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U.S. Legal Gambling Boom Expected to Drive Record Betting on Summer Olympics

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Manchester City Go Top as Burnley Relegated After Turf Moor Defeat

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Manchester City Go Top as Burnley Relegated After Turf Moor Defeat

Manchester City surged to the top of the Premier League table with a crucial victory at Turf Moor, a result that also confirmed Burnley’s relegation to the Championship.

Manager Pep Guardiola has seen his side hit peak form at a decisive stage of the season, overturning a nine-point gap on Arsenal in less than two weeks. An 11-game unbeaten run has propelled City to the summit with just five matches remaining.

Top scorer Erling Haaland set the tone early, opening the scoring after just five minutes with a composed finish over goalkeeper Martin Dubravka following a precise assist from Jeremy Doku. Haaland later struck the post as City pushed for a second goal.

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Despite their dominance, City were unable to fully capitalise on their chances. Rayan Cherki came close with a powerful effort that Dubravka tipped onto the crossbar, while Nico O’Reilly saw his header saved and Rayan Ait-Nouri fired over after a slick team move.

Burnley, managed by Scott Parker, created opportunities of their own. Jaidon Anthony tested Gianluigi Donnarumma with a curling effort, while Zian Flemming missed from a promising position.

However, the defeat seals Burnley’s fate, confirming their return to the Championship for the second time in three years. The result also strengthens City’s title charge, with momentum firmly on their side as the season enters its final stretch.

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Prograis announces retirement after Benn Defeat in Emotional Farewell

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Prograis announces retirement after Benn Defeat in Emotional Farewell

Former world champion Regis Prograis has officially announced his retirement from boxing at the age of 37, following a decisive defeat to Conor Benn on Saturday night.

The bout, held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, marked the end of Prograis’ distinguished career, with the American revealing afterward that he had already made the decision to retire well before stepping into the ring.

Speaking to Ring Magazine, Prograis disclosed that the fight had long been planned as his farewell appearance. “Going in, I knew I was going to retire. This is my last fight. I knew this months ago – I just didn’t tell anybody but I was terrified going into this,” he said.

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Despite the loss, Prograis reflected positively on his final outing, highlighting the scale of the event and the calibre of his opponent. Facing Benn in front of a crowd of around 70,000 provided what he described as the perfect stage to conclude his career. “It’s a great fight to be my last against someone like Conor Benn, someone that was strong – an arena like this with 70,000 in a stadium. I couldn’t ask for a better going away party, perfect end to my story,” he added.

In a candid admission, Prograis also confirmed pre-fight concerns about his physical condition. Reports suggesting he had been dealing with an injury were accurate, he said, revealing that he had seriously considered withdrawing from the contest as recently as 24 hours before fight night.

“The rumours about me being hurt were true. I wanted to pull out of this fight so bad a month ago but kept pushing. I was terrified and thinking about pulling out even yesterday,” Prograis explained.

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The former two-time super-lightweight world champion retires with a professional record of 30 wins and four losses, including 24 victories by knockout. Over the course of his career, he captured the WBA super-lightweight title in 2019 and later added the WBC version of the belt, cementing his place among the division’s elite fighters.

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Salah and Ngumoha Fire Liverpool Past Fulham in Premier League Clash

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Salah and Ngumoha Fire Liverpool Past Fulham in Premier League Clash

Liverpool FC secured an important Premier League victory over Fulham FC, with goals from Mohamed Salah and rising talent Rio Ngumoha sealing the win.

Salah once again proved decisive, continuing his consistent attacking output with a key contribution that helped set the tone for Liverpool’s performance. The Egyptian forward remains central to Liverpool’s title ambitions, delivering when it matters most.

Ngumoha, meanwhile, added further gloss to the result, underlining his growing reputation with a composed finish. His contribution highlights Liverpool’s ability to blend experience with emerging youth talent.

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The victory strengthens Liverpool’s position in the Premier League standings as they maintain pressure in the race at the top, while Fulham are left to regroup after a difficult outing.

Overall, it was a controlled and efficient performance from Liverpool, with both established stars and new faces stepping up at a crucial stage of the season.

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