The Updated Rules
With the 2024 Olympics on the horizon, the Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission (IRGC) has announced an update to the state’s betting regulations.
These changes are designed to clarify what betting options will be available to Iowa residents and ensure that the state’s betting landscape is prepared for the upcoming global event.
No Betting on Medal Counts
One of the significant updates from the IRGC is the restriction on betting related to medal counts. Bettors in Iowa will not be able to place wagers on the total number of medals a country will win or on medal-count rankings.
This means you can’t bet online on how many total medals a country will win, or even bet on things like “Will the USA win more than 10 silver medals?”
The IRGC wants to keep things straightforward for bettors, so they’ve also nixed bets on the number of medals a country wins in individual sports like gymnastics or boxing. This way, you can focus on picking individual athletes or specific events, rather than trying to predict a nation’s overall medal haul.
Rules on Betting for Young Athletes
Another critical area addressed by the IRGC update is sports betting on young athletes. Iowa has reinforced its ban on gambling involving athletes under the age of 18. This decision comes in the wake of recent investigations into college athlete betting in the state, highlighting the need for clear guidelines.
The updated rules specify that online gambling on individual events will not be permitted if any of the participants are younger than 18. This means that even if an under-18 athlete has competed in a qualifier or a heat, bets on the final event will be prohibited, regardless of whether the young athlete is still in contention.
Available Bets and Odds
Despite these restrictions, there are still numerous betting opportunities for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Bettors can place wagers on team events, even if they include 18-year-olds.
This includes events like pairs of figure skating, where teams of two compete together. However, player props will not be accepted for these events, limiting the scope of betting to overall team performance rather than individual accomplishments.
Licensed operators in Iowa will provide various types of odds for the permissible betting markets. Bettors can expect to find competitive odds on a wide range of events, ensuring that they have plenty of options to engage with during the Olympics.
Bettors should keep an eye on the betting news in their states to know what bets they can place on the upcoming Olympics.
For gambling news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.