Curling's Unexpected Rise as a Betting Favorite at the Winter Olympics
While hockey traditionally dominates Winter Games gambling, the quirky sport of curling—with its sliding stones, spirited sweeping, and recent cheating allegations—has stunned oddsmakers by capturing significant betting interest. Bettors are flocking to this niche sport, which captivates viewers every four years at the Winter Olympics, defying expectations with its growing popularity in wagering circles.
Record-Breaking Wagering Volumes Driven by Legalization and Accessibility
Chris Pearce, a senior trader at Caesars Sportsbook, noted, "There's definitely a stronger curling-hockey split than what was expected." The total handle, or amount wagered, on the current Olympics is projected to far exceed that of the 2022 Beijing Games, primarily due to the expansion of legalized sports betting in the United States and more favorable time zones for live tracking. Pearce revealed, "The curling alone is going to take seven figures overall—it's going to take a million dollars overall. If you would have told me at the start that we'd turn over a million on curling, I wouldn't have believed you, but there's a lot of interest there."
The International Olympic Committee closely monitors betting on Olympic sports to safeguard the integrity of the Games. According to the IOC, the worldwide aggregate betting volume for the 2024 Summer Games in Paris reached a record 11 billion euros (approximately $13 billion). Although Summer Games feature nearly three times the number of events as Winter Olympics, leading to higher figures, betting on the Milan Cortina Games is widely anticipated to surpass the 2022 Beijing Games significantly. Pearce confirmed that their betting handle had already exceeded the Beijing mark within just "five or six days."
Curling's Appeal: Relatability and Live Action
Curling competitions are being held in Cortina, where Sweden recently defeated the United States to win the gold medal in mixed doubles. The men's and women's team events are now in full swing, with allegations of rule-breaking adding a layer of controversy. Christian Cipollini, BetMGM Sportsbook senior trading manager, observed, "It looks to be one of the more bet-on winter sports under ice hockey. It's kind of relatable, it's an easy watch, you can understand it very quickly."
Unlike fast-paced sports like speedskating, which conclude in minutes, curling matches can span hours and often involve frequent lead changes. Cipollini explained, "Curling is one that continues to go live, so that's what ends up getting it more popularity from a handle standpoint." He estimated that the handle for a curling match is comparable to that of a low-to-mid-tier college basketball game.
Patriotic Betting Trends Among U.S. Gamblers
Olympic athletes in sports such as curling, ski jumping, and biathlon are not typically household names, leading U.S. bettors to default to supporting American teams. Cipollini noted, "It does appear the U.S. bettors, very much so, are more patriotic and willing to bet on their team kind of blindly, where the European countries it doesn't happen so much," highlighting the longer history of sports betting in Europe. This trend persists even with well-known athletes, as seen when gamblers optimistically bet on Lindsey Vonn despite her skiing with a torn ACL, resulting in a crash and broken leg.
Figure skating remains a hugely popular Olympic sport but presents challenges for gambling due to its reliance on judges' decisions. Cipollini added, "Basically any event for us, if USA is listed, that's the one that has the most amount of bets in it. Hockey is a little bit different because Canada is the favorite." The NHL-run 4 Nations Face-Off tournament a year ago proved popular with bettors, with a final showdown where Canada beat the U.S. in overtime serving as an Olympic preview. Cipollini predicted, "If we get a men's U.S.-Canada game, we think that will be our biggest bet-on hockey game of the year, including NHL finals, all the regular-season NHL games."
Risks and Concerns Surrounding Sports Betting
In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a ban on sports betting, but this has been followed by scandals involving athletes and officials. Recent polling indicates that Americans are increasingly critical of sports betting, viewing it as detrimental to U.S. society and sports. The National Council on Problem Gambling reports that the rate of gambling problems among sports bettors is at least twice as high as among gamblers in general.
Public health advocates, such as the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, warn that problem gambling can lead to financial and legal issues, higher divorce and suicide rates, and impaired job performance. Gambling has become widespread on college campuses, and Common Sense Media has found that children are also participating. To mitigate these risks, advocates recommend using apps like GambBan and BetBlocker, which limit access to gambling sites externally.
