The Paris Olympics brought a significant surge in betting activity, with ratings up 76% compared to the Tokyo Games. With more states offering legal sports betting, over 300 medal events drew heavy action. Caesars reported that the 2024 Olympics generated the most wagers, second only to MLB.
However, the gold-medal-count market sparked controversy. The U.S. and China both won 40 golds, leading DraftKings and bet365 to settle with dead heat rules, splitting payouts. BetMGM used a silver-count tiebreaker to favor the U.S., while Prime Sports paid out both as winners.
So, with the US & China tied at 40 for “most gold medals”, @primesportsbook has paid out backers of both countries in-full.
— Joe Brennan Jr (@joebrennanjr) August 11, 2024
Congrats to all of you.
The U.S. secured gold in basketball for both men and women. The men’s team, led by Steph Curry, won 98-87 against France. The women’s team edged out France 67-66, maintaining their winning streak.
Basketball dominated betting, with the top seven most popular events, followed by USA women’s soccer. The biggest upset came from Italy’s Alice D’Amato, who won gold in the balance beam at 80-1 odds.
