Winter Olympics 2026 Betting Guide: How to Bet, Odds Explained & Athletes to Watch

The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics 2026 are about to get the action started. This February, Canadian bettors can place their wagers on a variety of Winter Olympics 2026 betting markets and athletes and teams representing their countries. Unlike the summer Olympics, the winter Olympics focus on completely different sports, including ski, jumping, cross country and alpine skiing, ice hockey, and more.

By joining BetPlays Canada, you can bet on the Winter Olympics quickly and easily. The action kicks-off on Friday, February 6, and will last for over two weeks with the closing event on February 22. The Winter Betplays Olympics betting is unique for bettors from Canada due to one-off events and national pride angles, making it ideal for beginners and casual bettors.

How to Bet on the Winter Olympics at Betplays

BetPlays’ Olympics betting section covers all the events the event has scheduled. In order to bet on the Winter Olympics, you can follow the next steps.

• Create an account at BetPlays
• Verify via email
• Find the Olympics betting section
• Choose sport, event, and market

The process works the same on desktop and mobile. In terms of market availability, you can place bets on fixed odds for pre-match markets or bet live on selected events.

We encourage all bettors to bet responsibly. Read more on how to manage your bankroll and place bets in a responsible matter on the website with our detailed guide.

Winter Olympics Betting Markets Explained

The number of Olympic Sports betting markets is immense, and we understand how it can confuse new bettors. That’s what our Winter Olympics betting guide aims to break down, covering some of the most popular markets for the events at BetPlays.

The main Winter Olympics betting markets are:

• Outright winners, where bettors can predict winners of an event or medal takers
• Medal betting – place bets on top bronze, silver, and gold finishers
• Head to head matchups
• Olympics medal betting
• Special markets – records, margins, podiums

The Winter Olympics betting odds will vary depending on the market. Moneylines for favorites typically offer lower returns, while surprise finishers have better value. Make sure to check the odds before the event, as they tend to change.

How to Read Winter Olympics Betting Odds

Winter Olympics betting odds at BetPlays come in several forms, including decimal, fractional, and American. The good news is that Canadian bettors can easily switch to the preferred format at the click of a button.

With so many Winter Olympics betting markets, you have to be aware that some of them will depend on the sport you’re betting on. For example, ice hockey markets feature moneylines, total goals, and correct score and handicaps, among others. For biathlon, you’ll find different markets including head to heads, prop bets, and winning margin.

Before placing bets on Olympic sports betting markets, it’s important to learn how to read odds. This will help in calculating payouts, even though that’s automatically calculated at BetPlays. Larger bets mean potentially larger winnings, but the probability of these outcomes is lower.

Conversely, smaller bets on safer odds have a higher win probability, but the payout is lower. Canadian bettors should manage risk and reward for all the best Winter Olympics bets. With BetPlays offering odds in different formats, you can bet on the Winter Olympics comfortably and learn the returns quite easily.

Athletes, Teams & Nations to Watch at Milano-Cortina 2026

When betting on the Winter Olympics, bettors should have a few things in mind. There are some countries which are traditional powerhouses in this event, including Norway, USA, Germany, and Canada.

In the past Canada has fared well in the event, and that won’t change in 2026. The country has a strong ice hockey team that features some NHL stars. In snowboarding, Canada has Laurie Blouin and Mark McNorris, both of which are greatly positioned for a medal.

Norway are among the favorites for most golden medals in winter sports, including cross-country skiing and biathlon. Before Milano Cortina, the country has won nearly 150 gold medals, winning the last three events as well.

This year, the top Norway athletes at the Winter Olympics include Therese Johaug, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, and Johannes Thingnes Bø.

The United States and Germany perform traditionally well in the Winter Olympics. For Germany, Tobias Arlt and Tobias Wendl will be hunting for gold. In figure staking, Nikita Volodon at Minerva Fabienne Hase are among the top favorites. For Team USA, Madison Chock and Evan Bates are potential figure skating stars. Erin Jackson is expected to dominate in speed skating, while Elana Meyers Taylor is among the favorites in bobsledding. While Norway is the favorite for cross-country skiing, Jessie Diggins will be a top challenger in this category.

With the Winter Olympics taking place in Milano Cortina, Italy as a host shouldn’t be overseen. Soffia Goggia is one of the top Winter Olympics 2026 favorites in alpine skiing. Arinna Fontana has the most medals in Italy’s history in the event, and is once again one of the best BetPlays Olympics betting picks in short-track speed skating.

Rising Stars at the 2026 Winter Olympics

The established names we mentioned will definitely be active in Olympic medal betting battles. But it’s also good to keep an eye on emerging talent and rising stars that can make their name known this winter.

• Alessandro Barbieri – Took halfpipe silver in the 2024 Winter Youth Games, is the youngest riders on Team USA’s halfpipe set.
• Mia Brooks – Youngest snowboard world champion in 2023 at the age of 16. A great opportunity for team UK for a podium finish or gold in snowboard Big Air/slopestyle.
• Hallie Clarke – Made headlines in Canada as the first athlete to hold both junior and senior skeleton world championships. Milano Cortina 2026 is her Olympic debut, with high hopes for the Canadian prodigy.
• Nika Prevc – The Slovenian may see a surprise podium finish in ski jumping, after winning two FIS world championships in 2024 and 2025. At just 20 years old, the sky’s the limit for Prevc.

Tips for Betting on the Winter Olympics

Before betting on the Olympics at Milano Cortina, bettors should understand the event and the rules. With more than 100 events and 16 different sports, including no majors such as American football, the rules for each sport become highly important. Biathlon, for example, features events with varying distances, as does cross-country skiing. Some athletes may be better in one thing than the other, and that should be taken into consideration.

As always, doing proper research before betting is another important factor. Check each athlete’s form and history, especially in their disciplines. Consider recent performances and take injuries into account before making your pick.

Since it’s winter, the weather conditions have a high impact on the best Winter Olympics bets. Wind and snow can reduce visibility and speed, and in those conditions, underdogs may find their chance. In this case, Italian competitors may have better chances, as they train in the same conditions.

Final Thoughts on the Winter Olympics 2026 Betting

If you want to bet on the Winter Olympics, BetPlays has everything you need in one spot. We’ll cover all the betting markets with pre-match and live betting odds, while offering generous betting promotions at the same time.

Follow our responsible betting guidelines, check out the top Winter Olympics betting odds and odds, and make your pick before the event starts. Be smart with your bets, and don’t forget to have fun.