When you think of sports that define Canada’s cultural identity, curling is right up there. The sport that originated in Scotland is now an established event at the Winter Olympics, and Team Canada has dominated the medal tally over the years. Betting on curling has become much more sophisticated over the last decade, and online sportsbooks around the world all provide plenty of lines and markets. It has never been easier to place a wager.
We will be sure to inform you of the next big event when it becomes available. There are no Curling odds available right now, but we’ll display the latest below when they come around.
2023 Curling World Championships Recap
One of the biggest curling betting events each year is the Curling World Championships, which invite the best women and men from around the globe to compete. Fans who bet curling odds on sports betting sites choose from 13 teams on the women and men’s draw, all of whom represent the best from qualifying countries.
Men’s Curling World Championships 2023
The 2023 World Men’s Curling Championship known as the BKT Tires & OK Tire World Men’s Curling Championship was held from April 1 to 9 at TD Place in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
During the opening ceremonies, the 1993 World Men’s Curling Championship-winning Canadian team, comprised of Russ Howard, Glenn Howard, Wayne Middaugh, and Peter Corner, received special recognition.
The standout moment of the tournament occurred on April 5th during the draw 12 game between Sweden and Norway when Swedish skip Niklas Edin executed what many were calling one of the greatest or “craziest” shots in curling history. This remarkable shot, often referred to as the “shot heard around the curling world,” took place in the tenth end. Facing a two-point deficit, Edin had to throw a rock with an incredible amount of spin, causing it to curl precisely to nudge a guarded corner-frozen Norwegian stone at the perfect angle to score two points without moving the Swedish rock it was frozen to. This near-impossible shot, rarely seen in the sport, involved the rock making over 53.5 rotations, a feat confirmed by curling oddsmaker Matt Hall. Edin’s unusual shot, known as a “spinner,” elicited laughter from the arena’s spectators upon release. However, it proved successful, securing the second point after a measurement. TSN commentator Russ Howard hailed it as “the best… I’ve ever seen in my life,” while World Curling Federation commentator Tyler George stated, “There’s these moments in sports where sometimes the moment is bigger than the result of the game. I will remember that shot for as long as I live.” Despite this incredible shot, Team Sweden ultimately lost the game in the extra end.
Following the round-robin stage, the top six teams advanced to the playoffs. Switzerland claimed the top seed with an impressive 11–1 record, while Scotland earned the second seed with a 10–2 record, granting both teams a bye to the semifinals. The third seed went to Norway (also 10–2), setting up a qualification game against the sixth-seeded Italians (8–4), while the fourth-seeded Canadians (9–3) faced off against the fifth-ranked Swedes (also 9–3). The winners of the qualification games progressed to the semifinals.
In the qualification games, Canada convincingly defeated Sweden 9–1, ending their reign as four-time defending World champions, while Italy eliminated Norway with a score of 8–4. Canada then proceeded to defeat the top-seeded Swiss team in the semifinals, securing a 7–5 victory, while Italy lost a closely contested match to Scotland, falling 8–9 in an extra end. Italy came agonizingly close to victory in the 10th end, with skip Joël Retornaz nearly executing a long split to score three points. However, one of their rocks landed just millimeters outside the house, as confirmed after a measurement.
In the bronze medal match, Italy and Switzerland faced off, with Switzerland dominating the game. After leading 3–0 after three ends, the Swiss continued to score, including a three-point end in the fifth after Italian skip Joël Retornaz unintentionally removed his own stone. Italy managed to score a two-point end in the sixth but fell victim to another three-point end by Switzerland in the seventh, resulting in an 11–3 victory for Switzerland.
In the final, Scotland easily defeated Canada with a final score of 9–3. The Bruce Mouat rink, representing Scotland, clinched their first World title, marking the first such victory for their nation since 2009. This win completed the medal set for the Mouat team, which had previously won a silver in 2021 and a bronze in 2019. Scotland took an early lead with a deuce in the second end, followed by a steal of two in the third when Canada’s skip, Brad Gushue, was heavy on a draw against three Scottish stones. This gave the Scots a commanding 4–0 lead and subdued the partisan Canadian crowd. Scotland maintained the pressure in the fourth end, forcing Gushue to hit for a single point. Another costly error by Gushue in the fifth, when he was heavy on a tap attempt, was followed by a Mouat draw for two, extending Scotland’s lead to 6–1. Canada managed to score a two-point end in the sixth, but Scotland played defensively in the seventh, with Mouat opting for a simpler hit instead of a double. With the score at 9–3 in favor of Scotland, Canada conceded the game, crowning Scotland as the World Champions. The Scottish team performed exceptionally well, with all four members achieving curling percentages in the 90s, resulting in a team percentage of 96.
