Place Bets on Curling

Curling betting appeals to fans who enjoy reading a game rather than rushing through it. The pace gives you time to follow the odds, watch how an end develops, and decide where the value sits before the next stone is thrown. Each shot matters, momentum shifts quietly, and that slow build is exactly what makes curling feel so engaging to follow alongside the match.

Top Curling Competitions to Bet On

Curling runs through a steady cycle of international and tour events. Some tournaments lean toward careful, defensive play, while others open up quickly when teams are willing to take risks early. That contrast is what makes curling betting feel different from one competition to the next. To explore the full list of markets and upcoming events, head to our online sportsbook.

World Curling Championships

The World Championships sit at the center of the curling season. Canada and Sweden usually arrive with expectations attached, while Scotland often slides in under the radar. Matches tend to stay balanced for long stretches, and one poor read on the ice can undo several solid ends. Titles here are rarely decided by dominance alone.

Olympic Curling

Olympic curling slows everything down. Teams protect every stone, and mistakes carry more weight than at any other event. Switzerland, Great Britain, Norway, and Canada often handle the pressure better than most, but even they avoid taking early risks. Many games drift toward the final ends before anything truly opens up, keeping both pre-match and live odds in play until the last shots.

Grand Slam of Curling

The Grand Slam circuit is where the sharpest teams meet regularly. These events feel less cautious and more technical, with rinks pushing angles, guards, and takeouts from the opening ends. Shot calling matters as much as execution, and hammer management often decides the match long before the final scoreboard confirms it.

European Curling Championships

European championships lean heavily on structure. Sweden and Scotland usually control the pace, while teams from central and southern Europe look for moments to disrupt it. One end can unravel quickly if a guard is missed or a freeze fails, and momentum tends to swing faster here than in global tournaments.

National Championships

Domestic championships often produce the most unpredictable results. Familiar ice, crowd pressure, and rivalry play a bigger role than rankings. In events like the Brier or national qualifiers across Europe, teams frequently overperform or collapse without warning, which can create unexpected value in curling betting.

Most Popular Curling Betting Markets

Curling betting markets reflect how the game actually unfolds - slowly, end by end, with small decisions adding up over time. Some markets stay simple, while others suit players who follow strategy, hammer control, and momentum shifts.

Match Winner

The most straightforward option. You’re backing one team to win the match, regardless of how close it gets along the way. Many players start here, especially in round-robin games.

Handicap (Stone Spread)

This market gives one team a head start in stones. It’s useful when one side is clearly stronger but still expected to face resistance. In curling, even a small spread can matter.

Total Ends Played

Not every match runs the full distance. Some finish early if the outcome becomes clear. This market focuses on whether the game reaches the final end or ends sooner.

Total Points (Stones)

Here the focus is on how many stones are scored across the match. Defensive teams often keep totals low, while aggressive shot calling can push the number higher.

Winning Margin

Instead of just picking the winner, this market looks at how many stones separate the teams at the end. Tight matches usually stay within a narrow range.

End Winner

This market allows bets on which team wins a specific end. It’s popular in live betting, especially when one side has hammer and clear scoring options.

Team to Score First

Backing which team scores the first stone. It often depends on early hammer use and how willing a team is to attack from the opening end.

How to Predict Curling Matches Successfully

Reading a curling match is mostly about noticing what doesn’t show up on the scoreboard right away. The score tells part of the story, but the flow of the game usually says more. Curling betting tends to reward people who pay attention to those quieter details.

• Recent form: Teams that have been together and playing regularly usually look more settled. Stones come out cleaner, sweeping sounds more confident, and decisions feel quicker.
• Head-to-head patterns: Some teams just seem comfortable against certain opponents. It’s not always about rankings. A familiar matchup can bring out the same result again and again.
• Hammer control: Last stone is everything. Teams that protect hammer and know when to give up a single point often stay in control even when they fall behind early.
• Calling the shots: Risky calls can change a match in one end. Some rinks play it safe and wait, others press early. Knowing which approach a team prefers helps explain why games open up - or don’t.
• Ice changes: The ice never stays the same for long. Speed drops, curl changes, and teams that adjust faster usually start placing stones exactly where they want them.
• Sweeping quality: Good sweeping fixes mistakes. Poor sweeping exposes them. When sweeping fades, even simple shots become dangerous.
• Where the match sits: Early round games don’t feel the same as elimination matches. Teams protect leads differently when one loss can end the tournament.
• Momentum: Curling doesn’t explode all at once, but confidence can slip quickly. One stolen end is often enough to shift how both sides approach the rest of the game.

