What Does ‘Grand Salami’ Mean in Sports Betting?
The “Grand Salami” is a single bet on the total combined score (goals or runs) of every game on a given day’s schedule for a specific league.
It’s almost exclusively used for NHL (hockey) and MLB (baseball) because those leagues often have a large “slate” of games (5, 10, or even 15 games) all happening on the same day.
How It Works (The Over/Under)
This is the most common way to bet it. The “Grand Salami” works just like a regular “Over/Under” (or “Total“) bet, but it’s for the whole league, not just one game.
Here’s an easy example for hockey:
- Let’s say there are 8 NHL games on a Tuesday night.
- The sportsbook will set a single total for all 8 games combined. For example: Grand Salami Total = 48.5 goals.
- You just have to bet on one of two outcomes:
- The “Over”: You bet that the 16 teams will combine to score 49 or more goals.
- The “Under”: You bet that they will combine to score 48 or fewer goals.
You’re essentially rooting for (or against) offense in every single game at the same time!
⚠️ Key Things to Know
- The Other Grand Salami: Sometimes, sportsbooks will also offer a “Home vs. Away” Grand Salami. This isn’t an Over/Under, but a moneyline bet on which group of teams will score more:
- Home Teams: Bet on the combined total of all 8 home teams.
- Away Teams: Bet on the combined total of all 8 away teams.
- Cancellations Void the Bet: This is the most important rule. If any game on the slate is postponed or canceled (like a baseball game getting rained out), the entire Grand Salami bet is voided. It’s graded as a “push,” and you get your money back.
- It’s Not Simple Math: The Grand Salami total isn’t just the sum of all the individual game totals. The sportsbook “tweaks” that number based on factors like key starting pitchers, hot/cold offenses, or weather (in baseball).