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Legally Betting on the 2024 Olympics

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  • 2024 Paris Summer Olympics Odds Are Live Now
  • 2026 Winter Games Will Occur In February In Milan And Cortina (Italy)
  • The Olympics Can Be Seen On NBC Networks And The Peacock App

If you're used to Las Vegas Olympic betting, you'll be surprised to learn that most Olympics gambling has actually taken place at overseas sportsbooks. These legal sports betting sites have been accepting Olympics bets for decades, while domestic sportsbooks in the US have only been able to take such wagers since the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Of course, legal Olympic sports betting has now become more universally available inside and outside the parameters of Nevada sports betting. So while the Olympics are a huge achievement for those competing, spectators also have a shot at glory by going for a different kind of gold.

Some bettors may be able to wager with local domestic bookies, as many more US states now offer legal sports betting. Still, the most popular way to enjoy legally betting on the Olympics is to wager at a trusted international sportsbook site. Read on to learn more about how to bet on the Olympic Games.

Is It Legal To Bet On The Olympics?

Yes! Not only is betting on the Olympics legal, but it's also readily available. For most bettors, the easiest way to enjoy Olympic betting is via offshore sports betting sites. There are no federal gambling laws in the United States prohibiting the use of these online sportsbooks, but it should be noted that the state of Washington does not allow online gambling.

Online sportsbooks aren't the only option, however. Domestic sportsbook gambling is becoming more mainstream in the US, and over 20 states now have their own betting markets. Most of these allow for betting on Olympic action.

However, a few states still consider the Olympics to be an amateur tournament and disallow Olympics odds – We're looking right at you, Iowa! So if that's the case in your state, just carry your Olympic torch to one of the overseas books listed on this page, and you'll get the best Olympic betting lines anywhere.

Best Sportsbooks For Betting On The Olympics

The table below features our top recommendations for the industry's most trusted online sportsbooks offering Olympic betting odds. Each operator has been vetted by our team to ensure excellent wager selection, total legitimacy, unrivaled player safety, and rapid, guaranteed payouts.

 Site NameCurrent BonusAgeU.S.Visit Site
Top Rated #1 IconBovada Sportsbook50% Max $1,00018+USA Players Legally AcceptedVisit Site Review
2BetUS125% Max $3,12518+USA Players Legally AcceptedVisit Site Review
3Betonline Sportsbook50% Max $1,00018+USA Players Legally AcceptedVisit Site Review
4sports betting logo50% Max $1,00018+USA Players Legally AcceptedVisit Site Review
5MyBookie Sportsbook50% Max $1,00021+USA Players Legally AcceptedVisit Site Review
6xbet logo50% Max $50021+USA Players Legally AcceptedVisit Site Review

How To Legally Bet On The Olympics Online

Betting on the Olympics online is actually a pretty quick process when you use a highly reputable online sportsbook to place your wagers. For betting on the Summer Olympics, we'd say it's faster than the 100m sprint, and for betting on the Winter Olympics, we'd liken it to the ski jump because you'll be flying!

In either case, the following steps will get you ready to bet on the Olympic Games with any top-rated legal online sports betting site:

  1. Select one or more reputable online sportsbooks listed in this guide, and follow the links provided to register for an account. This involves entering your personal information (name, address, etc.), which are SSL and TLS protected. We advise signing up at multiple sportsbooks so you can quickly and easily shop lines for the best Olympics odds and payouts.
  2. Review the available legal sports betting bonus offers and promotions to see if any apply to you. You will usually find special Olympics online betting bonuses for the big event.
  3. Fund your account from among the available legal sportsbook deposit options listed in your chosen site's banking suite. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies will give you the most bang for your buck and the best Olympic bonuses.
  4. Browse the odds boards and select the Olympic sports and outcomes you'd like to place wagers on.
  5. Place your bet(s) by clicking or tapping on your desired betting lines, entering the amount you wish to risk for each, and then submitting your bet slip.
  6. Withdraw your winnings through your sportsbook's Cashier page!

Legally Betting On the Winter Olympics

The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in Milan and Cortina, Italy, during the month of February. Some sportsbooks are already offering betting lines for some outcomes and overall medals futures.

To place legal futures bets on the Milan and Cortina Games long before the events actually get underway, your best strategy is to shop the odds among our recommended online sportsbooks to find the most favorable lines.

🥇🥈🥉 Odds available at Bovada

Milan And Cortina 2026 - Most Gold Medals

  • Norway +185
  • Germany +200
  • Canada +600
  • USA +600
  • Russia +700
  • China +1500
  • Netherlands +2000
  • Sweden +3300
  • Austria +5000
  • France +5000
  • Switzerland +6600
  • Italy +10000
  • South Korea +10000
  • Finland +25000
  • Japan +25000
  • Poland +25000

What Olympic Sports Are Covered By Online Betting Sites?

