For a sport once considered niche, curling has amassed a massive global following. A whopping 284 million people watched its content last year. It is no surprise then that curling betting is surging in popularity, with more sportsbooks offering Grand Slam of Curling (GSOC) odds than ever.
Whether you are a seasoned punter or new to this, our ultimate guide will walk you through everything you need to bet confidently on the GSOC. We’ll break down each GSOC tournament, explain key Grand Slam of Curling betting markets and strategies, highlight the top teams to watch, and point you to the best sportsbooks.
NXTbets offers you every crucial information required to make smart curling bets – from in-depth sportsbook reviews and bonus alerts to expert betting tips.
The Grand Slam of Curling is an annual series of high-profile curling tournaments. It features the best men’s and women’s teams in Canada and around the world.
Owned and operated by The Curling Group since 2024, the GSOC offers significant prize money and prestige. The series began in 2001–02 for men and expanded to women starting at the 2006 Players’ Championship.
There are five major GSOC events held each season, often referred to as “Grand Slams,” which curlers regard as similar to “majors” in other sports. These include the Masters, the Tour Challenge, the National, the Canadian Open, and the Players’ Championship (the season finale).
How Grand Slam of Curling Tournaments Work
Knowing how this sport works will shape your GSOC betting journey. Here is a breakdown of the format, rules, and qualification system:
Format & Rules
Grand Slam of Curling tournaments generally follow a round-robin or pool-play format to start, followed by playoff rounds. In each event, teams are divided into groups and play several round-robin games, where the top performers advance to a single-elimination playoff bracket (quarterfinals, semifinals, final).
GSOC games have eight ends (as opposed to ten ends in traditional championship curling), with an extra end if needed to break ties. Each team delivers eight stones per end (two per player in four-player team events). There are separate men’s and women’s divisions for all the major Slam events, meaning there are parallel tournaments for each gender run at the same venue and dates.
The rules in GSOC closely align with World Curling rules, including modern innovations like the five-rock free guard zone (no removal of guards until five rocks have been played) and the no-tick zone rule (when the five-rock rule is in effect, rocks sitting on the centre line in the free guard zone cannot be moved at all). These rule tweaks encourage more aggressive play and dramatic ends, which is great for spectators and can impact betting (higher scoring with more rocks in play due to guard zone rules).
Key Match Terms to Know
A few key terms pop up frequently and can influence curling betting dynamics. Here is a quick glossary of terms you should know:
Hammer – The hammer is the last rock advantage in an end. It is considered a huge advantage because the team with the hammer gets the final shot of the end. Hammer is typically determined by a pre-game draw-to-the-button shootout. The hammer often dictates strategy (teams with the hammer try to score two or more, while the other side tries to force a low score or “steal”). When betting, a team starting with the hammer might be a slight favorite to take an early lead.
Draw Weight – This refers to the momentum or speed required for a stone to reach the house (target area) on a draw shot. If teams struggle with draw weight (judging the ice speed), they may come up short or heavy on crucial shots.
Steal – A “steal” means scoring in an end without having the hammer (last rock). This occurs when the team with the hammer fails to score and their opponent steals a point (or more). Steals are big momentum changers; if an underdog manages a steal or two, it can swing a match unexpectedly.
Blank End – An end in which neither team scores any points. Teams will sometimes deliberately blank an end to keep the hammer for the next end (a common strategy if they don’t have a good scoring opportunity).
Shaking Hands – If the score of a game is lopsided, a team can concede before eight ends by shaking hands with their opponent. In the Grand Slam of Curling, teams must play a minimum of five ends during round-robin play and six ends in the playoffs before they can concede.
Running Out of Rocks – A team could be mathematically eliminated during the eighth end of play, e.g., a team is down by two points but has only one rock to throw and none in the house.
Qualification System
Not just any team can enter a Grand Slam event; the invitations are earned through performance and rankings. The primary criteria for GSOC invitations are the World Curling Team Rankings.
Ideally, the top-ranked teams in the world (based on points earned in various bonspiels) receive invites. For example, a Slam might invite the top 15 or 16 teams globally in each division, according to the rankings as of a specific date.
In addition, many events also use year-to-date rankings or recent performance as the season progresses (e.g., Players’ Championship). Teams that have been hot on tour that season can get an invite even if their overall ranking is slightly lower.
