Winter sports betting isn’t available in all countries or for all bettors. However, the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina appear to be a very profitable event for bookmakers, as betting interest is rising in several European countries.
And if you want to find the biggest Olympic betting fans this year, look at Central Europe. In the Czech Republic and Poland, interest in placing wagers has jumped by 18.9% and 16.1%, respectively.
Why Do They Bet So Much On The Olympics?
For these fans, the Winter Olympics is a cultural event, similar to the Olympic Games, which take place every four years. Only covered in a white blanket! And these fans don’t just watch the games on TV as casual bettors.
They also cheer for their national teams and athletes, who are competitive. But, besides being a patriotic thing, these countries have tech-savvy punters with access to very fast mobile connections.
Under this prism, the Winter Games become, for a bettor in Prague or Warsaw, a nice break from the usual football routine. It gives them a chance to try thousands of new betting markets that only appear every few years.
How Do Live Bets Change The Way People Watch The Games?
These ultra-fast speeds and technological innovations have also changed how people bet. Big brands, like LeoVegas, are seeing bettors shift away from pre-match bets. Instead, they are focusing on in-play betting.
Their latest report highlights that 42% of Olympic bets are still being placed on outright outcomes. But the real action starts in the heat of the moment, since live betting on their platform accounts for 38% of their total Olympic turnover.
A big help for this is the live coverage of sports in general and the Winter Games in particular. A missed shot or a sudden minute change in wind speed can change everything. And the punters know how to exploit such small details, which make the difference between profit and loss. With live betting, you don’t need to guess the wind gusts. Instead, viewing becomes an active part of the event.
Is Olympic Betting Really Big?
Of course, the Winter Games will never be as profitable as other events and sports. Not all regions and territories will attract the same level of interest from them. While interest is strong in some countries, the actual money being bet remains somewhat secondary. Especially in the USA, which has emerged as a big betting market, the interest in the Games is minimal.
Analysts note that even with record-breaking engagement, the total amount wagered on the Winter Olympics remains much smaller than on a typical weekend of the English Premier League, the NBA, or the NFL.
The reason is simple: the Olympics don't have as many “specials” to bet on, such as player props. This means the 2026 Games are great for sportsbooks to attract new bettors, but they aren't the industry's main revenue driver.
