Who is the favorite to win the jackpot in Paris?

LAS VEGAS – Bettors cannot bet on a triumphant return of Simone Biles to the Olympics because gymnastics is a points-based sport.

But you can bet on just about anything else at the Summer Olympics in Paris, with competitions starting on July 26 and ending on August 11.

Sportsbooks have released odds on everything from archery to water polo, with men’s basketball and women’s soccer the most popular betting markets for the Olympics.

Team USA is the -500 favorite at the Westgate SuperBook to bring home a gold medal in men’s basketball at a fifth consecutive Olympic Games. Canada, led by NBA stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray, is the second choice at 10-1 after losing 86-72 to the Americans in Wednesday’s exhibition match at T-Mobile Arena.

“Most of these teams have one or two NBA players, but nothing that can compete with Team USA, except maybe Canada,” said Joe Tatka, the bookmaker at SuperBook Olympics. “It’s not like (1992) and (1996) where (the Americans) just show up and win. But they should still be able to bring home a gold medal.”

The United States women’s basketball team is the overwhelming favorite at -2,500 to win gold for the eighth time in a row, meaning a bettor would need to wager $2,500 to win $100.

“The entire team is made up of All Stars, whereas there are only one or two women from the WNBA,” Tatka said. “It’s a complete walkthrough.”

The U.S. women’s soccer team faces much stronger competition in its quest for its first gold medal since 2012. Team USA is a slight favorite at +150 over Spain (+220) and host France (4-1).

“It’s not like it was 20 or 25 years ago when Team USA was the only team,” Tatka said. “They probably still have the best team, but it’s not a guarantee of winning. Across the board, the whole world has definitely caught up with them.”

In men’s soccer, the USA have an outside chance of winning gold with odds of 25:1. Host France is a narrow favorite at 2:1, ahead of Argentina (+225) and Spain (+275).

athletics

Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson is a slight favorite for the gold medal in the men’s 100-meter race at +150 over American Noah Lyles (+185).

“We didn’t have any action against Lyles, which is surprising,” Tatka said. “Kishane Thompson ran incredible times in the time trials in Jamaica. Most of the action was in his favor.”

Lyles sparked controversy last year when he criticized NBA teams for calling themselves world champions.

“World champion of what? The United States?” asked Lyles after increasing his total world championship title to six at the World Athletics Championships. “That’s not the world.”