The 2026 Winter Games in Milan Cortina have officially cemented their status as the most wagered-on Winter Olympics in history. As the men's ice hockey tournament enters its high-stakes knockout stage today, February 17, 2026 Winter Olympics betting volume has surged to unprecedented levels. Fueled by the long-awaited return of NHL superstars and the explosive growth of regulated prediction markets, sportsbooks are reporting a staggering 45% increase in handle compared to Beijing 2022. With millions of fans trading contracts on everything from face-off wins to specific save percentages, the landscape of Olympic gambling has fundamentally changed.

Olympic Hockey Odds Today: Knockout Stage Begins

The preliminary round is over, and the "win or go home" qualification playoffs begin today. While top seeds Canada, USA, Slovakia, and Finland enjoy well-earned byes, eight nations face elimination in what oddsmakers are calling the busiest day of the tournament for Olympic hockey odds today.

In the early slate, Germany enters as a heavy favorite (-350) against France, with bettors heavily backing Leon Draisaitl to record multiple points. Meanwhile, the host nation Italy faces a steep uphill battle as +450 underdogs against a disciplined Switzerland squad. The afternoon matchups offer tighter lines, particularly the Czechia vs. Denmark clash, which prediction markets have priced as a near coin-flip, reflecting the intense parity in European hockey.

For bettors looking at the bigger picture, Olympic gold medal favorites remain focused on the North American juggernauts. Team Canada, having swept Group A with a dominant 3-0 record, sits at +175 to take gold, closely followed by Team USA at +210. The return of best-on-best hockey has driven futures handle to record highs, with significant liability on Canada to reclaim the top spot on the podium.

Prediction Markets Sports Betting: The New Gold Rush

The real story of the 2026 Games isn't just who people are betting on, but how they are doing it. Prediction markets sports betting has moved from a niche financial product to the mainstream method for engaging with live sports. Platforms like DraftKings Predictions Olympics now allow fans to trade "event contracts"—yes/no shares on specific outcomes—rather than placing traditional vig-heavy wagers.

This shift has unlocked micro-betting on a granular scale. Instead of just betting on Sweden to beat Latvia, traders are buying contracts on:

  • Will Auston Matthews score in the first period?
  • Will the total saves in the SUI vs. ITA game exceed 55.5?
  • Will a penalty shot be awarded in the knockout stage?

This "Wall Street-ification" of sports betting appeals to a younger, data-driven demographic. Analysts note that liquidity on these player-specific markets is rivaling traditional moneyline volume, a trend that was virtually non-existent four years ago.

Milan Cortina Gambling Trends: Micro-Betting & Live Props

Data from major US legal sportsbooks 2026 reveals that live, in-game wagering now accounts for over 60% of total Olympic hockey handle. The speed of 5G connectivity in Milan and improved data feeds have made instant gratification the standard. Milan Cortina gambling trends show a massive appetite for "flash markets"—bets that resolve in minutes or even seconds.

The NHL Effect

The participation of NHL players for the first time since 2014 cannot be overstated. The star power of Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and Nathan MacKinnon has attracted casual bettors who typically ignore international hockey. Sportsbooks report that player prop bets (e.g., "McDavid Over 1.5 Assists") are seeing ten times the volume of the 2022 Games, where unknown rosters dampened public interest.

Regulated Markets vs. Offshore Risks

With the surge in volume comes heightened scrutiny. The International Olympic Committee's Joint Integrity Unit is actively monitoring Milan Cortina gambling trends to detect irregularities. Fortunately, the expansion of US legal sportsbooks 2026 means more Americans are wagering on regulated, safe platforms than ever before. Unlike the offshore era, today's prediction markets offer transparency and consumer protection, ensuring that the record-breaking billions wagered on these games are secure.

As the puck drops on today's elimination games, the excitement is palpable—not just in the arenas of Italy, but on the digital exchanges where millions of fans are backing their predictions with cold hard cash. The road to the Gold Medal game on February 22 promises to be the most lucrative week in winter sports betting history.