Grand Slam events sometimes reserve one spot for a sponsor’s exemption or a qualifier, for instance, the winner of a Tier 2 event or a local team.
Once teams are invited, they are seeded into the event’s draw, usually based on their ranking. Higher-seeded teams may enjoy a slightly easier schedule on paper (facing lower seeds early), but in a Slam, there are no “easy” games.
Types of Bets for the Grand Slam of Curling
When it comes to betting on curling, especially GSOC events, you have a variety of markets to choose from. Let’s explore the main types of wagers available:
Match Winner (Moneyline)
The simplest and most popular curling bet is the match winner, also known as a moneyline bet. You bet on which team will win a given match. Since curling games cannot end in a tie (extra ends are played if needed), the moneyline is a two-outcome market – Team A or Team B wins. Sportsbooks set odds based on each team’s perceived probability of winning. For example, a powerhouse team like Brad Gushue’s might be a huge favorite at odds of say 1.40 (-250), whereas an underdog opponent could be 3.00 (+200).
End Betting
Curling offers some intriguing markets beyond just who wins the game. One is the end-by-end betting market, where you can bet on the outcome of a specific end within the match. For example, you might wager on which team will win the first end (score points in that end), or whether the first end will be blank.
Totals Betting (Over/Under)
Another popular market is totals betting (over/under) on the game’s score. Here, the sportsbook sets a line for the combined total points scored by both teams in the match, and you bet whether the actual total will go over or under that number. For instance, if the line is 12.5, an “over” bet wins if 13 or more points are scored, and an “under” bet wins if the total is 12 or less.
Tournament Outrights
Outrights (futures bets) let you wager on the winner of an entire tournament rather than a single match. You can pick which team will win a specific Slam event (e.g., “Team Jacobs to win the Canadian Open”). Sportsbooks will typically list odds for all participating teams before the event begins. Favorites might be around 3:1 or 4:1 (+300 to +400), mid-tier contenders could be 8:1 (+800), and dark horses might be 15:1 (+1500) or longer. Outright odds usually offer bigger payouts because predicting the single champion out of a stacked field is hard.
Prop Bets & Special Markets
For major events like the Grand Slams, many top-tier sportsbooks spice things up with prop bets and special markets. Props are bets on specific occurrences or stats within a match that are not directly tied to the final result. Here are some prop bet examples you might find:
First to Score: You bet on which team will score the first point(s) of the match.
Team with Most Steals: Bet on which team will achieve more stolen ends in the match.
Number of Blank Ends: An over/under prop on how many ends will be blank (no score) in the game.
Exact Score or Winning Margin: Some books offer odds on the exact final score (6-5, 7-4, etc.) or the margin of victory (team to win by 1, 2, 3+ points).
Special scenarios: Occasionally, there are props like “Will there be an extra end?” (yes/no), “Will a team score a 4-ender (score four points in one end)?” or head-to-head player stats.
Live/In-Play Curling Bets
As the game progresses, sportsbooks update odds dynamically, allowing you to bet on outcomes during the tournament. Common live bets include an updated moneyline (odds on each team to win given the current score and situation), next end winner, total points (adjusted as the game goes on), or even specific props like “Will Team A score 2 or more in this end?”
The trick with live betting is to stay a shot or an end ahead of the sportsbook’s algorithms. If you have a good read on strategy, you might predict when a team will opt to blank an end or when they’ll go all-out to score a multi-point end, and bet accordingly. Keep in mind that live odds can be suspended during critical shots and update quickly after each end.
Betting Strategy for the Grand Slam of Curling
Betting on curling effectively requires a mix of sports knowledge, strategic thinking, and discipline. Here are some key betting strategies and considerations:
Team Form and Chemistry
Curling is truly a team sport – all four players (plus sometimes a fifth alternate) need to be in sync. A team’s form and internal chemistry are among the top factors in predicting performance.
Strong teams have clear communication and well-defined roles. The skip calls strategy, the sweepers judge weight, and the team trusts each other. If you notice a team arguing on the ice or frequently second-guessing calls, that is a red flag. On the other hand, teams known for great chemistry (like long-standing teams who have been together for years) tend to perform consistently under pressure.
You should also look at how the team has fared in recent tournaments – both GSOC events and other competitions (world championships, national championships, tour events). A team coming off a victory or a series of playoff appearances is likely in good form.
