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
Brighton Complete Signing of Luka Vuskovic
Brighton & Hove Albion have completed the signing of Croatian defender Luka Vuskovic, with head coach Fabian Hurzeler urging supporters to give the youngster time to adapt to life in the Premier League.
“There has been a lot of external noise about Luka joining us, but he is still a young player who will need time to adjust to the demands of playing for Brighton and in the Premier League,” Hurzeler said.
“We are confident he will take it all in his stride.”
Vuskovic arrives to replace Dutch centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, who has joined Tottenham Hotspur in a £52 million move after completing a long-term deal.
Born in Split, Vuskovic came through the ranks at hometown club Hajduk Split, making history as the youngest player to feature in Croatia’s top flight at just 16 years old. He later became the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer.
The highly rated defender enjoyed an impressive campaign in the Bundesliga last season, earning the league’s Rookie of the Season award and a place in the Bundesliga Team of the Year.
On the international stage, Vuskovic has made six appearances for Croatia, scoring once, and made his FIFA World Cup debut against England during the group stage last month.
Brighton will begin their Premier League campaign at home to Aston Villa on Sunday, 23 August, with kick-off scheduled for 2:00pm BST.
Sports
Manchester United Close In on Youri Tielemans Signing
Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans as they look to strengthen their midfield ahead of the new season.
The Red Devils have made reinforcing the centre of the pitch a priority this summer but have endured a series of setbacks in the transfer market. Their pursuit of Elliot Anderson ended unsuccessfully after the midfielder opted to join Manchester City, while Mateus Fernandes chose to move to Tottenham Hotspur instead of Old Trafford.
United had also agreed a £35 million deal with Serie A side Atalanta for Brazil international Ederson, but that transfer has been put on hold.
Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos is understood to have completed a medical ahead of a proposed £48 million move elsewhere, while United are expected to remain active in the market before the transfer window closes.
With Kobbie Mainoo currently involved in England’s World Cup campaign, United have limited experienced options in central midfield, making the addition of an established player a key objective.
Tielemans, 29, has long been admired by the club, with his extensive Premier League experience viewed as a major asset. The Belgium international played an important role in his country’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals but was forced to miss their 2-1 defeat to Spain after suffering an injury during the pre-match warm-up.
Sports
England’s World Cup Clash with Mexico Delayed by One Hour Due to Severe Weather
England’s 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Mexico national football team has been delayed by one hour because of severe weather in Mexico City.
Heavy rain has fallen throughout the day, while lightning has been detected above Estadio Azteca, where the match is due to be played.
Under local safety regulations, play cannot begin until 30 minutes have passed without any lightning being detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium.
Earlier, a shelter-in-place order was issued at Estadio Azteca as adverse weather moved through the area, requiring spectators and personnel to remain in safe locations.
Although FIFA oversees the tournament, it must comply with local public safety protocols regarding severe weather and cannot apply separate rules in such situations.
In a statement, FIFA said: “The safety and security of all individuals is FIFA’s priority.”
The delay follows discussions held on Friday between FIFA, The Football Association and the Mexican Football Federation after FIFA proposed moving the fixture to an earlier kick-off time of 19:00 BST (12:00 local time) on Sunday.
However, that proposal was later withdrawn, with the original kick-off time initially left unchanged before the weather ultimately forced the delay.
The Football Association requested additional time to examine detailed weather forecasts before any decision was made.
During the discussions, officials also considered the potential impact that changing the kick-off time would have on player preparation, supporter travel arrangements and the complex logistics involved in staging one of the tournament’s highest-profile matches.
The revised kick-off will now take place once local authorities confirm that weather conditions meet the required safety standards for players, officials and spectators.
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