Curling Betting 2023
Curling is a winter ice sport that most people are familiar with (if they know of it at all) from its recent reintroduction to the Winter Olympics.
The game is most popular in Canada, but also enjoys healthy participation in the United States, Scotland, and many countries in Europe and Asia.
Top Rated Bookies for Betting on Curling 2023
BetUS Sports
Payment Options
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- BTC
- LTC
- ETH
- Premier destination for US bettors
- Racebook covering daily races
- Esports and virtual sports markets
- In-depth sports stats and tips
- Intuitive live betting markets
- Limited withdrawal options
MyBookie Sports
Payment Options
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- LTC
- USD
- Generous bonuses and promotions
- Great range of betting markets
- Extensive racebook
- Very good customer service
- Only a few withdrawal options
- Fees for withdrawing funds
BUSR Sports
Payment Options
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- BTC
- Trusted by publications such as ESPN
- Access a dedicated racing section
- Crypto-friendly sportsbook
- Adjust odds format and time zone
- Support options include call back
- Quite low sportsbook limits
BetOnline Sports
Payment Options
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- USD
- Accepts players from all over the world
- Known for their live betting offers
- Lots of secure banking options
- Great bonuses and promotions
- High fees for some deposit options
- Support agents are often slow to reply
Bovada.lv Sports
Payment Options
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- BTC
- Top-rated US online sportsbook
- Mobile site for iOS and Android users
- Diverse range of betting markets
- Excellent customer support options
- Lines come out very late in the day
- Odds not as favorable as other books
BookMaker.eu Sports
Payment Options
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- BPS
- CAD
- EUR
- Popular book that accepts large max bets
- Huge focus on football and basketball
- High-spec live in-play platform available
- Downloadable client for Windows & Mac
- Odds are not amazing on non-US sports
- User interface could be improved
A Beginner’s Guide to Curling
In this sport, teams of four players each slide rocks down a field of ice – known as a sheet – towards a target at the other end – known as a house.
Teams alternate throwing eight rocks, after which the team with the rock closest to the pin (at the center of the house) earns one point for each of their rocks that is closer to the middle than the best rock of the opposing team. Scoring constitutes the conclusion of an ‘end’, which is similar to an inning in baseball.
A typical match takes eight ends, though championship play features 10 ends of play. In case of a tie, the teams will play an additional end to decide a winner; unlike in many sports, it is considered sportsmanlike to concede if a game is out of reach, so many contests do not go the complete distance.
At the conclusion of the game, the team with the most points (or ‘rocks’) is the winner.
How to Bet on Curling
Curling bets are usually placed in one of two ways. First, it is usually possible to simply choose who will win a match. In this case, you’ll see odds that are determined by the relative strength of the two teams.
However, there is a second way in which bets might be made on this sport. Some bookmakers offer spread betting, in which the favourite is handicapped by a number of points in order to offer similar odds on both sides. For instance, you may see a line that looks like this:
- Canada (-3.5)
- Germany (+3.5)
In this game, a bet on Canada will only pay if they win by four rocks or more. Meanwhile, a Germany bet can win either if they pull the upset, or if they lose by three or fewer points. Both bets are likely to pay out at slightly less than even money.
Major Curling Events
These days, there is a full range of events, with competitive teams participating on the World Curling Tour (at events known as ‘bonspiels’) and elite teams competing at the Grand Slam tournaments.
However, usually only a few of the largest events manage to attract interest from most betting sites. They include the following:
Winter Olympics
Winter Olympics
This is the contest that commands the most attention from the world at large, and is the only exposure many people have to the sport. Though it was contested in 1924 and 1932, the sport only returned to the program as an exhibition sport in 1988 and 1992; it then joined the official medal program in 1998.
Since then, both men’s and women’s competitions have been contested, typically with fields of ten teams playing a round-robin of ten-end games, with the top four making the medal round. An added two-player discipline known as mixed doubles will also be added to the program in 2018.
World Championships
World Championships
Each year, the top nations attempt to qualify for this tournament, which is contested in a format that is almost identical to that of the Olympics, but with a slightly larger 12-team field.
Both Men’s and Women’s championship play tends to draw betting attention, though there are many other world championships: mixed, mixed doubles, senior and junior events are also contested at a very high level of play.
The Brier
The Brier
The majority of curlers worldwide are Canadian, and as such, the Canadian championships are among the most prestigious events in the world. The men’s championship is known as the Tim Hortons Brier (though the sponsor has changed over the years), with teams qualifying out of every province and territory in order for a chance to win the title that was first established in 1927.
The Tournament of Hearts
The Tournament of Hearts
This is the women’s Canadian championship, and carries the same prestige for female curlers as the Brier does for their male counterparts. Established in 1961, the event is now called the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, or often simply ‘The Scotties’ after the current sponsor for the event.
History of Curling
Curling is one of the oldest sports in the world that is still being contested today, having been invented in medieval Scotland. It isn’t clear exactly when the sport was first played, but evidence in stones, art, and literature date back to at least the early 1500s. The world’s oldest clubs date back hundreds of years, with the Kilsyth Curling Club in Scotland being formed in 1716 and still existing today.
Over the centuries, the quality of the stones, the ice, and other equipment gradually improved, changing the game from one that was largely about a mix of strength and luck to one decided by skill and strategy, leading the game to become known as ‘chess on ice’.
The game is named after the motion of the stone on the ice – players rotate the stones, causing them to travel in an arc, or curl, as they move down the sheet – though it is also known as the roaring game due to the load and distinctive sound the rocks make while in motion.
The World Curling Federation is currently the chief governing body in the game, and was formed in 1966.
Bet on the Latest Curling Events
Has our curling betting guide piqued your interest in the popular winter sport? Join our top-rated betting site to compare the latest odds for major events such as the World Championships and Winter Olympics.
Related Articles
Basketball Betting Guide
The NBA is the best basketball league but there are loads of other leagues around the world that are great to bet on. Take a look at our expert guide here.
Football Betting Sites
Love betting on the beautiful game? Our team has done the hard work and found the best sites and strategies. Don’t waste time, get all the info you need today.
Cricket Betting Sites 2023
Cricket is a truly global sport with huge numbers of people watching and betting on matches. Find the best sites for betting on cricket with our guide.
Horse Racing
Our expert guide to betting on the sport of kings. Find out everything you need to know including the best bookmakers and offers for betting on horse racing.