In an unprecedented shift for winter sports wagering, curling has emerged as the breakout betting star of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, shattering expectations and rivaling traditional heavyweights like ice hockey in sheer handle growth. While the world expected the return of NHL players to dominate the sportsbooks, it is the strategic, slow-burning drama of the "roaring game" that has captivated American bettors. Major operators, including Caesars Sportsbook, are now reporting a "seven-figure" handle on curling matches alone—a milestone that signals a massive maturation in the U.S. betting market.

Curling Betting Odds Drive Seven-Figure Handle

The numbers coming out of Las Vegas and online sportsbooks are nothing short of startling. Chris Pearce, a senior trader at Caesars Sportsbook, admitted that the volume has caught oddsmakers off guard. "If you would have told me at the start that we'd turn over a million on curling, I wouldn't have believed you," Pearce noted in a recent statement. This surge isn't just a trickle of novelty bets; it is a flood of serious liquidity that has turned a niche winter pastime into a legitimate betting market.

Unlike the high-speed chaos of downhill skiing, curling offers a pace perfect for the modern live-bettor. The sport's structure—defined by distinct "ends" and turn-based strategy—allows for real-time analysis that aligns perfectly with the in-game wagering habits of American audiences. With curling betting odds fluctuating with every stone thrown, bettors are finding an edge in the granular data, driving handle sizes that were previously reserved for major league sports.

Milan Cortina Wagering Handle Benefiting from Time Zones

One of the key drivers behind this explosion is the favorable time zone logistics of the Milan Cortina wagering handle. Milan is six hours ahead of the U.S. East Coast, meaning many marquee curling matches air live during the morning and early afternoon in North America. This "breakfast and betting" dynamic has given U.S. bettors a reason to engage early in the day, filling a void before the nightly NBA or NHL slates begin.

Furthermore, the 2026 Games mark the most mature legal betting landscape in Olympic history. Since the Beijing Games in 2022, dozens of U.S. states have launched or expanded legal mobile betting. This accessibility, combined with the broadcast-friendly schedule, has allowed the viral popularity of curling—often fueled by social media memes and the sport's relatable "everyman" aesthetic—to translate directly into betting tickets. It is no longer just about watching; it is about having a stake in the sweep.

Niche Sports Betting Trends: Why Curling?

The rise of curling highlights broader niche sports betting trends where bettors seek out markets with "solvable" volatility. Curling is essentially physics on ice; it lacks the subjective judging controversies of figure skating or the chaotic variance of snowboard cross. For the sharp bettor, this predictability is gold. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has taken note, implementing high-stakes integrity monitoring to ensure the sport's newfound financial weight doesn't invite corruption. This added layer of security has only increased bettor confidence in the fairness of the markets.

Olympic Hockey Bets vs. Curling: A New Rivalry

While Olympic hockey bets remain the volume king thanks to the star power of returning NHL athletes, curling has carved out a distinct and surprisingly competitive lane. Industry reports suggest that while hockey draws the casual fan looking to back Team USA or Canada, curling is attracting a different demographic: the volume bettor who appreciates the frequency of matches. With mixed doubles, men's, and women's tournaments running concurrently, there is almost always a stone sliding somewhere in Cortina.

Sportsbooks have responded by expanding their menus. You can now find lines not just on match winners, but on stone accuracy percentages, total points per end, and even "hammer" distinct props. This depth of offering has helped retain bettors who might have initially clicked on a match out of curiosity, only to stay for the tactical depth. As the Milan Cortina 2026 odds continue to shift, the gap between the betting handle of niche sports and major events is narrowing faster than ever before.

The Future of Winter Games Wagering

The 2026 Winter Olympics have proven that Americans will bet on anything if the product is accessible and the data is reliable. Curling's ascent to a million-dollar market is a testament to the sport's unique blend of strategy and suspense. As the Games progress toward the medal rounds, operators expect the handle to grow even further, potentially setting a benchmark that will redefine how sportsbooks approach the Winter Olympics for decades to come. For now, the broom and stone are generating just as much heat at the sportsbook window as the puck and stick.