With NHL players returning to the Olympic men's hockey tournament for the first time since 2014, Canada and the United States have surged to the top of the gold medal betting odds. Canada leads as the favorite at +115, followed closely by the U.S. at +175, according to DraftKings odds.

American sportsbooks are reporting massive betting volume on both North American teams, with BetMGM and DraftKings noting that over 95% of combined money is backing Canada and the U.S. The Americans hold a slight edge in wagers, though Canada's odds have tightened after "early sharper money" came in, according to Caesars head of hockey Karry Shreeve.

Bookmakers expect hockey to dominate Winter Olympics betting, with estimates suggesting 60% to 80% of all wagered money could be on the tournament. The return of NHL players, combined with the success of last year's 4 Nations Face-Off, has revitalized hockey betting. Canada opens as -500 money-line favorites against Czechia, while the U.S. faces Latvia as -2400 favorites, setting the stage for what could be one of the most-bet hockey tournaments in history.