DraftKings sets Olympic record for hockey betting
The men’s gold‑medal hockey match at the 2026 Winter Olympics between the United States and Canada was one of the biggest betting events in DraftKings’ history. The USA’s overtime victory made it the third-largest hockey betting event in the company’s history. It also made it the biggest Olympic hockey betting event in operators’ history, a company representative told Gaming America.
A legendary USA-Canada clash
Although the game kicked off in the morning, the lack of competing major broadcasts and the status of the rivalry between two hockey powerhouses created ideal conditions for heavy player activity. Johnny Avello, Director of Race & Sportsbook Operations at DraftKings, said the mix of elite athletes, historic rivalry and championship stakes generated unprecedented interest from bettors.
At first, Canada opened as a slight favourite at -125. However, by the start of the match, the odds had moved in favour of the USA at +105. More than 75% of American bettors’ moneyline bets were for Team USA, while bettors in Ontario mostly chose Canada. This geographic split produced deep pre-match liquidity and balanced exposure for the bookmaker.
Live betting surge in overtime
Live betting activity spiked sharply in overtime, with the largest volumes on markets such as “next goal scorer”, “USA to win in OT” and method‑of‑victory props. Same Game Parlays featuring stars like Jack Hughes, Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid were also among the top markets. The shift to 3‑on‑3 overtime made games more unpredictable and made micro‑markets particularly attractive, since every shot can decide the outcome and drives mass real‑time wagering.
The Hughes liability and why it didn’t derail the book
Jack Hughes was among the most popular players in goalscorer markets. His overtime winner created significant payout liability across several markets. However, the fact that strong hold percentages were maintained across live and prop markets offset the short-term liability. The short-term results were mixed, but the long-term value of increased engagement is high.
Jack Hughes scored 1 minute and 41 seconds into overtime, and the United States beat Canada 2-1 in the gold medal final at the Milan Cortina Olympics on February 22. This is the nation’s third men’s title at the Games and its first since the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980.
Best‑on‑best and the halo effect
The Olympic final showed that international hockey is a great betting product. The Olympic stage is different from regular-season play because it features national rivalries that draw in casual fans, a concentration of the best players, a single decisive match, and it appeals to bettors who might otherwise skip a midweek NHL game. Industry experts expect increased engagement and betting activity on the NHL for the remainder of the season and into the playoffs.
These days, the sports-betting market is increasingly driven by major tentpole events rather than day-to-day volume. The USA-Canada match showed that when a good story, famous players and high stakes come together, even an early‑morning start can still make a lot of money. DraftKings is a good example of how a well-planned campaign around an event can attract bets and keep people interested.
Next stop – Los Angeles
As the 2026 Olympics end, the Olympic movement is already looking ahead to Los Angeles 2028. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) sees the next Games as a chance to update the commercial model that has been used for the Olympics for the last 40 years. This model is now being tested in a more complicated marketing environment.
Reuters says that Milan Cortina will be the last Olympics run under a 41-year sponsorship model that many within the IOC think is old-fashioned and needs to be changed. This is despite the billions it has contributed to the movement’s funds.
This article was first published in Russian on 25 February 2026.
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