Winter Olympics 2026, which will take place with 6 by 22 February, traditionally become one of the most discussed sports topics of the year. This is not only world-class competitions and the fight for medals, but also the period of maximum activity in the betting market. For the ridni.bet audience this moment is especially significant, since the Olympics have long gone beyond the scope of “just sports”.
The Olympics as a global sporting event
During the Olympic Games, attention is focused on dozens of disciplines at once: biathlon, cross-country skiing, hockey, figure skating, snowboarding, alpine skiing. Unlike football tournaments, there is no one dominant sport here - every day brings new favorites, sensations and unexpected results.
It is this unpredictability that makes the Olympic Games interesting not only for spectators, but also to the betting market.
Olympic betting games: it's not only casino
Popular opinion, that during major events the main casinos are active, has long been out of touch with reality. In practice, many bookmaker companies actively work with the Olympic line.
For example, Vbet, CosmoBet and a number of other international brands accept bets on the main Olympic disciplines. It's not just about classic outcomes, but also about additional markets:
- competition winner
- prizes
- duels of athletes
- number of medals for teams
- results of individual stages and races
Thus, The Olympics is a full-fledged betting period, and not a temporary addition to slots and live casinos.
Why bookmakers are betting on the Olympics
There are several reasons, why companies actively include the Olympic Games in their line:
- high international interest
- participation of national teams, including Ukraine
- wide range of disciplines
- a steady stream of events every day
- increased audience engagement
For bookmakers, this is an opportunity to attract new audiences, and for players - to diversify the experience beyond standard football championships.
📊 Forecast for total number of gold medals by country
These are the lines of "who will win the most gold medals at the 2026 Olympics":
| Side | Coefficient (approximately) | What does it mean |
|---|---|---|
| Norway | ~8/15 | favorite, highest probability of leading in gold |
| USA | ~7/2 | second best chance |
| Germany | ~13/2 | also in the top group |
| Canada | ~13/1 | longer coefficient |
| Switzerland | ~25/1 | distant contender |
| Italy / China / other | very long odds | low probability |
Norway is the main favorite in the overall medal standings, and the USA and Germany are the main competitors.
🏒 Forecast for hockey tournament
Hockey is one of the most popular betting markets in the Olympics - bookmakers give these guidelines:
| Team | Gold odds |
|---|---|
| Canada (men) | approximately +110 |
| USA (men) | approximately +165 |
| Sweden | about +500 |
| Finland / Czech Republic / other | longer |
It means, that the Canadian and US teams are considered the most likely winners of the hockey tournament.
🥇 What else do bookmakers take into account?
• In terms of total medals, bookmakers give huge chances for Norway to be the leader in the overall standings, while for Ukraine or teams without clear favorites the odds are much longer (fewer chances along the line, but potentially higher winnings).
• These odds reflect the bookmakers' views at the time of publication and may change closer to and during the Games based on qualifying results and team forms.
Based on the results of the analysis of the starting lines and bookmakers’ forecasts for Winter Olympics 2026, Ukraine usually does not appear among the top candidates for victory in the main medal standings. Bookmakers predict such teams to be leaders in the number of medals, How Norway, USA, Germany etc., A Ukraine is not yet given a high chance of winning gold in the overall medal standings.
Here are the key points, concerning Ukraine's chances:
1. Bookmakers do not consider Ukraine a medal favorite
In forecasts for the overall medal standings, the leader coefficients (Norway, USA, Germany, Canada et al.) much stronger, and information from bookmakers indicates, What Ukraine is actually not on the list of countries competing for gold at the 2026 Games.
2. Ukraine is represented 46 athletes
The Ukrainian national team will be represented at the 2026 Games 46 athletes in 11 sports (including biathlon, luge, freestyle, cross-country skiing, etc.). The largest teams are in biathlon and luge.
3. Forecasts of analysts and experts
Athletes rarely play favorites, and Ukrainian chances are considered moderate - for many experts any medal will be a serious achievement. The Minister of Sports notes, that high expectations in terms of the number of awards are not set; motivation and struggle of athletes remain at a high level, but it will be difficult to objectively compete with top countries.
4. Third party analysts' forecasts (not bookmakers)
There are third-party forecasts from individual analysts or fan resources, who are trying to predict possible medals for Ukraine, but they are not an official bookmaker line and differ greatly in expectations.
Conclusion:
Currently In the official bookmaker lines, Ukraine is not listed among the obvious contenders for medals at the Winter Olympics 2026 (where to watch the Olympics), and the odds on her medal positions are usually quite long (low probability along the line). However, participation 46 athletes in 11 sports provides potential for surprises, especially in highly competitive disciplines.
