Winter Olympics Betting Buzz in NZ after Zoi Sadowski-Synnott’s Silver

New Zealand’s Winter Olympics campaign has delivered another headline moment, with Zoi Sadowski-Synnott taking slopestyle silver at Milano Cortina 2026. Big results like that always lift local interest. And for some sports fans, that includes checking odds and markets. But NZ’s rules around sports betting are tighter than many people realise. With overseas bookies still heavily visible online, it’s worth spelling out what’s legal, what’s not, and where TAB fits in for Kiwis following the Games.

NZ medal moments are driving attention

Sadowski-Synnott’s silver is significant on its own. And it also adds to the wider story of New Zealand becoming a serious snow-sports nation on the Olympic stage. When Kiwis feel like a podium is genuinely on the cards, casual viewers tend to tune in more often, follow more events live, and talk about outcomes in a way that looks a lot like big tournament behaviour (think Rugby World Cup weeks, but on snow).

That surge in attention is exactly when gambling messaging can start to travel further than intended. Especially through social media, influencer-style promos, and offshore operators that don’t follow NZ rules.

What Winter Olympics betting is actually legal in New Zealand

Here’s the key point: it’s illegal under NZ law for anyone other than TAB New Zealand to promote or take bets on racing or sporting events from a person located in New Zealand.

So, if you’re a Kiwi in NZ and you’re seeing Winter Olympics odds ads from offshore brands, that promotion itself can be a problem, even if the event is overseas and even if the marketing is online. The DIA has been clear that operators previously offering online sports betting to New Zealanders were required to withdraw.

A quick responsible gambling reminder for Olympic betting

Big events can be a trigger for impulse betting: a medal headline hits, you feel optimistic, and suddenly you’re chasing outcomes across sports you don’t normally follow. If you do bet, it’s a good moment to keep responsible gambling in mind:

• Set a spend limit before you look at markets.
• Avoid live chasing after a loss.
• Treat novelty sports like novelty bets, small stakes, if any.

And if your feeds are full of offshore promos about Milano Cortina, remember: in NZ, TAB is the only legal option for sports betting offered and promoted to people located here.