Stage of Tournament
Curling teams often approach games differently depending on the stage of the tournament, and this can be a strategic angle for you.
In early rounds, teams are feeling out the ice and perhaps playing a bit more conservatively, knowing they have multiple games. You might see more blanks and one-point ends as teams jockey for position and avoid big mistakes. Upsets can happen in a round-robin game (every team is fresh at the start), but top teams usually find a way to qualify for the playoffs even if they drop a game.
Playoffs are do-or-die games, so expect fewer experimental tactics and more decisive calls. Stronger teams tend to elevate their game. You may want to lean toward proven winners in these pressure games. If a dark horse made the playoffs but mostly against weaker opponents, they might struggle when facing a battle-tested Slam champion in a semifinal.
By the time the tournament reaches the final, teams have played many games over consecutive days. Experience comes in handy – teams that have been in GSOC finals before (and won) have a mental edge. The final might also see more aggressive play; with a championship on the line, teams often say “no risk, no reward.”
Reading the Ice and Adjustments
Ice conditions are a pivotal factor in curling outcomes. Each GSOC venue can have its own quirks – some have faster ice, some more swing (curl), some might start frosty and then glide more as the event goes on. Successful teams and successful bets often come down to who adapts best.
In essence, curling is as much about mastering the environment as outplaying the opponent. When you bet on a team known for strategic prowess and adaptability, you are effectively betting that they will solve the ice puzzle faster than their opponent.
Bankroll Management for Multi-Day Events
A Grand Slam of Curling tournament often lasts for six days. It is easy to get caught up in the daily excitement and bet too much too soon.
Rather than exhausting your bankroll on the first day, plan a budget per day or round. This ensures you’re still in the game when the tournament reaches its most critical matches.
If you suffer a loss on an upset, don’t go “on tilt” and double your next bet blindly to make up for it. Take a breath. Analyze if there is a real reason why that upset happened (maybe the underdog played out of their mind, or the favorite struggled with ice – it happens). Stick to your betting plan. Upsets can also create value next round (the market might overreact to one loss by a top team).
Don’t forget basic responsible gaming principles while enjoying curling betting. Multi-day betting can be tiring; take breaks, enjoy the matches as a fan too, and never bet more than you can afford to lose.
Top Teams and Players to Watch
The Grand Slam of Curling brings together curling’s elite teams, and knowing the contenders can help inform your bets. Here is a list of some top men’s and women’s teams to keep on your radar:
Elite Men's Contenders
Brad Gushue (Team Gushue, Canada): Gushue is an Olympic gold medallist and multiple Brier (Canadian championship) winner. His team has a track record of GSOC success and is known for consistency and clutch shot-making.
Brad Jacobs (Team Jacobs, Canada): The members of Team Jacobs have won 52 Grand Slam titles combined. Since Jacobs joined forces with Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert last season, they have reached two Grand Slam finals, won the Brier, and earned bronze at the world championship. They’re a powerhouse force known for pulling off high-risk, entertaining shots.
Bruce Mouat (Team Mouat, Scotland): Team Mouat rose quickly by winning several Slams and reaching world championship finals. They are known for aggressive strategy and superb sweeping (which allows daring draw shots). Mouat’s team is tactically sharp. They might try bold moves that other teams won’t.
Elite Women's Contenders
Kerri Einarson (Team Einarson, Canada): Einarson’s squad has dominated recent Canadian women’s curling (multiple Scotties titles) and has translated that success to GSOC events. They are a well-balanced team with strong hitting and precise drawing. Einarson is calm under pressure, often making key draws and hits to bail her team out.
Silvana Tirinzoni (Team Tirinzoni, Switzerland): Tirinzoni led Switzerland to four world championships, showcasing her team’s skill. In Slams, they have also been very competitive, winning titles, including back-to-back at the Players’ Championship. The Tirinzoni team is known for a very strategic, methodical style – they rarely beat themselves with errors. This makes them a good team to bet on when they are playing slightly lower-ranked opponents.
Rachel Homan (Team Homan, Canada): Homan is a veteran skip with multiple GSOC and Canadian titles. She is one of the most accomplished curlers of the last decade. Her team has gone through some lineup changes in recent years, but when they are on, they still pose a significant threat. Homan is known for up-tempo, aggressive play – you might see big ends when she’s involved.
