How to bet on the Olympics: 2026 Winter Olympics betting guide
This Olympics betting guide shows where sports bettors can bet on the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, as well as popular betting markets and some gold medal odds.
Where to bet on the 2026 Winter Olympics
Here are some available sports betting promotions that new users can receive by signing up with a sportsbook and betting on the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Betting on the Winter Olympics
With 116 medal events across 16 sports, there will be no shortage of action for the 2026 Winter Olympics. There are, however, a few events that are more popular than others, and these make up the most popular types of bets. Here’s a quick look at some of the most notable games, events, athletes and more that bettors can bet on at sportsbooks.
Bet on the Winter Olympics at DraftKings Sportsbook here:
Most gold medals/number of medals
As individuals and teams compete for gold in their respective sports and events, countries also seek bragging rights in how often they win. As such, one of the most popular types of bets for the Olympics is which country will win the most gold medals.
Coming into the games, Norway are the favorites to win the most gold medals in Italy, with Germany, the United States and Canada rounding out the top four in different orders according to the sportsbooks. Norway is -160 to win the most gold medals at DraftKings, as of February 3. The Norwegians have also won the most gold medals at the 2022 Winter Olympics. There are also over/under betting options for the total number of gold medals won by a country, with Norway’s line set at 16.5 and the United States’ at 12.5.
Ice hockey
Arguably the most popular event of each Winter Olympics is ice hockey, with tournaments for both men’s and women’s teams.
The men’s tournament is largely comprised of star NHL players who will take a break from professional play to wear the uniforms of their respective countries. In fact, this is the first time since 2014 that NHL players have participated in the Olympics.
Finland is the defending champion, having won the gold medal in 2022 in Beijing. Russia won in 2018 and Canada in 2010 and 2014. The United States has won just two medals since the turn of the century — silver in 2010 and 2002 — and hasn’t won gold since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.”
Canada, who won last year’s 4 Nations showdown, is the betting favorite to win gold this year at -140, according to DraftKings odds as of Feb. 16, followed by the United States (+200), Finland (+1300) and Sweden (+1300). Punters can bet on the gold medal nation as well as specific matches and matchups, and they can also bet on which teams will win any medal. Canada is -1000 to win a medal at DraftKings, the United States is -350 and Finland is -115. Punters can also bet on which nation will win the silver and bronze medals. Other types of bets, such as goal difference, over/under total goals scored, which teams will advance from the group stage and many more are also available for bettors to bet on.
Women’s ice hockey debuted at the 1998 Winter Olympics and since then, the United States and Canada have won all but one of the gold medals and silver medals. Canada entered 2026 as the defending champions after winning gold in 2022 against the United States, who won it in 2018. Several of the PWHL’s top players are participating in this event, and the United States is -330 favorite at DraftKings to win gold. Canada is at +225, and the next closest country is Sweden at +8,000.
Curling
Another popular sport at the Winter Olympics is curling, affectionately known as “ice chess” because of the importance of short- and long-term strategic match planning. There are three formats at the Olympics, with men’s and women’s tournaments consisting of teams of four players, as well as mixed doubles, where teams consist of one man and one woman. With curling, you can bet on individual matches between two teams, as well as which team will win the gold medal in a specific format.
After a series of three Olympic gold medals between 2006 and 2014, Canada gave way to the United States in 2018 and to Sweden in 2022 in the men’s race. Great Britain won women’s gold in 2022 after Sweden won gold in three of the previous four matches. The Great Britain men’s team are +137 favorites at bet365 – as of February 16 – to win gold this year, while the Sweden women’s team are around +160. Bet on the Winter Olympics on FanDuel here:
Winter Olympics odds
Hockey, curling and alpine skiing aren’t the only events taking place at the 2026 Winter Olympics, meaning there are plenty of other bets for punters to make.
Bobsleigh events are always fun to watch, with racers competing to finish with the fastest times on their sleds down a steep ice track, with incredible precision needed to fly around tight turns at incredibly fast speeds. An interesting aspect of the Winter Olympics is that women compete in a special “monobob” competition, in which there is only one rider per sled. Typical bobsleigh competitions consist of two or four riders per sled. As of February 16, the leading contenders in the monobob competition are Germany’s Laura Nolte, who is -290 to win gold, according to DraftKings odds, while Kaillie Armbruster Humphries is +370.
The biathlon is a combination of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, and Italy’s Tommaso Giacomel and France’s Eric Perrot are tied favorites at +425 on DraftKings to win the men’s 15k mass start. Just behind the favorites is the Norwegian Strula Holm Laegreid (+600). Norway is, however, the -140 favorite in the 4×7.5 km relay, followed by France (+100) and Sweden (+1500).
Bet on the Winter Olympics at BetMGM here:
Winter Olympics Betting Strategy
With so many different events, countries, and athletes participating in the 2026 Winter Olympics, there are tons of different Olympic betting strategies for you to choose from.
One option is to specialize in one or two sports or events. Here you can really narrow down your search to fewer events and prioritize betting on them. This strategy could work very well for a hockey fan, for example, if they closely follow NHL games and international matches and/or have attended specific country versus country matchups, such as Canada’s victory in the 4 Nations showdown last year against the United States, Finland and Sweden.
In general, it is important to do research before placing bets. It’s a little different with the Olympics, though, given that they happen every four years and there aren’t always the same participants as the last game. But it’s important to look at past success for Olympics betting for several reasons. If a specific athlete or team has had success in the past and competes again, it stands to reason that they will be competitive again. On the other hand, however, an athlete or team made up of older veterans may be on the downhill slope, so to speak, of their career and at risk of being usurped by younger competitors.
As is the case whenever placing bets, bettors should always look for the best lines. If you think a country is undervalued in a specific event on one sportsbook, try finding longer odds for that nation to win gold in that sport on another sportsbook. You don’t have to place all your bets on just one sportsbook, so searching for the best odds and lines is an ideal way to maximize your potential profits. Bet on the Winter Olympics at Fanatics now:
Responsible gaming
Punters should always practice responsible gambling when placing bets. Use responsible gaming tools and resources at sportsbooks, such as deposit and wagering limits, activity alerts, and, if necessary, timeout or self-exclusion options. Bettors who need more assistance can also find contact information on different sports betting apps and sites for local and national helplines like 1-800-GAMBLER (call or text 24/7).
FAQs
Can we bet on the Winter Olympics?
Yes, you can bet on the Winter Olympics at different sports betting sites, on a variety of different events, as well as on which country will win the most gold medals.
Which sportsbooks offer Olympics betting?
Sportsbooks like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics, and bet365 all offer Winter Olympics betting.
Where to find Olympic betting odds?
You can find Olympic betting odds at any sportsbook offering 2026 Winter Olympics betting, such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics, and bet365.
When can I bet on the Winter Olympics?
You can bet on the Winter Olympics at any time in different markets, including specific events and which country will win the most gold medals.