Winter Olympic Sports

The Winter Olympics are "smaller" than the Summer Games, but they're arguably even more interesting. The next Winter Olympics will be held in Italy. There are scheduled to be 109 events across 15 disciplines in seven main sports. But while there are fewer sports and a smaller betting volume, many fans and bettors prefer the Winter Games simply because all the events are so unusual and uncommon.

Betting favorites during the Winter Olympics include most of the alpine events, though classics like men's and women's hockey always turn a big handle, as does the biathlon, cross-country skiing, and events like bobsleigh and the luge. However, one sport tends to get a lot of extra attention from viewers and bettors alike. Yes, curling is fast becoming the new Olympic hotness!

Summer Olympic Sports

The 2024 Summer Olympics will be held in Paris, France, and will feature 339 events across 50 disciplines and 33 different sports. Depending on your online sports betting site of choice, Olympics odds should be available for most or all of these, along with live betting lines on team sports that support them.

Some of the most popular sports to bet on during the Summer Olympics include basketball, track and field races, swimming, soccer, and other sports that are more familiar to US and Western markets. Of course, part of the fun of sports betting is trying out new sports, and there's no better venue for that than the Summer Games!

Olympics Prop Bets

Olympic prop bets, also known as Olympic proposition bets, are available for a variety of different sports. These are Olympic wagers placed on various in-event outcomes that usually aren't directly tied to wins and losses. Examples of Olympic prop bets might be wagers on how many silver medals France will have in 2026, how many golds an individual athlete racks up, how many goals a given soccer player will have in a game, whether or not the 100m world record will fall, and so on.

While you can expect thousands of mainline bets in the Olympics, you can expect tens of thousands of Olympic props at the best online sportsbooks. Still, you'll have to wait until just a few weeks before the Games get underway to wager on props, as these types of betting options will only surface closer to the actual games.

Other Olympic Betting Options

  • Olympic Betting Apps - Legal mobile sports betting is available from our premium sportsbook providers listed on this page. These online sportsbooks provide their services to Olympic bettors using web-based applications that do not require a download - just click on one of the links above using a mobile browser for full Olympic betting access on the go.
  • Live Betting On Olympic Odds - Don't sweat it if the Olympic Game that you want to bet on has already begun. Live betting allows for wagers to be placed during the contest, with odds that update until the winner is decided.

Olympics Betting Strategies & Tips

In most cases, an understanding of how to read sports betting odds will apply to wagering on the Olympics. But while there are really no special Olympic betting tips specific to the Summer Games or Winter Games themselves, we can offer a few general tips that work for all sports gambling markets:

  • Have a basic understanding of the event on which you are betting. The Olympic games include events that many people are not intimately familiar with. (This is especially true among USA bettors during the Winter Olympics.) You will always have the best chance of placing a winning bet on Olympics odds if you understand how each sport works.
  • Keep your patriotism and loyalty out of the wager. Don't bet on the athletes or nations you personally connect with as a fan. While it's tempting to wager on your country and the athletes representing your homeland, that can be a costly mistake. Instead, place your bets on the athletes or teams that have the best chance of winning the event. When your country medals, that's just icing on the cake.
  • Apply conservative bankroll management. There is no such thing as a sure bet. Just ask any casual or seasoned sports bettor about that. So, with that in mind, you should only risk money you can afford to lose. That's Betting 101. Then when you win, apply only a predetermined amount of those winnings back into your bankroll to support your betting entertainment. And never go all-in – make lots of small bets, as these will add up in time.
  • Read through our sports betting FAQs and our guides for how to bet on sports for more info on wagering on Olympics odds.

History of the Olympics

The Olympics are among the oldest and most prestigious sporting tournaments in the world. Officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. However, the Ancient Greeks held the original Olympics from 776 BCE to 393 CE. These, of course, were what we would today call the Summer Olympics.

The growth of the Olympic Games then led to the start of the Winter Olympics in 1924, which is also held every four years, but staggered from the Summer Games. Therefore, there is an Olympics every two years, with Summer and Winter games alternating. More money is bet on the Summer Olympics (which also has slightly better ratings), simply because there are so many more events and the games on offer are usually more globally accessible and common.

Olympics Informational Resources

To learn more about the Olympic Games, be sure to check out the Olympics website. You can also visit individual national teams and player resources, which is a must for anyone looking for a real Olympic betting edge.

Olympics Betting