TLDR
- FIFA named ADI Predictstreet as the official prediction market for the World Cup
- Predictstreet has no working website or app, with its domain returning error messages
- The company only holds a license in Gibraltar, covering just 38,000 people, with no legal status elsewhere
- Senior figure Ajay Hans Raj Bhatia was accused of insider trading by India’s SEBI tied to the Adani Group
- Bhatia paid roughly $170,000 and accepted a six-month trading ban in India to settle the case
FIFA recently announced ADI Predictstreet as its official prediction market partner for the upcoming World Cup. The governing body described the deal as a step toward innovation and fan engagement.
However, the partnership has already attracted scrutiny over the company’s readiness and the background of its leadership.
ADI Predictstreet does not currently have a functioning website or application. Attempts to visit the company’s domain have returned error messages, raising basic questions about its operational status.
The company recently obtained a license in Gibraltar. That jurisdiction has a population of roughly 38,000 people.
Predictstreet’s Limited Licensing Raises Global Concerns
Unlike many European betting companies that use Gibraltar as a base while holding licenses in multiple countries, Predictstreet has no legal authority to operate outside the territory.
This creates a clear gap between FIFA’s global reach and Predictstreet’s current legal standing. The World Cup attracts billions of viewers across dozens of countries, and it is unclear how Predictstreet plans to serve that audience.
FIFA responded to the concerns by pointing to its integrity standards. The organization said Predictstreet’s World Cup operations would feature real-time surveillance of suspicious trading and structured reporting systems.
“These measures are designed to guarantee transparency, fairness, and participant safety,” FIFA stated.
Still, the lack of a working product or broader licensing has left many observers unconvinced.
The concerns go beyond the company’s infrastructure. One of its senior figures has faced legal trouble in India.
Senior Executive Settled Insider Trading Case With Indian Regulators
Ajay Hans Raj Bhatia, a senior figure at ADI Predictstreet, appeared alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the partnership announcement. Days later, reports surfaced about accusations against him from India’s Securities and Exchange Board.
SEBI accused Bhatia of insider trading connected to the Adani Group. Investigators said he made trades worth more than $900,000 after receiving advance notice of a $2 billion investment in the firm.
According to reports from Josimar, the trades resulted in a profit of about $60,000.
Bhatia settled the matter with SEBI. He agreed to pay roughly $170,000 and accepted a six-month ban from trading in India.
Despite the settlement, the accusations have added another layer of concern around the FIFA partnership.
Bhatia commented on the deal publicly. He called it “a pivotal milestone for ADI Predictstreet and the way audiences interact with major events.”
He also said the company was “establishing the groundwork for a new sector merging collective intelligence, technology, and real-world results.”
FIFA has not publicly addressed Bhatia’s legal history or how it factored into the selection process.
The partnership was announced as prediction markets continue to grow in popularity worldwide. Platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi have gained users in recent years, particularly around political and sporting events.
But those platforms operate with established technology, user bases, and regulatory approvals across multiple jurisdictions.
ADI Predictstreet, by contrast, has yet to demonstrate a working product or secure the licensing needed to operate on a global scale.
FIFA has not provided a timeline for when Predictstreet’s platform will go live or which countries it will be available in. The World Cup is expected to draw massive global attention, and the prediction market deal remains one of its most questioned commercial arrangements to date.
