Pros and cons of Winter Olympics wagers for UK bettors
Here are some of the upsides and downsides of placing bets on the Winter Olympics:
Pros and Cons
- Competitive odds
- Live betting is available in some bookies
- Multiple betting markets
Quick facts about betting on the Winter Olympics in the UK
- The Winter Olympics currently feature 116 medal events across 16 disciplines.
- Options include ice hockey, skeleton, the newly added ski mountaineering, and more.
- UK bettors can wager on outright winners, winning margins, and match results, among other options.
- You need to join a UKGC-licensed bookmaker to place secure wagers.
Read our overview before betting on the Winter Olympics
The Winter Olympics are one of the largest international sports events. It takes place every four years. According to the official schedule, the 2026 edition will run from February 6 to 22 across Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy.
Our research confirms that this iteration will feature 116 medal events across eight sports. It's worth noting that ski mountaineering has officially joined long-standing lineups like ice hockey and skeleton. With multiple competitions spread over 17 days, UK bettors will find numerous betting opportunities throughout the games.
Winter Olympics betting options for UK bettors
The Winter Olympics currently accepts 16 disciplines across eight sports, each with its own wagering markets. Here’s a quick look at the most popular Winter Olympics sports UK bettors can wager on, along with the main betting markets you’ll usually find at top bookmakers.
| Winter Olympics sport |
Popular betting markets |
| Ice hockey |
Match winner, total goals, outright winner |
| Alpine skiing |
Downhill winner, top 3 finish, head-to-head |
| Skeleton |
Gold medal winner, outrights |
| Snowboarding |
Outright winner, podium finish |
| Figure skating |
Total points, podium finish |
| Curling |
Match winner, total points |
| Biathlon |
Head-to-head, podium finish, leader after 1st shot |
| Freestyle skiing |
Medal markets, country total medals |
| Cross-country skiing |
Moneyline, handicap, live bets |
| Luge and bobsleigh |
Gold medal winner, nation total medals |
| Nordic combined |
Faster times, outrights |
| Ski jumping |
Outright winner, exact score |
| Speed skating |
Outright winner, handicap (short track) |
| Ski mountaineering |
Props (leader after climb), sprint/relay bets |
Ice hockey is a major draw in the United Kingdom, partly due to the local following of the Elite Hockey League (EIHL). Common Winter Olympics betting markets we’ve seen include total goals, outright tournament winner, and overtime results.
Alpine skiing is a popular niche across most UK
online sports betting sites
we've tested. It offers many opportunities to bet on outcomes based on individual form and mountain conditions. Popular markets include downhill winner, match results, top-3 finish, head-to-head matchups, and podium finish (yes/no). You’ll also find prop bets on specific race elements, such as the fastest split time.
Snowboarding features five main categories: snowboard cross, big air, halfpipe, slopestyle, and parallel giant slalom. We observed that each of them typically has dedicated markets. One of the most popular choices at Winter Olympics betting sites is the outright winner.
Figure skating focuses on artistic performance, spins, and technical steps on the ice. This complexity leads to many markets, including total points and on-the-podium finishes.
Many UK winter sports betting sites offer a wide selection of curling markets, particularly for mixed doubles and traditional team events. We’ve seen total points and head-to-head match winners.
Biathlon combines rifle shooting and cross-country skiing, which naturally creates several betting angles. Some available biathlon betting markets include leader after the 1st shot, head-to-heads, relay bets, and podium finishes.
Unlike traditional racing, freestyle skiing involves acrobatic flips, spins, and jumps. It features six distinct events, including big air, moguls, aerials, halfpipe, slopestyle, and ski cross. Some UK sites in our directory offer country total medals and overall medal tally winners as part of their freestyle skiing betting selections.
Cross-country skiing blends both individual and team disciplines, impacting the available odds. Some of them include moneyline, props, handicap, outrights, and live bets.
These sliding events don't always get the same attention as other winter sports. Still, we’ve noticed an increased coverage at the best Winter Olympics betting sites ahead of the 2026 games. Markets include total medals won by specific nations and gold medal winners.
🏅 Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping
Nordic combined mixes cross-country skiing and ski jumping. This is why we typically encounter betting selections such as faster ski jump times and fastest cross-country skiing times. For pure ski jumping, the most common markets are outright winners and exact scores.