Highest Curling Betting Odds Ever Won

Big surprises don’t come around often in curling. The sport usually favours structure and discipline, which makes the rare long-shot runs stand out even more when they happen.

Great Britain to Win Men’s Curling Silver - Winter Olympics 2022

Going into Beijing, most attention sat with Sweden and Canada. Great Britain moved through Beijing looking calm and organised, taking care of the basics and keeping matches close without giving away big mistakes. In the gold-medal game, they pushed Sweden all the way - it stayed tight through the late ends and went to an extra end. That’s where Sweden found the edge, and Great Britain had to settle for silver.

• Bet: Olympic silver
• Odds: Around 20/1
• Outcome: Great Britain won silver

Sweden to Miss the Men’s Olympic Gold - 2018

Sweden entered the PyeongChang Games as one of the strongest favourites. Early losses disrupted their path, and tight matches didn’t break their way. They didn’t win gold.

• Bet: To miss the gold
• Odds: Around 15/1
• Outcome: Sweden lost the final

Italy Women to Miss the Knockout Stage - UEFA Women’s EURO 2022

Italy came into a tricky group with France, Belgium, and Iceland and were expected to be in the mix for second place. But the games didn’t swing their way: a draw with Iceland left them chasing, France blew them away, and a must-win against Belgium ended in a loss - sending Italy out in the group stage.

• Bet: To miss quarter-finals
• Odds: Around 5/1
• Outcome: Italy were eliminated in the group stage

Denmark to Reach the Final - Men’s World Curling Championship 2016

Denmark weren’t the headline pick going into Basel. They kept finding ways to stay in games, stacked wins in the round robin, and did enough in the Page playoff path to book a spot in the gold-medal match - a breakthrough run for the program.

• Bet: To reach the final
• Odds: Around 15/1
• Outcome: Denmark reached the final and lost to Canada (5–3)

Norway to Win Men’s Curling Gold - Winter Olympics 2002

At the Salt Lake City Games, Norway weren’t expected to top the podium. They kept matches tight and leaned on precise draw weight throughout the tournament. The final ended with a narrow victory that surprised most observers.

• Bet: Olympic gold
• Odds: Around 30/1
• Outcome: Norway won the gold medal

FAQ

How does curling betting work?

Curling betting is based on match results, stone totals, and performance across individual ends. Bets can be placed before the match starts or live as the game develops end by end.

What does hammer mean in betting terms?

Hammer refers to last stone advantage in an end. Teams with hammer have a higher chance to score, which often affects live odds and end-based markets.

Are curling matches usually high or low scoring?

Most matches stay relatively low scoring. Teams protect leads and avoid giving up big ends, which keeps totals tight in many competitions.</p>

Is live curling betting worth using?

Live markets work well in curling because the pace allows time to react. Odds move after missed shots, steals, or changes in hammer, rather than suddenly.

Do all matches play the full number of ends?

Not always. Matches can end early if the outcome becomes clear, which is why markets related to total ends or early finishes exist.

Does the level of competition matter when betting on curling?

Yes. Olympic and world events tend to be more cautious, while tour events often feature more aggressive shot calling and higher variance.

Can underdogs win curling matches?

They can. Curling doesn’t always reward favourites, especially when games stay close and come down to a single end.

What should I watch for during a match before betting live?

Pay attention to hammer control, sweeping effectiveness, and how well teams are reading the ice. These often matter more than the current score.

Is curling betting suitable for beginners?

It can be. The slower pace and clear structure make it easier to follow compared to faster sports, especially when starting with match-level markets.