As the biggest international sporting competition in history, the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics presents a unique and exciting opportunity for countless bettors in Singapore. The diverse range of events spanning numerous sports disciplines allows those engaged in online betting in Singapore to leverage their knowledge and experience to make a profit.
There are 32 sports included in the 33rd Olympics in July, including some new sports that only debuted in the last Tokyo Olympics. On paper, this provides bettors with countless opportunities to earn money. However, certain sports present more advantageous betting opportunities that other sports cannot provide, mainly due to their widespread popularity, data availability, and competitive Singapore Pools odds.
So, if you are looking for markets that will test your luck and knowledge, here are some of the most popular sports to bet on during the Olympics.
Football
You just can’t go wrong when it comes to betting on football competitions. The sport’s electrifying and thrilling nature can be doubled with money on the line, especially since sportsbooks also offer numerous betting options for punters to try.
Sixteen nations from 6 confederations are drawn into four groups, with the top two of each group going into the quarterfinals in the men’s event. The upcoming men’s football tournament features some of the best footballing nations in the world, including France and the USA in Group A, reigning World Cup champs Argentina in Group B, Spain in Group C, and Japan in Group D.
With 2020 Tokyo gold medalists Brazil failing to qualify for this year, Les Bleus (France) and La Roja (Spain) are heavily favoured to win the competition. Argentina is also a top pick for many, especially with the team’s recent success.
Basketball
Another ball sport that will headline the upcoming Olympics is Basketball, featuring four events—men’s and Women’s basketball and Men’s and Women’s 3×3 basketball. Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the Summer Games and is definitely followed by millions of basketball enthusiasts worldwide.
The USA has dominated both men’s and women’s 5×5 basketball, winning a joint 25 gold medals. Many will tune into the upcoming men’s tournament, with the USA team parading one of the best lineups in recent decades. The 12-man team is led by two-time gold medalist LeBron James, three-time gold medalist Kevin Durant, and Olympic debutant Steph Curry.
The loaded team USA is undeniably the favourite to win the tournament, with people expecting the nation to win their 5th straight gold medal. Other decent picks to win include Spain, France, and Serbia.
Athletics
With 48 different events this year, athletics (aka track and field) is one of the most watched sports disciplines at every Olympic Games. The competitions under athletics showcase a wide range of athletic prowess, comprising competitions that test the athletes’ speed, endurance, strength, and agility. Similar to basketball, the USA has dominated athletic events, garnering a total of 827 medals, including 344 golds.
Some of the key events to watch in athletics include the 100m dash, which is often regarded as the marquee event of track and field. You can also tune into longer distances, including the 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500 m dash. Some field events, like the high jump and pole vault, also attract interest due to their demonstration of power and technical skills.
Swimming
With more than 30 events in the upcoming games, swimming is another excellent sport for bettors to place wagers in. From individual categories featuring different swimming styles and team relays, there are multiple events punters can choose from that offer competitive odds. Swimming events are straightforward, with clear, measurable times reducing the complexity and subjectivity involved in betting.
This sport also produced the most successful Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, who has a total of 28 medals. This year, there are several swimmers that you should watch out for. This includes Adam Peaty, who is looking to be the second swimmer in history to win three straight gold medals in one event (previously recorded by Phelps). Some other notable swimmers to watch are Katie Ledecky, Caeleb Dressel, and Leon Marchand.
Tennis
Out of all the other tournaments in the Olympics, tennis qualification is based on ATP and WTA rankings, which means the competition will feature some of the most skilled players in both men’s and women’s categories. The upcoming Olympics tournament features five events: men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.
Some of the names to look out for in the men’s singles include Novak Djokovic, who finished in the semifinals of the Tokyo Games after losing to eventual gold medalist Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, and Stefano Tsitsipas. Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, who both failed to get past the second round in 2020, will be the heavy favourites in the women’s singles.
Boxing
The major thing you should note here is that there are major differences between Olympic boxing and professional boxing. In the Olympics, matches are shorter, consisting of three rounds and three minutes each. Professional boxers are also not allowed to compete in the Olympics, and the scoring system is mostly based on clean hits and successful punches.
Despite this, the structured format and talented competitors make it an appealing market for bettors. The short and intense bouts make outcomes more predictable, and the wealth of accessible data and elimination structure offer countless betting opportunities.
Road Cycling
Although it is not as popular as other sports on this list, road cycling is another ideal market for many sports bettors, particularly cycling enthusiasts. Four road cycling events are in the upcoming Olympics, including the men’s and women’s road race and men’s and women’s time trial.
The competitiveness and unpredictability of road cycling events, especially road races, provide potential high-value bets. There is also extensive information about the riders to allow bettors to make informed decisions when placing their wagers.
Conclusion
With the 2024 Paris Olympic Games fast approaching, researching the best sports disciplines to bet on as early as now can be a game changer. Each sport presents unique challenges and rewards for bettors, making the Olympics a prime event to test a bettor’s strategy. Extensive research on the top sports to bet on can result in thrilling sports action for enthusiasts around the globe.
If you are looking for one of the best sports betting sites to place wagers on the upcoming Olympics, then CM2Bet is for you. We have several sportsbooks that offer competitive odds and are accessible on different devices. Visit www.cm2bet.com today to get started!
Read More: What You Need to Know About the 2024 Paris Olympics
Sources:
- https://www.gamblingsites.com/sports-betting/olympics/#events
- https://www.madduxsports.com/library/olympic/best-summer-olympic-betting-opportunities.html
- https://talksport.com/sport/1850978/top-10-olympic-sports-ranked-basketball-breaking-surfing-lebron/
- https://www.oddsshark.com/olympics/how-to-bet
- https://www.equestrianteamgbr.co.uk/olympics-betting/