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Published on July 25, 2024
Oregon Lottery Partners with DraftKins for Over 400 Paris 2024 Olympic Betting OptionsSource: Google Street View

The Oregon Lottery is dealing in a different kind of gold this year—wagers on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Teaming up again with DraftKings Sportsbook, they're rolling out over 400 betting options for fans looking to up the ante on Olympic outcomes. From karate chops to surfing swells, bettors can speculate on everything from athletes' medal hauls to historical record-breaking performances.

Betting buzz isn't just around the corner—it's already at our doorstep with the games slated to begin on Friday. The lineup of wagers includes a few thought-provokers: Will a single country sweep all medals in a sport? Which nation will snag the most gold? And in a nod toward the thrill of potential Olympic history, which sport might witness a country's first-ever gold medal? KTVZ reports that these are just a glimpse of the options available through the Oregon Lottery this year.

This isn't the state's first rodeo, though. In fact, it's the third time that Oregonians will have the chance to place their bets on the Olympics since the state lottery got into the sports betting game back in 2019, as per the legalization of sports gambling a year before. Still, what's an off-season summer without a bit of competition-induced excitement? With the traditional sports calendar in its yearly lull, Kerry Hemphill from the Oregon Lottery sees the Olympic wagers as a potential catalyst to re-energize punters. "Because we’re in the off season for basketball and football, the summer months are typically slower for sports wagering," she said in a news release obtained by Statesman Journal. "We’re hoping to see a boost in interest thanks to U.S. Olympic stars."

Local athletes are also part of the buzz, with betting markets potentially heating up thanks to their participation. Stars like Jade Carey, an Oregon State University gymnast, Ryan Crouser of Boring, current shot put world record holder, and an up-and-coming fencing competitor Magda Skarbonkiewicz are set to make their mark in Paris, KOIN reveals. And let's not forget the Portland Thorns’ trio - defender Sam Coffey representing Team USA and forwards Janine Beckie and Jessie Fleming, donning the maple leaf for Canada.

The bookmakers at Oregon Lottery are projecting high interest in betting categories such as men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, and tennis—predictable picks given their worldwide fan bases. Yet, it's the summer Olympic season that could prove to be a wildcard in the sports betting scene. With eyes fixed on Paris, maybe it's time for bettors to take their own shot at glory.