham praised the "record speed" of approval and linked it to the territory's economic response to UK gambling tax hikes. In contrast, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Portugal have restricted or blocked prediction market operators. The platform's public launch, originally scheduled for April 9, has been delayed, with Predictstreet.io still in demo mode.
Notably, ADI Predictstreet does not collaborate with IC360 or Sportradar, the two integrity monitoring firms FIFA already works with for World Cup wagering oversight. ADI declined to confirm if any other watchdog is involved.
Industry Implications: Prediction Markets Enter Mainstream Sports
DAZN's recent moves reflect a broader push by streaming platforms to embed prediction and betting elements into live content. The Polymarket deal, announced January 20, integrates real-time probability data into DAZN broadcasts, with plans to allow in-app contract trading. The ADI Predictstreet partnership goes further by emphasizing interactivity and blockchain provenance. Meanwhile, Brazil's ruling Workers' Party has introduced a bill to completely ban online gambling, with President Lula staying silent, casting uncertainty over the prediction market's prospects in Latin America's largest economy.
Analysts believe the DAZN-ADI collaboration will test the viability and regulatory tolerance of blockchain prediction markets at major sporting events. The 2026 World Cup could become a turning point for gambling-sports entertainment fusion, but may also trigger stricter regulation in multiple jurisdictions.