Our Summer Olympics betting guide will show you the best sites to wager at, most popular sports, how odds work and more.
Best Sites
How to Sign Up
Popular Sports
Betting Tips
Betting Bonuses
Olympics History
Information
Are the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Cancelled? No, due to the Covid-19 pandemic the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed and rescheduled for the summer of 2021. They will now take place from July 23 – August 8.
Absolutely. As with all other sports betting in Canada, you'll be able to bet on all 339 Olympic events at our recommended sports betting sites from your mobile or desktop device.
Popular Summer Olympics bets include 'Nation to win most Gold medals', 'Total medals for a Nation', and many specific bets on individual games or events.
How to Sign Up and Start Betting
To get started betting on the Olympics for real money, take these following steps:
Choose one of our recommended best Olympics betting sites and sign up
Visit the sports section of the betting site, and find 'Olympics' in the side menu
From there, click on your preferred Olympic sport and event to bet on
Choose a market and click on the bet to see how much you could win in a 'Bet Slip'
Place the bet, and wait for the game or event to unfold to collect any winnings
How Betting Odds Work at the Olympics
We’ll take you through an example, to work out how betting odds work at the Olympics. The table below shows a hypothetical, but probable, list of the favourite nations to win the most Gold medals:
Nation
Odds
USA
2.00
China
3.50
Russian Olympics Committee*
6.50
Great Britain
6.50
Japan
12.00
*Russia is banned from the 2020 Olympics due to doping, but cleared Russian athletes are allowed to compete under the neutral Russian Olympics Committee (ROC) banner
The 2.00 odds for USA to win the most Gold medals mean that they are favourites. So, if you bet C$10 and they win, you’ll win C$10 back plus your stake back for a total returns of C$20.
If you fancy Japan, meanwhile, to be the 10th hosting nation to win the Olympics, then a C$10 bet on them could see you with a profit of C$110. That’s C$120 in total with your stake back.
We’ve used decimal prices, but other Summer Olympic sports may use the American money line system or even fractional odds. For more information on different way of expressing betting prices, see our Olympics odds calculator below:
Popular Summer Olympics Betting Events
The Olympics in 2021 will see the most sports (33), disciplines (50) and events (339) take place in the Modern Games’ history. Here are some the most popular Summer Olympics sports to bet on:
Soccer/Association Football
All the usual soccer betting odds from regular competitions are
available on the men’s and women’s Summer Olympics tournaments.
Canada women’s team claimed Bronze at Rio 2016, back them to win a medal again.
Olympic rules for 2021
state most of the squad must be under 24 years old (usually under-23 pre-Covid) with 3
overage senior players allowed. There are no restrictions for the women’s squads, however.
Eg:Brazil to beat Argentina and both teams to score
2.38
v
Tennis
The best professional tennis players get the chance to battle for Gold every four years.
Like any Grand Slam tournament, there are men’s and women’s singles and doubles events,
plus the mixed doubles draw.
As with soccer,
all the regular tennis betting odds you would expect to see
such as ‘next set winner’ and ‘correct set scoreline’ are on offer.
Eg:Serena and Venus Williams to win a women’s doubles match in straight sets (2-0)
2.50
v
Golf
Golf has only taken place at three previous Olympics (1900, 1904 and 2016). The last edition in Rio saw a number of top pros choose to not take part,
but expect more big names in Tokyo.
In terms of golf betting, the winner, top six, eight and even 10 places,
just like at the Majors, are up for grabs in the Olympic tournament.
Eg:
Tiger Woods
7.50
Track & Field Athletics
Perhaps no other sport is quite so synonymous with the Summer Olympics than athletics.
And there was big Canadian interest at Rio 2016 with Derek Drouin winning Gold in the men’s high jump.
Whether it’s sprints,
hurdles or long-distance track races, or other field events like the long jump, javelin or triple jump, betting is available on Gold medals.
Eg:Usain Bolt
to win the men’s 100m
1.50
Boxing
Boxing will permit professionals to fight alongside amateurs for the first time at the 2020 Olympics,
but most of the top names won’t compete. ‘Round by round’, ‘method of victory’ and futures markets on ‘who will win Gold’
in certain weight classes are all on offer for boxing betting.
Many greats have fought at the Olympics,
including Gold medallists Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay), Lennox Lewis (then representing Canada) and most recently GB’s Anthony Joshua.
Eg:Nicola Adams
to win the women’s flyweight tournament
3.25
Swimming
The Summer Olympics have done wonders to raise the global profile of swimming. With so many different races,
disciplines and distances, you’re never short of events to bet on.
There will be particular swimming interest at the 2020 Olympics,
with Japanese duo Kosuke Hagino and Rie Kaneto winning Gold in Rio.
Eg:
Australia to win the women’s 4 x 100m medley relay
4.00
Field Hockey
Hockey has a rich history at the Summer Olympics. Besides betting on which country will win Gold and individual matches,
anytime goalscorer prices are available.
Canada has qualified for the men’s tournament,
and have been drawn in the same group as the likes of former champions Great Britain,
The Netherlands and Germany, as well as last Olympics’ Silver medallists Belgium.
Eg:
Germany to win the men’s field hockey Gold medal
4.50
Basketball
Despite American dominance due to the NBA (their men have won 15 of the 18 Olympics they’ve entered, and the women 8 out of 10),
basketball remains part of the Summer Olympics.
