The 2016 Olympic games are right around the corner and for the first time since the Summer games in 2000 in Australia, you’ll be able to wager on the events in Las Vegas. In early 2015, the Nevada Gaming Control Board approved a measure that would allow sports books to offer wagering on events sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee.
This is a well-deserved change for sports book operators. In today’s ever growing sports betting market it’s always strange when someone finds a sporting event on TV where they can’t wager. Even though the Olympics get great ratings, it’s not expected to be as widely popular with sports bettors.
That’s not to say the ability to wager on the Olympics is a waste. It just won’t be as popular in the sports book as football. Here are the Top 10 Rio summer Olympic bets from William Hill and how people are wagering.
1. Will USA Men’s Basketball Team Win Gold Medal? 64% total tickets on YES they will win, 81% total dollars wagered on YES they will win. Current odds: YES (-800) NO (+550)
2. Will USA Women’s Soccer Team Win Gold Medal? 85% tickets on YES they will win, 65% total dollars wagered on YES they will win. Current odds: YES (+150), NO (-170)
3. Will Brazil Men’s Soccer Team Win Gold Medal? 54% total tickets on YES they will win, 86% total dollars wagered on NO they will not win. Current odds: YES (+140), NO (-160)
4. Will Usain Bolt Win 100M Gold Medal? 78% total tickets on NO he will not win, 59% total dollars wagered on NO he will not win. Current odds: YES (-180), NO (+160)
5. Will Novak Djokovic Win Men’s Tennis Singles Gold Medal? 65% total tickets on YES he will win, 83% total dollars wagered on NO he will not win. Current odds: YES (-110), NO (-110)
6. Most Gold Medals: USA or China? 81% total tickets on USA, 76% total dollars wagered on USA. Current odds: USA -8.5 (-110), China +8.5 (-110)
7. Will Serena Williams Win Women’s Tennis Singles Gold Medal? 72% total tickets on YES she will win, 71% total dollars wagered on NO she will not win. Current odds: YES (+130), NO (-150)
8. To Win Women’s 4X100 Relay Gold Medal (Track and Field): 67% total tickets on USA, 88% total dollars on USA. Current odds: Jamaica (-160), USA (+110), Trinidad & Tobago (14/1), Great Britain (35/1), and the Field (14/1)
9. Will USA Women’s Basketball Team Win Gold Medal? 50% total tickets on YES/NO, 91% total dollars wagered on YES they will win. Current odds: YES (-1000), NO (+650)
10. Country To Win Most Gold Medals? 50% total tickets on USA, 91% total dollars wagered on USA. Current odds: USA (-600), China (3/1), Great Britain (22/1), Russia (60/1), Germany (60/1), Australia (60/1), France (75/1), Japan (75/1), South Korea (100/1), and the Field (60/1).
These odds will change as wagers are placed. There will be more wagering opportunities to wager on the Olympic games. While William Hill operates over 100 sports books in Nevada, each sports book operator will offer different events and odds.
There are two things to keep in mind if you’re wagering on Olympic events:
1. Brazil is four hours ahead of Las Vegas. The events should be listed in local Las Vegas time in the sports books but 4 hours is an odd time difference. You may see different times listed in different media.
2. NBC won’t be showing all events live. You may not be able to see the events unfold in person. Keep this in mind if you must watch the event you wagered on without knowing the results.