Best Sportsbooks for Curling Betting
Not all sportsbooks devote the same attention to curling, but several reputable platforms offer solid markets and odds for GSOC events. Based on features and user experience, here are some top sportsbooks to consider for your curling bets:
This is a market leader for curling coverage. Bet365 is renowned for offering the deepest array of curling betting markets, both pre-game and live. You’ll find moneylines, totals, spreads, and creative props on big events. Their live betting interface is excellent, often with real-time updates and even live streaming of major tournaments.
Unibet
Unibet has made a name by covering a wide range of sports, and curling is no exception. They often have outright odds for Grand Slam events and will list key match markets. Unibet’s interface is simple to navigate, making it easy to find curling under the sports menu. They sometimes offer unique markets like “exact score” or end-by-end betting for big games, providing variety for bettors.
Betway
Betway has been actively sponsoring curling in some regions and thus has embraced offering odds on the sport. They cover all Grand Slam events, and you’ll see standard markets like match winner and totals. Betway’s strength lies in a smooth live betting platform – the odds update fast, and they have a “Fast Markets” feature where you can bet on things like “next end winner” with a couple of taps.
DraftKings/FanDuel
In the U.S., DraftKings andFanDuel have started offering curling odds during major events like the Olympics, and could expand into GSOC as interest grows.
Bonuses and Promotions for Curling
One great thing about online betting is the abundance of bonuses and promotions, and yes, you can use these for curling too! Here is how to boost your bankroll when betting on Grand Slam of Curling events:
Welcome Bonuses: Most sportsbooks offer welcome bonuses for new sign-ups, such as deposit matches or bet credits. For example, Bet365’s usual offer might be “Bet $10, get $30 in free bets.”
Odds Boosts: During major curling tournaments, keep an eye out for odds boost promos. A book might boost the price of a popular bet, e.g., “Boosted: Team Einarson to win the Players’ Championship” from +300 to +350 for a limited time. Or they might do daily boosted parlays like “Gushue + Jacobs both to win today, boosted to +220.” These boosts give a better payout than the standard odds.
Parlay Insurance and Specials: Some sportsbooks run insurance deals (especially for sports like curling with many matches). For instance, Betway has done promotions where if one leg of your 4-leg multi fails, you get your stake back as a free bet (up to a certain amount).
Loyalty and Contests: A few platforms run free prediction contests or have loyalty programs. For example, a sportsbook might have a free-to-enter pick’em contest for the Brier or a GSOC event – top entries win bonus bets. Or with loyalty points, every bet you make (including curling) earns points you can redeem for free bets or merch. These aren’t curling-specific, but don’t forget to take advantage while you bet on curling.
At NXTbets, we’ll regularly update you on special promos and bonuses! Using bonuses effectively means more value and more bets without extra cost.
Curl Your Way to Smart Bets with NXTbets
Betting on the Grand Slam of Curling adds an extra layer of excitement to an already fun sport. With this ultimate guide, you have learned about the format of GSOC events, the meaning of key curling terms, and the variety of wagers you can place.
NXTbets is here to support you on that journey. We love curling and are excited to help you make the most of each Grand Slam event. So as the next GSOC tournament approaches, arm yourself with knowledge, maybe a welcome bonus or two, and enjoy the roar of the arena and the thrill of each shot. With preparation and a bit of luck, you’ll be right on the button with your wagers.
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Yes, at most major sportsbooks, you can bet on every Grand Slam of Curling match. All round-robin games and playoff games should have odds available, especially on platforms like Bet365, which offers a wide range of curling markets. Smaller books might focus on televised matches or playoffs, but the top betting sites cover all matches.
What’s the most common betting mistake in curling?
A common mistake is betting without sufficient knowledge of the teams and the game. For example, novices might wager on a big-name team just because of name recognition, ignoring that the team is in poor form or that their opponent excels on that ice surface.
How do I track team performance before betting?
You can track team performance through several resources. The World Curling rankings and CurlingZone are great for seeing current team rankings and recent results. The GSOC official site’s “World Team Rankings” section links to CurlingZone for full rankings. You can also check NXTbets articles for any team news or odds analysis.
Can I use bonus bets on curling?
Generally, yes. If a sportsbook gives you a free bet or site credit as part of a promotion or welcome bonus, you can use it to bet on curling (as long as curling markets are offered at that time).
