Why is the Paris Olympics 2024 such a big deal?
In 2018, the only state offering legal sports betting was Nevada. By the time the 2024 Summer Olympics rolls around, 38 states and districts will each have some kind of regulated sports betting available.
This means that for the first time since Tokyo’s Olympics, millions of sports fans across the US will have the chance to bet on the beloved Summer Olympics, with markets including Most Gold Medals, Total Medals and Outright Winner bets in individual events.
To give some kind of scale, one in ten adults in the US planned to wager on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, according to data gathered by the American Gaming Association (AGA). Not only were there half the regulated markets active in the US during the last Olympics but the markets and customers were new to sports betting. This time around, there’s more of everything: More markets, more states allowing sports betting, more customers and even more experience in betting.
That being said, it seems like Americans like to bet on what they know, rather than branching out into something too new. According to data taken from the last Olympics, 45% of US viewers were planning to bet on basketball, while 27% were going to bet on track and field.
Notably, 10% of Americans who were interviewed said that they would likely wager if sports betting became legal in their state…
Once the figures get released after the event, it’ll be eye-opening to see just what the figures are across the US.
When is the 2024 Olympics taking place?
The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics will run from July 26 - August 11, with a total of 329 planned events over 32 sports.
The opening ceremony will begin at 19:30 CET local time, or 10:30am PT and 1:30pm ET, while the event will begin properly at 20:24 (get it?).
Where is the 2024 Olympics being held?
The 2024 Summer Olympics is being held in France, with Paris designated as the main host city. An additional 16 other locations across France will also hold events in their stadiums, including Lille, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Lyon and Nice. Notably, Tahiti will host the surfing part of the competition as part of French Polynesia.
As the different events are being spread out across different cities, expect a nice change of scenery from the broadcasts. This won’t be a hassle at all if you’re watching the coverage from the comfort of your sofa, but keep a thought a prayer in your mind for those having to travel around France if they want to watch more than one sport.
There’s also a special route for the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, but we cover that further down the article.
How do I bet on the 2024 Olympics?
Trying out something new for the first time will always be daunting, especially if you’re putting dollars on the line! Don’t worry though, we’ve got you covered.
Once you’ve completed this step, the wager will be added to your Bet Slip and you can track any progress easily!
What are the 2024 Olympics odds?
There are so many different markets available during the Paris 2024 Olympics, meaning that it’s basically impossible to compile all of them in one list. However, we do have some of the most important odds tables. These odds are taken from FanDuel Sportsbook on June 20th.
The odds of each country being awarded the Most Gold Medals during the Olympic Games 2024:
The odds of each country being awarded the Most Medals during the Olympic Games 2024:
What to expect from betting on the 2024 Summer Olympics?
This year, France has promised something a little different for its Summer Olympics, including major changes to some of the main Olympic traditions and past times.
For example, this is the first time ever that the opening ceremony won’t take place inside a stadium, but instead on the Seine River. This is due to how important the river is to France, often being referred to as ‘The Heart of Paris’. Each of the nations will be given their own boat for their delegations to ride on, each of which will have their own cameras so spectators can see the athletes up close. As part of this, spectators will be able to line the Seine to watch the opening ceremony completely free of charge. If you’re planning on attending the opening ceremony, then make sure you check the official Olympics website for the latest information. If you’re watching from home, the only thing you need to check is whether you’ve got the right snacks ready.
That isn’t the only ‘first-ever’ in this year's Olympics either.
For the first time in history, break-dancing will be included as a sport. Dancers will have 60 seconds to perform a set, which will be judged by a panel against technique, variety of moves, execution, musicality and originality. As breakdancing requires some of the most technically difficult and taxing moves in dance, it was about time that this was reflected in the Olympics.
Can I bet on the Olympics from the US?
Yes, absolutely. Betting on the Olympics isn’t a modern tradition, as people have been betting on the Olympics from the very first time it was held in Greece. Even though it might seem strange to bet on it for the first time, as long as sports betting is regulated in your state and you’ve passed all the Know Your Customer (KYC) checks, then it’s perfectly legal.
If you’re wondering which sportsbooks offer 2024 Olympic betting, then you’re in luck, as all the big ones like Caesars, FanDuel and DraftKings will be providing a variety of markets for the event.
