Question of the Day - 28 January 2026

Olympic wagering was, in fact, legal in Las Vegas until 2001, when the late U.S. Senator John McCain led a big push to ban betting on all amateur sports. Vegas compromised, offering to discontinue betting on the Olympics and other amateur events, such as Little League baseball, while continuing to offer a full menu on college sports.

This policy held until 2015, when the Nevada Gaming Commission approved Olympic betting, allowing Vegas to be more competitive with the growing worldwide gambling market.

Excitement from the public, at least initially, was underwhelming, to say the least. Even high-profile events such as U.S. men’s basketball games attracted only marginal interest, roughly equivalent to an average Major League Baseball game. 

The 2016 Olympics were held in Rio with a fan-friendly time difference of only four hours, so they attracted more action.

Since then, interest has continued to grow, and betting interest in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy is poised to hit record highs, potentially surpassing the estimated $1.5 billion in total wagers placed during the 2022 Beijing Games in legal U.S. markets. And why not? With sports betting now legal in 38 states, plus D.C., up from around 30 in 2022, and mobile apps making it easier to place bets, experts anticipate a 50%-100% increase in handle compared to four years ago.

Additionally, the event's timing (Feb. 6-22) puts it in competition with fewer overlapping major sports globally, which could and probably will concentrate attention, driving higher volumes.

And, as you say, with professional athletes prominent in events like hockey and snowboarding, robust offerings will no doubt be the order of the day. For the first time since 2014, pro NHL players will compete, boosting appeal. Major operators are already posting odds, including favorites like Canada to win men's ice hockey and Norway as a top contender for most gold medals.

If viewership exceeds 15 million nightly (compared to 11 million in 2022), wagering could top $2.5 billion in the U.S. alone. Compare that to the approximately $1.5 billion handle projected to be legally bet on Super Bowl LX, marking an increase from the $1.39 billion estimated for Super Bowl LIX in 2025.