Does NXTbets publish curling predictions?
Yes, NXTbets covers a range of alternative sports and will publish insights and predictions for curling as interest grows. While we are not a dedicated curling site, we do provide expert analysis, betting tips, and even the occasional pick for major curling events (including Grand Slams).
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Ultimate Guide for Betting on the Grand Slam of Curling
Table of Contents
For a sport once considered niche, curling has amassed a massive global following. A whopping 284 million people watched its content last year. It is no surprise then that curling betting is surging in popularity, with more sportsbooks offering Grand Slam of Curling (GSOC) odds than ever.
Whether you are a seasoned punter or new to this, our ultimate guide will walk you through everything you need to bet confidently on the GSOC. We’ll break down each GSOC tournament, explain key Grand Slam of Curling betting markets and strategies, highlight the top teams to watch, and point you to the best sportsbooks.
NXTbets offers you every crucial information required to make smart curling bets – from in-depth sportsbook reviews and bonus alerts to expert betting tips.
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What is the Grand Slam of Curling?
The Grand Slam of Curling is an annual series of high-profile curling tournaments. It features the best men’s and women’s teams in Canada and around the world.
Owned and operated by The Curling Group since 2024, the GSOC offers significant prize money and prestige. The series began in 2001–02 for men and expanded to women starting at the 2006 Players’ Championship.
There are five major GSOC events held each season, often referred to as “Grand Slams,” which curlers regard as similar to “majors” in other sports. These include the Masters, the Tour Challenge, the National, the Canadian Open, and the Players’ Championship (the season finale).
How Grand Slam of Curling Tournaments Work
Knowing how this sport works will shape your GSOC betting journey. Here is a breakdown of the format, rules, and qualification system:
Format & Rules
Grand Slam of Curling tournaments generally follow a round-robin or pool-play format to start, followed by playoff rounds. In each event, teams are divided into groups and play several round-robin games, where the top performers advance to a single-elimination playoff bracket (quarterfinals, semifinals, final).
GSOC games have eight ends (as opposed to ten ends in traditional championship curling), with an extra end if needed to break ties. Each team delivers eight stones per end (two per player in four-player team events). There are separate men’s and women’s divisions for all the major Slam events, meaning there are parallel tournaments for each gender run at the same venue and dates.
The rules in GSOC closely align with World Curling rules, including modern innovations like the five-rock free guard zone (no removal of guards until five rocks have been played) and the no-tick zone rule (when the five-rock rule is in effect, rocks sitting on the centre line in the free guard zone cannot be moved at all). These rule tweaks encourage more aggressive play and dramatic ends, which is great for spectators and can impact betting (higher scoring with more rocks in play due to guard zone rules).
Key Match Terms to Know
A few key terms pop up frequently and can influence curling betting dynamics. Here is a quick glossary of terms you should know:
Qualification System
Not just any team can enter a Grand Slam event; the invitations are earned through performance and rankings. The primary criteria for GSOC invitations are the World Curling Team Rankings.
Ideally, the top-ranked teams in the world (based on points earned in various bonspiels) receive invites. For example, a Slam might invite the top 15 or 16 teams globally in each division, according to the rankings as of a specific date.
In addition, many events also use year-to-date rankings or recent performance as the season progresses (e.g., Players’ Championship). Teams that have been hot on tour that season can get an invite even if their overall ranking is slightly lower.
Grand Slam events sometimes reserve one spot for a sponsor’s exemption or a qualifier, for instance, the winner of a Tier 2 event or a local team.
Once teams are invited, they are seeded into the event’s draw, usually based on their ranking. Higher-seeded teams may enjoy a slightly easier schedule on paper (facing lower seeds early), but in a Slam, there are no “easy” games.
Types of Bets for the Grand Slam of Curling
When it comes to betting on curling, especially GSOC events, you have a variety of markets to choose from. Let’s explore the main types of wagers available:
Match Winner (Moneyline)
The simplest and most popular curling bet is the match winner, also known as a moneyline bet. You bet on which team will win a given match. Since curling games cannot end in a tie (extra ends are played if needed), the moneyline is a two-outcome market – Team A or Team B wins. Sportsbooks set odds based on each team’s perceived probability of winning. For example, a powerhouse team like Brad Gushue’s might be a huge favorite at odds of say 1.40 (-250), whereas an underdog opponent could be 3.00 (+200).