⛸️ Speed Skating (Long and Short Tracks)
From what we've seen, speed skating often focuses on outright tournament winner markets. However, you can expect handicap and relay markets for short-track events (500 m, 1000 m, and 1500 m).
As the newest addition to the Olympic lineup, this sport provides fresh opportunities for endurance-based prop wagers across sprints and relay events. An example includes predicting if a specific athlete will lead after the first climb.
Common UK winter sports betting markets explained
There are some Winter Olympics betting options we frequently see at bookmakers. It's important to know how they work before you place bets. Here's a summary:
- Nationality of the winner:
This market lets you bet on which country will perform best overall. These include wagering on which nation will secure the most gold medals or the highest medal count at the end of the Olympic Games.
- Outright bet:
An outright wager usually offers us the opportunity to predict the overall champion of the entire tournament or race. It also extends to podium finishes, where you can wager on the top three athletes.
- Winning margin:
Here, you predict the specific gap between the victor and runner-up. We noticed that the bookmaker usually sets a number, and you decide whether the margin will be higher or lower than that figure.
- Total points or goals (over/under):
This is a popular choice for team-based events. Based on our experience, the bookmaker will set a predicted total for aggregate points, goals, runs, or even the total number of medals won by a specific country. You'll then bet on whether the final result will be over or under that predetermined mark.
- Match winner:
The match winner focuses on the head-to-head contest between two opponents. You decide which athlete, team, or country will win the match based on the results of the individual fixture.
Tips for choosing top UK bookmakers for the Winter Olympics
Here are a few tips we’ve compiled to assist your search for a suitable winter sports betting site:
- Licensing and betting markets:
Our first step is to opt only for bookmakers licensed by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC). Once you confirm a site’s status in the public register, check whether it hosts a significant number of winter sports events. Leading brands should offer wagering options across at least five winter sports categories.
- Odds:
A proper
sports betting odds comparison
can make a difference when choosing where to place your bets. This can help you find the bookmakers with the best odds and lowest house margins in Winter Olympics markets.
- Live betting:
Another feature we prioritise is in-play, or live, betting options for the Winter Olympics. So, look for a bookmaker that lets you place wagers as the game progresses on ice or slopes. This is especially important for high-speed events like ice hockey, where momentum can shift in an instant.
How to join the best Winter Olympics betting site in the UK
Although many winter sports betting sites display their markets in advance, you still need to sign up to access them. Here are the typical steps we follow to get started:
-
Click the banners on this page to visit your preferred bookmaker.
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Tap the “Register” or “Sign Up” button.
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Link existing accounts from sites like Google, or proceed with email registration.
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If using email, provide your name, email address, and password.
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Read and accept the terms of use.
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Confirm your email address and phone number, if requested.
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Verify your account.
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Make qualifying deposits using approved payment methods.
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Start placing wagers on the Olympic Games.
Conclusion – Join a UKGC-licensed bookmaker and participate in Winter Olympics wagers
The Winter Olympics are one of the largest global sports tournaments. So, it's no surprise that many UK bettors look forward to it every four years. It offers numerous betting options, including podium finisher, outright tournament winner, totals, correct score, gold medal winners, and prop bets.
Besides the regular pre-match options, you can also place live bets on several sites. We’ve seen these in-play markets for events like ice hockey, alpine skiing, curling, biathlon, and cross-country skiing. Our main takeaway is to choose a UKGC-licensed bookmaker for Winter Olympics wagers and bet responsibly.
If you've decided to place your Winter Olympic bets, click the banners on this page to select a legitimate bookmaker, sign up, and start betting.
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Winter Olympics betting FAQs
🏅 Are online Winter Olympics betting sites legit?
Yes, you can find many legitimate bookmakers for the Winter Olympics. Join sites that hold a valid licence from the UKGC. This ensures the brand complies with strict regulations on fairness and player protection.
🎿 What are the best Winter Olympics sports to bet on in the UK?
The best options depend on your personal interests. However, some of the popular options in the UK include ice hockey, skeleton, alpine skiing, biathlon, snowboarding, and ski mountaineering.
📺 Is there live betting for the Winter Olympics?
Yes. Leading winter sports betting sites provide in-play wagering, allowing you to bet on the Olympics events as they're happening.
