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.
Sports
Curtis Jones and Tino Livramento Added to England Squad for Nations League Matches
Uncapped Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones and Newcastle full-back Tino Livramento have been called up to the senior England squad ahead of this week’s crucial Nations League matches against Greece and Finland.
Jones, 23, had his first taste of senior selection in May when Gareth Southgate included him in a provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2024, though he didn’t make the final cut. His impressive performances for the Under-21s, especially during England’s triumph in the 2023 European Under-21 Championship under interim manager Lee Carsley, have earned him another opportunity at the senior level.
Livramento, who was part of last month’s squad but didn’t feature in the games against the Republic of Ireland and Finland, has once again been called upon by Carsley, who is serving as England’s interim manager.
Meanwhile, captain Harry Kane trained separately from the rest of the squad at St George’s Park but is expected to be fit for Thursday’s game against Greece at Wembley. Manchester City’s Jack Grealish also missed training as a precaution due to a minor knock, but his status for the upcoming matches remains hopeful.
The Three Lions will aim to secure key victories as they face Greece at home before traveling to Finland on Sunday to complete their Nations League fixtures.
Sports
Manchester United’s Harry Maguire Sidelined for ‘A Few Weeks’ with Injury
Manchester United and England defender Harry Maguire has confirmed he will be out of action for several weeks due to an injury sustained during United’s 0-0 draw with Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday. Maguire, 31, was forced to leave the match at half-time after getting injured in the first half and was later seen leaving Villa Park in a protective boot.
In a social media post, Maguire expressed his frustration, saying, “Frustrated to pick up an injury at the weekend, will be a few weeks on the sideline for me but I’ll come back stronger.”
The injury means Maguire will miss England’s upcoming Nations League fixtures against Greece and Finland, after being left out of Lee Carsley’s squad. Maguire has made nine appearances for Manchester United this season, with his most recent goal coming in the 3-3 Europa League match against Porto on October 3.
This is another setback for the centre-back, who also missed Euro 2024 due to a calf problem.
Sports
Chelsea and Nottingham Forest Charged for Failing to Control Players in Premier League Clash
Chelsea and Nottingham Forest have been charged by the Football Association (FA) for failing to control their players after a heated confrontation during their 1-1 Premier League match at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The clash occurred toward the end of the game and involved multiple players from both sides, resulting in a mass altercation.
Despite the intense nature of the incident, no action will be taken against Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson, who appeared to slap Forest’s Morato during the fracas. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviewed the altercation but decided against further punishment for Jackson.
The confrontation began when Forest’s Neco Williams seemingly pushed Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella off the pitch, igniting tensions between the teams. Following this, players from both sides were involved in the clash, which saw three yellow cards issued—Williams for Forest, and Cucurella and Levi Colwill for Chelsea.
In a statement, the FA said, “It’s alleged that both clubs failed to ensure their players didn’t behave in an improper and/or provocative way around the 88th minute.” Both Chelsea and Nottingham Forest have until Thursday to respond to the charges.
In addition to the altercation, Chelsea faces a separate £50,000 fine for receiving six or more bookings during the match, a threshold they have reached for the second time this season.
-
Sports3 days ago
Coco Gauff Triumphs Over Muchova to Secure China Open Title
-
Sports4 days ago
Liverpool Faces Goalkeeper Setback as Alisson Sidelined for Weeks
-
Sports3 days ago
Lewandowski’s First-Half Hat-Trick Lifts Barcelona to Victory at Alaves
-
News7 hours ago
Tornado Strikes Florida Highway as Hurricane Milton Nears, Bringing ‘Catastrophic’ Threat
-
Tech2 days ago
Judge Orders Google to Open Android App Store in Epic Games Case
-
News3 days ago
Florida Braces for Impact as New Storm Threatens Already Devastated Gulf Coast
-
Sports2 days ago
Injury Setback: Gibbs-White, Konsa, and Mainoo Out for England’s Nations League Matches
-
Business2 days ago
Rolls-Royce Unveils Exclusive NYC Showroom for Ultra-Wealthy Clients