End Betting
Curling offers some intriguing markets beyond just who wins the game. One is the end-by-end betting market, where you can bet on the outcome of a specific end within the match. For example, you might wager on which team will win the first end (score points in that end), or whether the first end will be blank.
Totals Betting (Over/Under)
Another popular market is totals betting (over/under) on the game’s score. Here, the sportsbook sets a line for the combined total points scored by both teams in the match, and you bet whether the actual total will go over or under that number. For instance, if the line is 12.5, an “over” bet wins if 13 or more points are scored, and an “under” bet wins if the total is 12 or less.
Tournament Outrights
Outrights (futures bets) let you wager on the winner of an entire tournament rather than a single match. You can pick which team will win a specific Slam event (e.g., “Team Jacobs to win the Canadian Open”). Sportsbooks will typically list odds for all participating teams before the event begins. Favorites might be around 3:1 or 4:1 (+300 to +400), mid-tier contenders could be 8:1 (+800), and dark horses might be 15:1 (+1500) or longer. Outright odds usually offer bigger payouts because predicting the single champion out of a stacked field is hard.
Prop Bets & Special Markets
For major events like the Grand Slams, many top-tier sportsbooks spice things up with prop bets and special markets. Props are bets on specific occurrences or stats within a match that are not directly tied to the final result. Here are some prop bet examples you might find:
Live/In-Play Curling Bets
As the game progresses, sportsbooks update odds dynamically, allowing you to bet on outcomes during the tournament. Common live bets include an updated moneyline (odds on each team to win given the current score and situation), next end winner, total points (adjusted as the game goes on), or even specific props like “Will Team A score 2 or more in this end?”
The trick with live betting is to stay a shot or an end ahead of the sportsbook’s algorithms. If you have a good read on strategy, you might predict when a team will opt to blank an end or when they’ll go all-out to score a multi-point end, and bet accordingly. Keep in mind that live odds can be suspended during critical shots and update quickly after each end.
Betting Strategy for the Grand Slam of Curling
Betting on curling effectively requires a mix of sports knowledge, strategic thinking, and discipline. Here are some key betting strategies and considerations:
Team Form and Chemistry
Curling is truly a team sport – all four players (plus sometimes a fifth alternate) need to be in sync. A team’s form and internal chemistry are among the top factors in predicting performance.
Strong teams have clear communication and well-defined roles. The skip calls strategy, the sweepers judge weight, and the team trusts each other. If you notice a team arguing on the ice or frequently second-guessing calls, that is a red flag. On the other hand, teams known for great chemistry (like long-standing teams who have been together for years) tend to perform consistently under pressure.
You should also look at how the team has fared in recent tournaments – both GSOC events and other competitions (world championships, national championships, tour events). A team coming off a victory or a series of playoff appearances is likely in good form.
Stage of Tournament
Curling teams often approach games differently depending on the stage of the tournament, and this can be a strategic angle for you.
In early rounds, teams are feeling out the ice and perhaps playing a bit more conservatively, knowing they have multiple games. You might see more blanks and one-point ends as teams jockey for position and avoid big mistakes. Upsets can happen in a round-robin game (every team is fresh at the start), but top teams usually find a way to qualify for the playoffs even if they drop a game.
Playoffs are do-or-die games, so expect fewer experimental tactics and more decisive calls. Stronger teams tend to elevate their game. You may want to lean toward proven winners in these pressure games. If a dark horse made the playoffs but mostly against weaker opponents, they might struggle when facing a battle-tested Slam champion in a semifinal.
By the time the tournament reaches the final, teams have played many games over consecutive days. Experience comes in handy – teams that have been in GSOC finals before (and won) have a mental edge. The final might also see more aggressive play; with a championship on the line, teams often say “no risk, no reward.”
Reading the Ice and Adjustments
Ice conditions are a pivotal factor in curling outcomes. Each GSOC venue can have its own quirks – some have faster ice, some more swing (curl), some might start frosty and then glide more as the event goes on. Successful teams and successful bets often come down to who adapts best.
In essence, curling is as much about mastering the environment as outplaying the opponent. When you bet on a team known for strategic prowess and adaptability, you are effectively betting that they will solve the ice puzzle faster than their opponent.
