Every four years, something exciting happens in the world of sport, a global festival of sporting action enjoyed by millions. We’re talking the Summer Olympic games. You can place wagers on this wonderful event with a host of bookmakers. But where to bet? Here’s our Olympics betting offers guide to get you started.
From free bets on the main event to Winter Olympics and Special Olympics betting lines, we’ll run through all the best sports betting options for you. So, whether you’re a fan of ice hockey, wrestling or the balance bars there’ll be a wager for you. Without further ado, let’s get started!
Olympics betting offers: Things you have to know
You would think because the Summer Olympics are not due till 2020 it’s far too soon to think about betting, and in some respects you’re right. Olympics betting odds are scarce for the event. But just around the corner is the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, which promises to be an exhilarating spectacle.
What are the Olympics sports?
There are 33 sports to be played in the 2020 Olympics including diving, swimming, archery, baseball, canoeing and equestrian sports. You’ll also find many FIFA World Cup players in the football tournament. Stars such as Neymar, Ryan Giggs and Lionel Messi have all taken part in the event.
How does Olympics betting work?
Placing a bet on Olympics betting is much like placing a bet on any other sporting event. You need to consider betting odds, players form and any sports betting bonus available on a bookmaker’s site. At OpenOdds we provide a betting comparison guide as well as many sports bonuses including bonuses with a cash out option and ones without betting limits from the best online bookmakers around.
There are many sports to bet on, so let’s use basketball as an example. The market for basketball betting is huge worldwide. In America, college sports are also wagered on, so don’t be surprised if you find college basketball bets on larger bookmaker’s sites. So how does this help with Olympics betting offers? Many of the players from these NCAA college tournaments will also go on to play at the top flight as professional basketball players or Olympians. It’s worth keeping an eye the NCAA games now, to help you when it comes to Olympics betting. Who knows, you may be placing a wager on these players in 2020, or in basketball betting Olympics 2024.
Finding a bookmaker that offers bonuses on basketball is easy on OpenOdds. Amongst many, we found William Hill, who give players £30 free once registering on their website and placing a qualifying sports bet. Basketball bets can be placed on wins, losses (with spread betting) and total points scored as an over/under bet. Ensuring you have good knowledge of the sport will help you choose the right bet for you.
How to bet on Olympics golf
You may not naturally think of golf when you consider the Olympics, but the sport was played as far back as 1900. 2016 saw the sport played for the first time since 1904, with separate events for male and female competitors. Great Britain won the male event and South Korea won the female event in Rio De Janeiro. The sport is again expected to be played in Japan in 2020 at the Kasumigaseki Country Club with Olympics golf betting available worldwide.
For some experience in betting in golf tournaments, you might want to try your hand at 2018 US Masters tournament betting. The tournament starts on the 5th April 2018. While it may have more players than the Olympics (156 as opposed to 30), the bet types are the same. You have the option of betting on the outright winner or placing an each-way bet on who will come 2nd and 3rd. Some of the biggest golfing names will take part in the tournament, too. Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth currently have the shortest odds in the US Masters, though opted not to take part in the 2016 Olympics. Perfect for gaining some betting knowledge before the Japanese event starts!
Different payment options available
To place a bet, you need to sign up with a bookmaker. Which bookmaker you choose will depend on lots of factors, but be sure to use a sports bonus too to maximise your cash. You can read reviews on the most popular bookmakers on OpenOdds site to make sure you make the right choice for you.
Once you’ve decided on a bookmaker, you need to sign up on their site and make a qualifying deposit. Each bookmaker has their own deposit methods, and some cannot be used to trigger bonuses, so make sure that you choose the right one. Here are the most commonly used deposit methods:
Credit and debit cards:
By far the most common deposit method, credit and debit cards add cash to your account instantly. However, some credit cards charge a transaction fee for using. Common cards include Visa, Mastercard and Visa Debit.
E-Wallets:
E-wallets allow online payments between two parties. You’ve probably heard of PayPal, but others include Neteller and Skrill. Traditional cash or Bitcoin can be transferred (subject to bookmaker’s acceptance).
Bank Transfer
Bank transfers are very secure, but can take 3-5 working days to process. Larger withdrawals are usually made in this way.
