Winter Olympics ready for US sports bettors

With the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics starting on February 4th, US sports fans are excited to place their bets on this highly anticipated tournament and support their country! 

But which sports are taking place in this event and what odds are the most popular sportsbooks likely to give you?

US Sportsbooks

Legalized US states that allow online sports betting are great for their residents. Some of these sportsbooks include FanDuel, DraftKings, BetRivers and BetMGM. Each site has its own set of odds, but betting on the Winter Olympic games is as straightforward as any other sport. The odds are set, but they can change dramatically depending on what’s happening with team members and athletes.

For example, on February 2nd, it was announced that 11 athletes had been hospitalized due to Covid. This affects their sports and if they were included when you placed your bet, it could also have a dramatic effect on the odds. So, it’s essential to keep on top of player news for your preferred sports.

Olympic sports to choose from

The Winter Olympics consists of 15 sports. Depending on the operator, not all of these sports will be available to wager on, but the top bookmakers are likely to offer more choices. So double-check what your sports betting site has to offer and then compare it with some others.

The sports are alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsleighing, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, luge, nordic combined, short track speed skating, skeleton, ski jumping, snowboarding and speed skating.

The Beijing Olympics mark the second year that many Americans will be allowed to bet on these sports, thanks to legalization of sports betting in more US states.

We found that these sportsbooks included alpine skiing, curling, hockey, luges and snowboarding as the top sports to place wagers on. There are a few favorite athletes to look out for in this sporting competition, which we highlighted below.

Alpine skiing:

• Mikaela Shiffrin of the USA is set to win a medal this year as she won gold in the 2018 games. However, Sara Hector of Sweden is the favorite to win gold.
• There aren’t many odds that support the Americans finishing top three for men’s downhill competition. The favorites are Norwegian Aleksander Aamodt Kilde and Swiss Beat Feuz.

Curling:

• Although the men’s US team won gold in the 2018 games, the top three this year are Great Britain, Canada and Sweden.
• Canada, Sweden, and Great Britain are the top three women’s teams predicted to win medals same as the men’s team.

Hockey:

• Russia won gold, Germany silver, and Canada bronze in the 2018 men’s hockey games. This year Russia, Canada and Finland are set to come out as the top three. The players from the NHL are not permitted to play at the Olympics, which gives the US team far less chance of a medal.
• In the women’s tournament, the US team are one of the favorites to rank high, alongside Canada and Finland. Can the US regain their first place title this year?

Luges:

• Chris Mazdzer won silver in 2018 and is predicted to do it again this year.
• The favorite to win gold is Germany’s Julia Taubitz this year.

Snowboarding halfpipe:

• The USA standout is Shaun White, who won gold in the 2018 Olympics in the men’s category.
• Chloe Kim in the women’s category is a favorite to win gold, just like she did in the previous winter games.

Snowboarding slopestyle:

• The top US athlete, who is predicted to win gold in the men’s category, is Redmond Gerard. Although Canada’s March McMorris is also a favorite.

Start sports betting right away

In general, online sports betting on the Winter Olympic games is accessible in the US. Sports bettors find a sportsbook, register their account and make their first bet. Look out for the best sportsbook bonuses,or offers specific to the Olympic games, as this could be a useful boost when placing wagers.

If you’re interested in sports betting on the Beijing Winter Olympics, then give it a try! Most online sportsbooks will have a range of events and betting markets to choose from. Make sure you’ve researched chosen sport or team thoroughly and this could be an exciting opportunity to generate returns on this large spectator sporting event!