Sports
U.S. Legal Gambling Boom Expected to Drive Record Betting on Summer Olympics
Paris, France – The upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris, starting July 26, are poised to attract unprecedented levels of betting activity, thanks to the widespread legalization of gambling in the U.S. This will be the first Summer Olympics since legal sports betting became prevalent across the nation, and the gaming industry anticipates a surge in wagers on popular sports like basketball, soccer, and tennis.
Max Bichsel, North America executive vice president at Gambling.com Group, remarked on this significant shift, saying, “The Olympics and gambling, for decades, have looked at each other from afar. This year we’ll see them meld together.”
The timing of the Olympics is particularly favorable for sportsbooks, coinciding with the offseasons of major betting leagues like the NFL and NBA. However, the overall impact on gambling operators remains uncertain. Giants such as FanDuel and DraftKings, which dominate about 80% of the U.S. online gambling market, may see a less pronounced effect compared to smaller players.
Jordan Bender, a senior equity analyst at Citizens JMP, commented, “If you want to look at this from an annual perspective for a company like DraftKings or FanDuel, it’s still going to have a relatively minor impact. Obviously positive, but it’s not going to be as big as we might think, and a lot of it is going to be largely dependent on viewership.”
FanDuel, owned by Flutter, indicated that the Olympics might not significantly influence their sportsbook operations, while DraftKings did not respond to requests for comment.
The growth of legal gambling in the U.S. has been substantial. Over 30 states now permit some form of sports wagering, with many allowing mobile and online betting. This is a dramatic increase from the last Summer Olympics, held in Tokyo. In 2021, 97 million American adults could place a bet; this year, that number has risen to 164 million, according to the American Gaming Association.
Brandon Friedman, vice president of operations at PrizePicks, a daily fantasy operator, noted that their platform offered Olympic events during the Tokyo and Beijing games, with a preference among users for summer competitions. “As a result, we are leaning into the Paris 2024 Olympics with a wider offering for our members to enjoy than ever before,” Friedman said.
As the games approach, sportsbooks and fantasy operators are preparing for a significant uptick in engagement, hoping to capitalize on the increased interest and participation in Olympic betting.
Warren Gatland is set to leave his role as Wales head coach after a record-breaking 14 consecutive Test match defeats, bringing an early end to his second tenure in charge.
Although the 61-year-old was contracted until the 2027 Rugby World Cup, he was already expected to step down after the Six Nations. Now, his departure will come midway through the tournament, with Wales still set to face Ireland on 22 February in Cardiff, Scotland on 8 March, and England on 15 March.
Possible successors include former Australia coach Michael Cheika, Glasgow’s Franco Smith, and Ireland interim boss Simon Easterby.
Gatland, who enjoyed a highly successful 12-year first stint with Wales—winning three Grand Slams and leading the team to two World Cup semi-finals—returned in December 2022 to replace Wayne Pivac. However, his second tenure has been marred by poor performances, with Wales suffering their worst losing streak in 144 years of international rugby. The 22-15 loss to Italy last weekend cemented their decline, dropping them to 12th in the world rankings.
In total, Gatland has overseen 151 Tests across both spells, with 76 wins, 73 losses, and two draws. His recent record stands at just six victories in 26 matches, a win ratio of only 23%.
Tiger Woods has pulled out of this week’s Genesis Invitational, stating he is “still processing” the recent death of his mother, Kultida Woods.
The 15-time major champion, who had initially planned to participate, announced his withdrawal on social media, saying, “I planned to tee it up this week, but I’m just not ready. I did my best to prepare, knowing it’s what my mom would have wanted, but I’m still processing her loss.”
Woods’ mother, Kultida, passed away on February 4. Just days later, tournament organizers had confirmed Woods’ participation in the event, which is now being held at Torrey Pines instead of its usual Riviera Country Club venue due to wildfires in Los Angeles.
Woods has not played a PGA Tour event since The Open at Royal Troon last July. His competitive appearances have been sporadic since a 2021 car accident left him with severe leg injuries, and he underwent additional back surgery in September. Most recently, he played alongside his son, Charlie, in a 36-hole event in December and participated in an exhibition for the Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL), which he co-founded.
As the tournament host, Woods hopes to attend the Genesis Invitational later in the week but has not committed to a specific timeline. The event benefits his TGR Foundation, which supports youth education initiatives.
Fans and fellow players have expressed their condolences and support for Woods as he navigates this difficult time.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee. The 23-year-old sustained the injury during Spurs’ Europa League clash against Elfsborg last week and will undergo surgery.
Dragusin is expected to be sidelined for at least six months, though recovery from ACL injuries can sometimes extend to a year. Tottenham confirmed that their medical team will monitor his rehabilitation to determine his return timeline.
The Romanian international had become a key figure for Spurs, starting 21 of their last 23 games. His absence adds to an already extensive injury list, which includes Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner, Wilson Odobert, Cristian Romero, and Dominic Solanke. However, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies have recently returned to action.
Dragusin joined Tottenham from Genoa in January 2024 in a £25 million deal. To bolster their defensive options, Spurs signed Austria international Kevin Danso on loan for the remainder of the season, with an option to buy for £21 million. They also made an ambitious £70 million bid for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, which was rejected, but secured the signing of 19-year-old attacker Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich.
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