The best Olympics betting operators
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Olympics betting from A-Z
It’s 2020 and you’re watching the Olympics. Great Britain have made it to the final of the football tournament against Brazil and you’d like to place a wager. So how do you do it? The first thing you need to do is log on to OpenOdds and check out the odds on Great Britain. Two bookmakers offer the highest odds of 5/1 – Ladbrokes and Betfair. You research the bookmakers using the football sign up offers guide. Betfair is rated 91/100 whereas Ladbrokes scores 88/100. You come across a Betfair deal that gives you £20 back as a free bet when you deposit and bet £10. Ladbrokes offer a £50 free bet, but you need to spend £50 to get it. You choose the Betfair deal.
To claim the offer, you must be a newcomer to Betfair. You fill in the Betfair registration form and prepare to make a deposit. The offer is only valid if your deposit is made by credit or debit card. You whip out your Visa and top up your account with £10. There’s a runner up game for bronze place between Sweden and Germany, so you place your £10 deposit on Germany to win. Nothing gets past their sturdy back four after all. £20 is added to your account. You’re feeling patriotic, so spend this on a Great Britain win bet. Because the odds are 5/1, you’ll make £100 back if they win. Your initial stake is of £20 is not returned during free bets.
Betting on the Olympics? Where should you go?
With so many Olympics betting offers, it’s easy to get confused. That’s why we’ve scoured the bookmakers’ websites to find the best deals for you. Whether you’re an old hand at sports betting or a total amateur, you’ll find just the right place at the right odds too.
Option 1: Tipico
You may not be familiar with the name, but the German sportsbook has been around since 2004 and offers great in-play betting both online and through their mobile betting app. Perfect if you’re busy with work and family commitments. The real heart of Tipico betting is focussed around football. There are plenty of Bundesliga games to bet on as well as the Premier League and La Liga. Games can be followed live, but sadly, no streaming is available. What they lack though is made up for with their generous sign up bonus that gives new players up to €100 as free bets. Free bets have a playthrough requirement of the deposit and the bonus sum before winnings can be withdrawn, but this is in line with competitors. We’re sure you’ll agree that €100 is more than enough to get to grips with the upcoming bookie.
Option 2: Betfred
Betfred have been around for almost 50 years and have developed into a safe, secure, bookmaker. The Warrington based bookmaker is an advocate of responsible gaming, holding licences from the UK Gambling Commission and is a member of IBAS.
Unlike Tipico, the bookmaker offers live streaming of sporting events, allowing you to experience the thrills and spills of games as they happen. Odds are also updated quickly, allowing players to cash out as they need.
Betfred currently have an offer which gives players £60 back as free bets once you’ve placed your first bet of £10. The £60 is broken down into 2 bets, a £30 free bet for sports and £30 free bet for casino games. Bets can be placed on any sports, but not on Totepool bets. Each free bet has a 7-day expiry date, stretching your budget to accommodate other wagers.
Option 3: William Hill
The daddy when it comes to sports bets, William Hill has been around for many years and is a household name in the UK. With good reason, too. It’s rare that you’ll find a bookmaker with such a wide selection of sports covered; football, tennis, US sports and water sports can be found on their website. There’s also cricket and special bets, too. In fact, there are 27 different sports. The Olympics tournament will be found in this special area with each event having its own section.
What makes the brand so prestigious? It’s trustworthiness for one. If you’re looking for a bookmaker with a sterling track record, they’re hard to beat. They also claim the best odds around (always check odds on OpenOdds for the best deals). Their greyhound and horse racing odds in the UK and Ireland can’t be beaten on price. Perfect if you fancy a flutter.
Olympics betting explained
That’s it, you’ve reached the end of our guide on Olympics betting. We hope you’ve found it handy and will be able to use the information provided in it time and time again to help you bet on sporting events. We’ve found that like many sports, successful Olympics betting is a balance of knowledge and freebies. Understanding odds and player’s form and getting to grips with sporting events themselves is important. Couple this with free deposit bonuses to maximise your bankroll and you’ll be sure to experience the excitement of the Olympic games like never before.