Women’s Curling World Championships 2023
Switzerland emerged victorious at the 2023 World Women’s Curling Championship in Sandviken, Sweden.
From 18-26 March, 13 of the best women’s curling teams from around the globe battled it out for the world crown, and it was Silvana Tirinzoni’s Swiss rink which won a fourth consecutive title after going the whole tournament unbeaten.
The week-long event started with a round-robin stage where all the teams played each other once.
The top six teams at the end of the round-robin phase advanced to the play-offs. Those that finish first and second received byes to the semi-finals, while the third, fourth, fifth and sixth ranked teams competed in qualification games for the semis.
In the play-off games, Sweden defeated Italy 4-3 while the Canadians beat Japan 6-4.
The semi-finals saw eventual champions Switzerland defeat Sweden 8-5 and Canada falling to Norway 8-5. The bronze medal game was won by the Canadians in an 8-5 victory over Sweden.
The 13 teams in the tournament were Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and United States of America.
Tournament Outright Markets
Curling, like most sports, is often contested by many individuals or teams in a large competition. The best examples are the World Championships, the World Juniors, the Continental Cup of Curling and of course the Winter Olympics. Sportsbooks will provide a futures line for each division. The main divisions include men’s, ladies, mixed and in some cases wheelchair curling.
You will find that the best odds on a team will generally appear well before a major event is due to start.
For example, the Canadian men’s team enter most tournaments as clear favourites, yet will be often available for odds of +100 a few weeks out from the commencement of the competition.
Obviously you run the risk of injuries or loss of form when you bet well before the event, although the risk is often worth the reward.
Bet on Curling with Bet365
Curling takes center stage in bet365’s “Never Ordinary” campaign.
Aiming to highlight sports that may go under the radar, bet365 hopes to spurn interest in Curling and other sports that bettors may not immediately when browsing the sportsbook. Bet365 believes every sport should be epic, that’s why they offer an ‘In-Game’ experience which covers over 78 sports and over 780,000 live streams to 90 million customers worldwide. Our online betting brand is powered by a world-class proprietary product and over 7,000 employees across the globe.
Curling is no exception and discovering the excitement that Curling can elicit, particularly when betting live in-game is something every Canadian bettor should try.
HOW TO BET ON CURLING
Betting on curling has gained popularity in recent years, especially during major tournaments like the Winter Olympics and the World Curling Championships. There are several ways to bet on curling, and the options may vary depending on the sportsbook and the specific event. Here’s a breakdown of the different ways you can bet on curling:
Moneyline Betting:
- Moneyline betting is the most straightforward and common way to bet on curling. You simply pick the team you think will win the match.
- Odds are presented as positive or negative numbers. Positive odds (e.g., +200) indicate the potential profit on a $100 bet, while negative odds (e.g., -150) show the amount you need to wager to win $100.
Spread Betting:
- In spread betting, also known as the “point spread” or “handicap betting,” the sportsbook assigns a handicap to one of the teams to make the match more even in terms of betting.
- You can bet on whether a team will cover the spread or not. For example, if Team A has a -2.5 handicap, they need to win by at least three points for a bet on them to be a winner.
Over/Under Betting (Totals):
- Over/under betting involves wagering on the total number of points, ends, or stones scored in a match. The sportsbook sets a line, and you bet on whether the actual total will be over or under that line.
Prop Bets:
- Prop bets (short for proposition bets) focus on specific events or occurrences within a match. These can include bets on which team will score first, the total number of points in a specific end, or whether a particular player will make a specific shot.
- Prop bets add an element of excitement to curling betting and can cover various aspects of the game.
Futures Betting:
- Futures bets involve predicting the outcome of an event well in advance. In curling, this could mean betting on the winner of a tournament or championship before it starts.
- Futures bets often offer higher potential payouts but come with the risk of tying up your money for an extended period.
