Among the interesting betting insights Entain cited from the 2024 Olympics, was that the total betting handle doubled that of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Entain has revealed interesting betting insights from the recently finished 2024 Olympics in Paris. It announced on Friday that the betting handle was double that of the 2020 Tokyo games, which took place in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The UK-based gambling group cited the more convenient time zone as a key reason for the success.

The sports that bettors on Entain-owned platforms like Coral, Ladbrokes, bwin, and BetMGM took the most interest in, in terms of volume of bets, were basketball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, and handball. The men’s basketball final featuring the star-studded USA team against home side France generated more wagers than any other individual game or competition.

Bettors cashed in on heavy favorite Noah Lyles, who claimed victory by just .005 seconds.

Athletics wagering also saw a strong uptick, with the men’s 100m final being the most popular event. Bettors cashed in on heavy favorite Noah Lyles, who claimed victory by just .005 seconds. One of the bigger surprises was American Cole Hocker capturing gold in the men’s 1500m final at a price of +2000.

Talking about the results, Entain Head of Sports Arild Ostbo said it was an unforgettable Olympics and it “continues to grow in popularity and betting interest.”