Ohioans Can Legally Bet on the 2024 Olympics for First Time

The Olympic Games Paris 2024 marks the first time bettors in many US states will be able to legally place wagers on a wide range of sports. After all, the expansion of legal betting started in 2018 and during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, not many states have established their betting markets.

However, in 2024, the landscape looks quite different, with nearly three quarters of the US states offering some form of betting and millions of Americans having access to the activity legally.

The 2024 Olympics will feature nearly 400 events from 32 different sports. It’s important to note that the betting availability on different sports may vary from one state to the other. This is because of the regulatory framework of each state that may permit or restrict certain sports wagers.

Ohio was among the US states that launched sports betting last year. With retail and mobile betting options available statewide, bettors can place wagers on 29 different sports during the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Undoubtedly, the July 26 start of the Olympic Games marked an exciting moment for Ohioans who will be able to watch and wager on popular sports.

Compared to slot gambling, sports betting, just like table games, requires some level of skill. Leading betting platforms across the US, including FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars and BetMGM, to name a few, offer tips and guides that can be of great help to inexperienced bettors.

Generally speaking, newcomers need to understand the odds and should have knowledge of the sports teams they place wagers on. Sports fans who track the activities of their favorite team can certainly feel more confident when placing wagers. Still, experience doesn’t have an impact on the outcome of any sports competition, which is why there are no guarantees in wagering.

The Olympics to Impact the Betting Volume in Ohio, across the Country

Joe Maloney, the SVP, strategic communications at the American Gaming Association, who was recently interviewed by WDTN, spoke about the exponential impact the Olympics are expected to have on the size of the betting volume in Ohio and across the United States.

He outlined the importance of understanding the betting process. According to Maloney, bettors need to know what the plus line and the minus line mean and also be aware of a “little bit of the jargon when it comes to what you’re betting on.” He said that by better understanding the process, bettors can make informed choices.

While understanding the process is vital, it is equally important for bettors to use licensed bookmakers.