Olympic Games Betting Odds
Olympic Games betting covers far more than the headline events. You can find markets on athletics, swimming, basketball, soccer, tennis, and plenty of other Olympic disciplines, with the available options varying from one sport to another.
Virgin Bet offers sports betting markets across both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, including athletics, cycling, skiing, curling, and more.
Place a Bet on the Olympic Games with Virgin Bet
If you're betting on the Olympic Games, Virgin Bet gives you a straightforward way to access the available markets. You can fund your account in South African rand (ZAR) with secure local payment options such as Capitec Pay, then place bets on your desktop, mobile browser, or official Android and iOS app.
How to Bet on Olympic Events Online
Want to bet on Olympic events? Here's how to get started.
Step 1: Secure Your Sportsbook Account
Log in to your Virgin Bet account. If you're new to the site, sign up first. To ensure uninterrupted access to withdrawals, complete your FICA verification by submitting your ID documents as soon as possible. The sportsbook is available through our website as well as our official mobile apps.
Step 2: Choose Your Olympic Discipline and Market
Scroll down the left sidebar and choose Olympic Games. Select an event, pick your markets, and tap on the odds to add them to your bet slip.
Step 3: Confirm Your Selection on the Bet Slip
Your selections will appear in the bet slip. Enter your stake in Rand, check that it is correct, then confirm your Olympic bet.
Popular Olympic Sports Betting Markets
Some of the most popular Olympic Games betting markets include:
Outright Winner and Podium Finish Markets
An outright winner market lets you pick the athlete or team to finish first in a particular event or competition.
Podium markets work slightly differently. Here, your selection needs to finish in one of the top three positions for the bet to win. These markets can be useful when you want to back a leading contender without restricting your Olympic bet to the outright winner.
National Medal Table and Gold Medal Counts
These Olympic Games betting markets focus on a country's overall performance rather than on individual events. They offer different predictions, such as the total number of gold medals a nation will win or its final position in the medal table.
Match and Group Stage Betting Markets
Match betting markets focus on the outcome of an individual event, with options such as the match result, handicap, and total points. Group-stage markets look at the bigger picture—for example, you can bet on a team to qualify for the knockouts or to win their group.
Live In-Play Olympic Sports Betting
You don't have to bet on the Olympic games before they begin. Virgin Bet offers live markets on ongoing events, with current odds available through the In-Play section in the left-hand sidebar.
Understanding Olympic Games Formats and Rules
The Olympics don't follow one universal format. An athletics event can use heats and qualifying rounds, while a team sport may begin with a group stage before moving into the knockouts.
Basic Structure and Qualifying Rounds
The route to the final varies by sport. In athletics, competitors must progress through qualifying heats before reaching the final. Team sports take a longer route, with group-stage matches determining which teams advance to the knockout stage.
Difference Between Olympic and League Formats
League competitions run over a full season, with teams accumulating points across a series of games. Olympic competitions are more varied and usually centre on a specific tournament, with athletes and teams competing for medals rather than league points.
Key Olympic Sports Terminology
A few terms are useful to know when betting on the Olympic Games:
- Heat: An early race involving a smaller group of competitors, with successful athletes moving through to the next round.
- Qualifying: A preliminary stage that determines who advances to the main competition.
- Final: The deciding stage of an event, where the medal positions are decided.
- Podium: The top three finishing positions: gold, silver, and bronze.
- Medal table: A ranking of nations based on their gold, silver, and bronze medal totals.
Practice Responsible Gambling in South Africa
To keep your Olympic Games betting fun, set a budget limit before you start and avoid increasing your stakes to chase losses. Fortunately, Virgin Bet offers tools to help you manage your finances and habits, including deposit limits, cool-off periods, reality checks, and self-exclusion. Find them on our dedicated responsible gambling page. If you want additional support, counseling and support resources are available through national help organisations, such as the National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP), the National Self-Exclusion Programme (NSEP), and the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF).
Note that sports betting in South Africa is strictly restricted to players who are 18+
Olympic Games Betting FAQs
Is betting on the Olympic Games legal in South Africa?
Yes. You can legally bet on the Olympic Games in South Africa when using a bookmaker licensed by a provincial gambling board, such as Virgin Bet. Players must be 18+
Where can I find Olympic Games betting websites in South South Africa?
You just found one. Virgin Bet offers Olympic betting markets and competitive odds across the entire competition. You can place your Olympic bet in South African rand (ZAR), meaning there is no need to convert your currency before placing a wager.
Which Olympic sports are available for online betting?
Betting on the Olympic Games at Virgin Bet covers a wide selection of sports, including athletics, basketball, soccer, swimming, tennis, and other disciplines. The available markets depend on the event and the competition stage.
How do outright winner markets work for Olympic athletics?
An outright winner market lets you select the athlete you think will win a particular athletics event. This can relate to an individual event or a wider competition.
Are there mobile apps for betting on the Olympics?
Yes. Virgin Bet has official Android and iOS apps, allowing you to manage your account, browse Olympic markets, and place bets from your phone or tablet. Olympic Games betting is available through the same mobile experience, so you can check the markets wherever you are.
Explore More Popular Sports on Virgin Bet
Looking to explore other sports markets? Use our quick links below to jump straight to competitive odds and live matches:
