The Olympic games present an opportunity for people to rally behind their nation, both in terms of supporting athletes as well as wagering on them. USA residents can find multiple Olympics betting options through licensed USA sportsbook sites. The Olympics has historically been one of few times where citizens of all nations attempt to put aside our issues, opinions and conflict with each other and at least temporarily come together as a global force for good. The 2018 round of Olympic games has had its share of controversy and tension for the US, but the games forge forward. This page was created exclusively for US bettors looking to wager on this year’s Olympics. You will find information on the legalities of offshore betting, the best USA sportsbooks hosting Olympic betting lines, insight into this year’s tournament and more.
Best Online Sportsbook
For Betting On The 2018 Winter Olympics
Fans of the 2018 Olympic games will find a strong selection of betting lines for the 2018 Winter Olympics at BetOnline Sportsbook. This sports betting site has been around since the early 90's and has become an authority within the sports betting industry. Not only do they offer a generous 50% match bonus up to $1000 for new bettors, they also offer a lifetime 25% match bonus up to $1000 on every deposit made for the life of your account. BetOnline is legally licensed in Panama City, Panama and is sanctioned to provide betting services to customers from around the world, including the US.
All USA Online Sports Betting Sites For Betting On 2018 Winter Olympics
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Is It Legal To Bet On The 2018 Olympics?
Yes. There are no US gambling laws that say betting with a licensed offshore sportsbook is illegal. The 3 standing laws applicable to sports betting are the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), the Federal Wire Act and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). PASPA prevents US residents from placing wagers at brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in 46 states. The Federal Wire act prohibits people from accessing US based online sportsbooks (leaving offshore versions as the only viable option). The UIGEA applies to banks and how they process transactions with illegal gambling sites. None of these laws have any reference of betting with an offshore site as being against the law.
Details of 2018 Winter Olympics
The 2018 Winter Olympics are in PyeongChang, South Korea. The northwestern province is home to roughly 43,000 and has a 700-meter elevation for athletes to get accustomed to. Seoul, the nation’s capital, is about 100 miles away.
The Olympic action takes place between February 8-25. Due to the distance, there is quite a significant time difference between the broadcast and actual events. If you’re tuning into the live broadcasts, you must account for the difference based on where you live. We’ve broken it down for you:
- Eastern Time: 14 hours
- Central Time: 15 hours
- Mountain Time: 16 hours
- Pacific Time: 17 hours
NBC, NBCSN, CNBC and USA will all be broadcasting the Olympics live throughout the competition. You can log on to NBCSN’s website for online streaming. There are also numerous other media outlets hosting streaming options for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
What Events Are In The 2018 Winter Olympics?
There are 15 different categories for fans to bet on in this year’s Winter Olympics. Each category is broken down into sub-categories with more specific variations. We’ve included the main categories below:
- Alpine skiing
- Biathlon (cross-country skiing and rifle shooting)
- Bobsledding
- Cross-country skiing
- Curling
- Figure skating
- Freestyle skating
- Ice hockey
- Luge
- Nordic combined (cross-country skiing and ski jumping)
- Short track speedskating
- Skeleton sledding
- Ski jumping
- Snowboarding
- Speedskating
American Athlete Spotlight
There are just under 3,000 athletes competing in this year’s Winter Olympics. The USA is projected to be amongst the top teams at the tournament. We’ve highlighted some of the athletes to look out for:
- Shaun White – White is a 2-time gold medal winner for the US in snowboarding. At 31 years old, White may be approaching his decline, but the prominent athlete still is way ahead of the pack. He had a disappointing 2014 Winter Olympics and is looking to make up for it in PyeongChang. Responsible for the 100th USA gold medal certainly indicates his efforts are paying off.
- Lindsey Vonn – Vonn is the top female in alpine skiing of all time. She will be looking to add to her medal collection with Super-G, downhill and women’s combined this year.
- Mikaela Shiffrin – Shiffrin set a record for the youngest champion in slalom during the 2014 Winter Olympics. Follow her to see if she can repeat history by winning gold again.
- Maame Biney – Biney is only 17 years old and competing on the largest international stage. She will be competing in the speedskating category.
- Chloe Kim – Kim is also 17 and seeking her first Olympic gold. She is a Winter X Games star looking for the next level in snowboarding.
- Brian Gionta – A former NHL player, Gionta will be the leading man in the USA’s team this year.
- Ted Ligety – Once considered an alpine skiing ace, Ligety will be trying for his third gold medal.
2018 Winter Olympics Odds and Favorites
There are different odds for each individual event, but some nations are considered to do better on a whole than others. The top favorited nations to pull in the most medals are:
- Norway
- Germany
- USA
- Sweden
- Canada
2018 Winter Olympic betting odds are updated daily with more fixtures and lines. You can track the schedule of events to see which are coming up so you can plan your wagers accordingly.
2018 Winter Olympics FAQs
Will There Be NHL Players Participating In The 2018 Winter Olympics?
No. The NHL decided that they will not take a midseason break to accommodate Olympic athletes. As such, no NHL players will be present for the Olympics. While there are still talented players for all nations, expectations for this year’s hockey category are low. If you are looking to see more serious action on the ice, you may want to consider USA hockey betting options as part of the regular NHL season.
How Many Venues Are There?
The Olympic events will be scattered across 13 different venues.
How Many Medals Are Up For Grabs?
102 medals are available. This is a Winter Olympics record.
Are There Any New Countries In Attendance?
Yes. Ecuador, Eritrea, Kosovo, Malaysia, Nigeria and Singapore will make their Winter Olympics debuts this year.
What Are The Conditions Like?
Freezing. This could be one of the coldest Winter Olympics on record. PyeongChang, for its latitude, is the Earth’s coldest location. There will be single-digit temperatures throughout the tournament. Hypothermia could potentially be an issue.