Betting on the Olympics medals table is perhaps the most popular bet type at the Games alongside the men’s 100m final and team sports such as football and basketball. It’s the medals table that is updated every evening on TV as fans get excited watching their nation climb the ladder.
Some countries are lucky to win just a couple of medals at the Olympics, while others like the USA and China dominate this global sporting festival. In fact, it’s got to the stage where the ‘big boys’ of global politics – USA, Great Britain, China, Russia and Germany – accounted for 36.5% of all medals won at the 2016 Games.
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America are the big boys here. They topped the medals table every Games between 1996 and 2021, apart from Beijing 2008 when China took top place.
That’s not exactly great for the competition but there are reasons beyond political muscle as to why these nations do so well every four years. If you’re looking to bet on medals at the Olympics you may therefore be wondering where the best place is to put your money.
Well, Paddy Power is here to help with our Olympics guide to the medals…
WHY ARE USA SO GOOD AT THE OLYMPICS?
The USA dominate the Olympics medals table. They have claimed the most medals since the inaugural modern Olympics in 1896. In 2021 they topped the medals table for a record 18th time.
The total medals USA have won at the Summer Olympics is beyond 2,500. That crushes the Soviet Union’s historic 1,010 total, as well as those of Great Britain, China and France.
Why are the USA so good at the Olympics? It’s fair to say the country has plenty of natural talent. But it’s the USA’s economic wealth and demographic richness that truly helps them against other nations.
America pumps billions of dollars into sport each year and this economy drives athletic achievement. A wide demographic of peoples from across the world have migrated to America and with that comes cultures, customs and past-times that make for a deep pool of talent to come through.
What’s more, the USA and other western countries benefit from a largely westernised Olympic schedule. Track and swimming events favour these countries, while professional sports that are included in the Olympic schedule – such as basketball, baseball, golf and tennis – naturally lend themselves to where these sports are played most.
You have to ask yourself why kabaddi and sumo aren’t included.
INDIVIDUAL COUNTRY BETTING
USA are such heavy favourites to win the Olympics medal table that they’re not worth betting on. However, sports betting can potentially find gains in the markets for individual nations.
For example, Paddy Power offers over/under markets for Great Britain gold medals at around 14.5 each Games. Will the country get more than that, or less? That’s the decision punters will make on that market.
Ireland, meanwhile, usually have a reduced line of +/- 2.5 gold medals, while Australia’s often sits at +/- 12.5.
Note that host nations always do fare better than their average. The Olympics head to Los Angeles in 2028, so the USA will certainly top that medals chart. In 2032 it’s Brisbane’s turn, so perhaps Australia will go beyond 20 golds there.
Individual nation markets are far more favourable than wagering on the likes of China or Great Britain to rival USA in the overall medals table – and it’s no wonder they’re growing increasingly popular.
Olympics betting guides
- Olympics Tips: Paddy’s guide to betting on Olympics every four years
- How do Olympics odds work?
- What is Olympics betting and how does it work?
- Olympics Tips: How to bet on swimming
- Olympics Tips: Betting on athletics at the Games
- Olympics Tips: How to bet on rowing
The Paddy Power Guide To Responsible Gambling – Everything You Need To Know