Spread betting is a common theme if you’re looking to place a wager on one of the many
matches that take place at the Olympic Games. Another basketball betting option this Olympics is
the 3x3 event, which makes its debut.
Eg:
The United States to cover the spread and win by 15 points at
2.88
Top 5 Olympics Betting Tips
1
Choose a Sport you Know
With 33 sports and 339 events to pick from, you’re certainly spoiled for choice. While it might be fun to place a low wager on a sport that is new to you, it is always best to bet on what you know for your bigger bets to beat the bookies.
2
Go Niche if Possible
Related to the above tip, if you know your stuff about the more niche sports such as table tennis, rugby sevens or water polo, then this is where you can potentially win big. You can outsmart the bookies with your expert insight.
3
Research Athletes’ Form
Athletes for traditional Olympic sports such as track & field events, gymnastics and rowing, tend to target the biggest competitions such as the Summer Games and World Championships. It is best to base your research on these, rather than smaller events.
4
Look out for Betting Specials
Whichever sports betting site you choose to sign up to, be sure to keep an eye on daily specials and promotions they’ll offer throughout the Summer Olympics. You’ll be able to take advantage of free bets and enhanced prices.
5
Bet Early on Futures
The best prices are usually available before the Games begin. Especially when it comes to futures bets, such as for a certain athlete or team to win Gold. If you fancy a certain market to win, then bet early where possible.
Betting Bonuses
Welcome Bonus
Most top sports betting sites offer a sizeable welcome bonus to attract new players – usually a Match Bonus that can be claimed across 2-4 deposits. It can take a while to meet the bonus wager requirements, so the 17-day Olympics is the perfect opportunity to redeem the offer.
No Deposit Bonus
Before major sporting events especially, betting sites usually offer enticing no deposit bonuses. This means you can win real money for free. No deposit bonuses are worth much less than Match Bonuses, but there is no risk involved.
Enhanced Odds
Another great bonus to look out for are enhanced odds. This could be in the form of a welcome offer: where you pay a very low wager for a favourite, whose previous short odds have been enhanced, to win. Or, betting sites will offer enhanced prices and specials for certain events.
Modern Summer Olympics History
Our table below goes through the modern Summer Olympics in full since its inception in 1896, including the nation with most Golds each Games, the hosting city/country, and number of sports that were competed in:
In order to feature on our top Olympics betting sites list, our review team considers the following criteria:
Bonuses
Sports betting sites offering big welcome bonuses and regular offers, such as daily no deposit bonuses and other promotions, score highly with us.
Betting Options
With 339 events happening at Tokyo 2020, the top sports betting sites must offer odds and markets on at least the majority, and all 33 sports.
Safety & Security
We only recommend fully regulated and licensed sports betting sites, to ensure you have as safe and secure gambling experience as possible.
Payment Options
It’s important for a sports betting site to offer a number of deposit and withdrawal options, such as debit & credit cards, eWallets and more.
Customer Service
The Olympics attract many beginner bettors, so top responsive customer service that is available 24/7 is a must for various questions and help.
FAQs
Is Summer Olympics betting legal in Canada?
Yes, as with other sports events, Summer Olympics betting in Canada is 100% legal as long as you are gambling at legitimate sports betting site based offshore, such as the ones we recommend.
What are the best sites to bet on the Summer Olympics?
The below top sports betting sites for the Olympic Games offer the best gambling experience in Canada with a wide range of markets and great odds:
Betway Sports
BetVictor
Stake
888Sport
Sports Interaction
22Bet Sports
mr.play Sports
Pinnacle Sports
Which are the most popular Summer Olympics sports to bet on?
These are some of most popular Olympic sports to bet on:
Soccer (or Association Football)
Tennis
Golf
Track and Field Athletics
Boxing
Field Hockey
Basketball
When are the 2020 Olympics happening?
The Tokyo Olympic Games are rescheduled to take place from July 23 - August 8, 2021. The Japanese government has stated that no oversees spectators will be allowed to attend the Games, but fans already based in Japan can.
How many events will take place at the Tokyo Olympics?
There will be 339 different men’s and women’s events to enjoy at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. These are across 33 sports and 50 disciplines. 2021 will see the most events ever taking place at a Summer Games. View the most popular Olympic sports here.
What are the new sports for the 2020 Olympics?
The 2020 Summer Olympics will see karate, surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing appear at the Games for the first time. While, baseball and softball return, and new disciplines include 3x3 basketball, freestyle BMX and madison cycling.
Can I bet on the Summer Olympics on mobile?
Yes. Mobile Summer Olympics betting is all part of the gambling experience offered by sports betting sites.
You’ll be able to bet on your iPhone or Android smartphone device wherever you have internet connection.
Our recommended top sports betting sites have specifically optimized mobile apps and sites for you to gamble at.
Is live betting available at the Summer Olympics?
Yes, many of the sports that feature at the Summer Olympics are compatible with live betting. This means that prices are available during the actual events themselves and not just beforehand.
Odds are kept up-to-date constantly in reaction to what happens at the Olympic Games. Live betting differs from fixed odds price in this respect.
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Games: 700+
Variety of payment options 
High 70x wagering requirement 
USA 
China 
Russian Olympics Committee* 
Great Britain 
Japan 
