Entain has reported unprecedented betting activity during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, with basketball emerging as the most popular sport among bettors.
Compared to the Tokyo Games, betting volume doubled for the Paris Olympics, making it the most bet-on event. Basketball led the way in bets placed, followed by football, tennis, and volleyball. The men’s basketball final between the USA and France was the most popular individual event. There was also a notable rise in the popularity of swimming and athletics, which made it into the top ten most bet-on sports, ranking 10th and 8th respectively.
Unsurprisingly, the most popular athletics event was the Men’s 100m final, which saw Noah Lyles – whose price fell from 5/4 to 9/2 after an average heats performance – deliver a good result for bettors. From Entain’s perspective, the operator reports that its best result came from the Men’s 1500m final, which saw a surprising win from 20/1 Cole Hocker.
Despite delivering record statistics, the amount of wagering activity at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is sure to be a mere fraction of the traffic generated by sporting events such as Euro 2024 or the Copa America. Entain, however, will be pleased that Olympic gambling activity remains on an upward trajectory. This latest update closely follows the release of Enatin’s H1 results last week, in which the sportsbook reported a 6% increase in total group net gaming revenue.
Entain’s Head of Sports, Arild Ostbo, said: “This was an unforgettable Olympics in Paris where global superstars showcased their athletic prowess. The world’s biggest sports event continues to grow in popularity and betting interest. For our customers, the time zone of Paris compared to Tokyo three years ago provided a much better window for people to engage and bet on.”
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