Live or In-Play Betting:
- Live betting allows you to place bets while a curling match is in progress. You can bet on various outcomes, such as the winner of the current end, the next team to score, or the total number of points in a particular end.
- Live betting is fast-paced and dynamic, making it a popular option for those watching the games in real-time.
Parlay Betting:
- Parlay bets involve combining multiple curling bets into a single wager. All of the selected bets must be correct for the parlay to pay out.
- Parlays can offer higher payouts than individual bets but are riskier due to the need for all bets to be successful.
Curling Specials:
- Some sportsbooks may offer unique or custom bets related to specific curling events, players, or occurrences. These can include bets on team performance, individual player statistics, or even unusual events during a game.
Curling Terms 101
For someone new to the sport of Curling, the myriad terms and expressions can be daunting. If you’re aiming to dip into the world of Curling betting, the following primer will be of great help.
A unique and fascinating sport with its own set of terminology. Here’s a summary of some basic curling terms to help you understand the game:
- End: An “end” is like an inning in other sports. It’s one round of play where each team delivers eight stones, four by each team, alternating back and forth.
- Stone: Also known as a “rock,” a stone is the polished granite disc that players slide down the ice.
- Sheet: The playing surface in curling is called the “sheet.” It’s a rectangular area with a target at each end, known as the “house.”
- House: The house is the circular target at each end of the sheet. It consists of four concentric circles and is where teams score points based on the proximity of their stones to the center.
- Button: The very center of the house is called the “button.” It’s the most valuable scoring area, and a stone must be closest to the button to count as a point.
- Hog Line: There are two hog lines on the sheet, one at each end. A stone must be released before it crosses the hog line at the delivery end to be in play.
- Hack: The hack is a rubber block players use as a foothold for stability when delivering a stone. It’s positioned at the starting end of the sheet.
- Skip: The skip is the team’s captain or leader. They provide strategic direction, call shots, and often deliver the last two stones in each end.
- Lead, Second, Third: These are positions on a curling team. The lead delivers the first two stones in an end, the second delivers the next two, and the third (also known as the vice-skip) delivers the fifth and sixth stones.
- Sweeping: Sweeping is the act of using brooms to heat the ice in front of a moving stone. It can influence the stone’s speed and direction.
- Takeout: A takeout is a shot aimed at removing an opponent’s stone from play by hitting it with enough force to send it out of the house.
- Draw: A draw is a shot where the goal is to place the stone in the house without hitting and removing any other stones. It’s a precise shot that relies on weight and line control.
- Guard: A guard is a stone intentionally placed in front of the house to protect other stones and block the opponent’s access to the button.
- Free Guard Zone (FGZ): In the early part of an end, the first four stones (two from each team) cannot be removed from play by the opponent unless they cross the hog line.
- Blank End: An end in which no points are scored. The team that has the hammer (the last stone advantage) might choose to blank an end to retain the hammer for the next end.
- Hammer: The team with the “hammer” has the advantage of delivering the last stone in an end, giving them a strategic advantage.
- Biter: A stone that just touches the outer edge of the house and is still in play.
All-Time Curling World Champions
Canada has a strong tradition in the sport and has a total of 53 world championships between the men and women.
Men:
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Canada | 36 | 13 | 7 | 56 |
| 2 |  Sweden | 11 | 8 | 7 | 26 |
| 3 |  Scotland | 6 | 21 | 9 | 36 |
| 4 |  United States | 4 | 5 | 13 | 22 |
| 5 |  Norway | 4 | 5 | 9 | 18 |
| 6 |  Switzerland | 3 | 6 | 12 | 21 |
| 7 |  Germany | 0 | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| 8 |  Denmark | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 9 |  Finland | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 10 |  France | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Italy | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (11 entries) | 64 | 64 | 68 | 196 | |
Women:
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada | 17 | 8 | 11 | 36 |
| 2 | Switzerland | 10 | 2 | 5 | 17 |
| 3 | Sweden | 8 | 10 | 7 | 25 |
| 4 | Norway | 2 | 5 | 7 | 14 |
| 5 | Scotland | 2 | 4 | 6 | 12 |
| 6 | Germany | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| 7 | United States | 1 | 5 | 1 | 7 |
| 8 | Denmark | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| 9 |  China | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 10 |  Russia | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 11 |  South Korea | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 |  Japan | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Totals (12 entries) | 44 | 44 | 51 | 139 | |