Bankroll Management for Multi-Day Events
A Grand Slam of Curling tournament often lasts for six days. It is easy to get caught up in the daily excitement and bet too much too soon.
Rather than exhausting your bankroll on the first day, plan a budget per day or round. This ensures you’re still in the game when the tournament reaches its most critical matches.
If you suffer a loss on an upset, don’t go “on tilt” and double your next bet blindly to make up for it. Take a breath. Analyze if there is a real reason why that upset happened (maybe the underdog played out of their mind, or the favorite struggled with ice – it happens). Stick to your betting plan. Upsets can also create value next round (the market might overreact to one loss by a top team).
Don’t forget basic responsible gaming principles while enjoying curling betting. Multi-day betting can be tiring; take breaks, enjoy the matches as a fan too, and never bet more than you can afford to lose.
Top Teams and Players to Watch
The Grand Slam of Curling brings together curling’s elite teams, and knowing the contenders can help inform your bets. Here is a list of some top men’s and women’s teams to keep on your radar:
Elite Men's Contenders
Elite Women's Contenders
Best Sportsbooks for Curling Betting
Not all sportsbooks devote the same attention to curling, but several reputable platforms offer solid markets and odds for GSOC events. Based on features and user experience, here are some top sportsbooks to consider for your curling bets:
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Bet365
This is a market leader for curling coverage. Bet365 is renowned for offering the deepest array of curling betting markets, both pre-game and live. You’ll find moneylines, totals, spreads, and creative props on big events. Their live betting interface is excellent, often with real-time updates and even live streaming of major tournaments.
Unibet
Unibet has made a name by covering a wide range of sports, and curling is no exception. They often have outright odds for Grand Slam events and will list key match markets. Unibet’s interface is simple to navigate, making it easy to find curling under the sports menu. They sometimes offer unique markets like “exact score” or end-by-end betting for big games, providing variety for bettors.
Betway
Betway has been actively sponsoring curling in some regions and thus has embraced offering odds on the sport. They cover all Grand Slam events, and you’ll see standard markets like match winner and totals. Betway’s strength lies in a smooth live betting platform – the odds update fast, and they have a “Fast Markets” feature where you can bet on things like “next end winner” with a couple of taps.
DraftKings/FanDuel
In the U.S., DraftKings and FanDuel have started offering curling odds during major events like the Olympics, and could expand into GSOC as interest grows.
Bonuses and Promotions for Curling
One great thing about online betting is the abundance of bonuses and promotions, and yes, you can use these for curling too! Here is how to boost your bankroll when betting on Grand Slam of Curling events:
At NXTbets, we’ll regularly update you on special promos and bonuses! Using bonuses effectively means more value and more bets without extra cost.
Curl Your Way to Smart Bets with NXTbets
Betting on the Grand Slam of Curling adds an extra layer of excitement to an already fun sport. With this ultimate guide, you have learned about the format of GSOC events, the meaning of key curling terms, and the variety of wagers you can place.
NXTbets is here to support you on that journey. We love curling and are excited to help you make the most of each Grand Slam event. So as the next GSOC tournament approaches, arm yourself with knowledge, maybe a welcome bonus or two, and enjoy the roar of the arena and the thrill of each shot. With preparation and a bit of luck, you’ll be right on the button with your wagers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, at most major sportsbooks, you can bet on every Grand Slam of Curling match. All round-robin games and playoff games should have odds available, especially on platforms like Bet365, which offers a wide range of curling markets. Smaller books might focus on televised matches or playoffs, but the top betting sites cover all matches.
A common mistake is betting without sufficient knowledge of the teams and the game. For example, novices might wager on a big-name team just because of name recognition, ignoring that the team is in poor form or that their opponent excels on that ice surface.
You can track team performance through several resources. The World Curling rankings and CurlingZone are great for seeing current team rankings and recent results. The GSOC official site’s “World Team Rankings” section links to CurlingZone for full rankings. You can also check NXTbets articles for any team news or odds analysis.
Generally, yes. If a sportsbook gives you a free bet or site credit as part of a promotion or welcome bonus, you can use it to bet on curling (as long as curling markets are offered at that time).
Yes, NXTbets covers a range of alternative sports and will publish insights and predictions for curling as interest grows. While we are not a dedicated curling site, we do provide expert analysis, betting tips, and even the occasional pick for major curling events (including Grand Slams).
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