Hockey is Canada's national winter sport. This fast-moving and thrilling game is enjoyed by a devoted fan base that spans the globe.
As well as being a great sport to watch, it’s also great to bet on, offering countless betting opportunities and ways to turn a profit. In this guide, we'll provide top hockey betting tips and advice, covering the most popular hockey bets on the market and how to bet on hockey games.
Does the site offer SSL encryption and have the right level of licensing and certification?
Security:
Can we be certain the site is honest and safe?
Range of bets:
Does it offer a really broad selection of hockey bets?
Bonuses:
Which ones are on offer? In such a competitive sector, sportsbooks need to find inventive
ways to give extra value to bettors
Payment options:
Does the site offer several? And does it offer more generous payout percentages?
How to bet on hockey
Once you've decided to bet on hockey, you should select a site you want to use.
When you're online, look for the 'Register' or 'Sign Up' button – most operators display this prominently on the homepage.
Fill in the site's registration form with all required details.
There may be the need for a security question and answer, giving you an extra layer of protection.
Now it's time to come up with a username and password.
Enter any promotional code you may have been given to generate a bonus.
Make sure you confirm your age and accept the site's terms and conditions.
How hockey odds work
When you arrive at a hockey sports betting site, you’ll see a broad range of ways in which you can bet on the forthcoming games. Depending on the season, you’ll find the latest odds on the NHL, AHL and other top leagues, as well as preseason hockey odds and even Olympic hockey betting odds.
One of the most important things to figure out in hockey betting is how to read hockey odds. While it may seem daunting, especially to a newcomer, understanding hockey odds is actually pretty straightforward.
Don't worry if you're used to decimal odds and the markets are displayed as American-style moneyline odds or British fractionals. Our handy hockey odds calculator below is the perfect tool to help you.
Popular hockey bets
We’ve listed some of the most popular and best hockey bets available:
Moneyline bets
The most straightforward bet on a game of hockey. Who do you think will win?
Just be careful that you know what you’re betting on. Is it the result at the end of regulation time? Or does it include overtime – used to decide a game when the teams are tied after four periods of 15 minutes each.
Puckline bets
Puckline bets are unique to hockey, but you may recognize them if you bet on other sports as they are simply variations of handicaps or point spreads. The sportsbook hands one team a 1.5-point start, which means the favourite must win by at least two goals for the bet to collect.
Over / under bets
How many goals do you think the teams will score between them? In over/under hockey betting, the sportsbook will set a number and it's up to you to decide whether the total will be over or under that.
Most fans want to see an exciting game and will bet on overs accordingly. That means there can often be value in the unders.
Correct score bets
Many sportsbooks will offer the chance to predict exactly what the final score of the match
will be. If you wager on the right outcome, your bet will pay out on it.
Futures bets
If you believe one team has a great chance of winning their NHL division, you can back them to
do so from early in the season.
Similarly, if you think they will go all the way and win the Stanley Cup, the sooner you wager
on them the better the odds should be.
Grand Salami bets
This is an over/under market offered by some sportsbooks. It relates to the total goals in all
matches played in one league on a single date.
Parlay bets
If you want to back more than one outcome in a series of matches, you can try an accumulator.
These bets are also known as accas or parlays.
The potential is there to win big from small stakes – but all your predictions have to be right
before you can collect.
Main hockey competitions to bet on
NHL (National Hockey League)
NHL (National Hockey League)
The NHL is the highest level of the sport. Founded in
Montreal with four Canadian teams more than 100 years ago, the league now has 31 clubs – seven
of them in Canada. Check out the best NHL betting sites.
The Stanley Cup is presented to the team that wins
the end of season playoffs each year. No side has won it more often than the Montreal Canadiens,
who have lifted the trophy 34 times.
KHL (Kontinental Hockey League)
KHL (Kontinental Hockey League)
The premier hockey league in Europe and Asia, with 25 clubs across several countries including
China and mostly Russia.
Each season the top sides playoff for the right to be crowned champion. The winners are presented
with the Gagarin Cup.
SEL (Swedish Elite League)
SEL (Swedish Elite League)
Sweden is, like Canada, a hotbed of hockey. It hosts a respected league consisting of 14 teams
who each play a 52-game schedule.
The team who advance through the playoff series and become Swedish champions are presented with
the Le Mat Trophy.
Liiga
Liiga
Finland, another Scandinavian country with a devoted hockey following, hosts the second strongest
European domestic league.
The 15 member teams play 60 matches each in the regular season. The playoff winners receive a
championship trophy called the Kanada-malja.
Hockey betting apps & mobile options
Today, fans can access top betting apps and sites on all types of mobile devices, making mobile hockey betting easier than ever. You can bet anywhere you have an internet connection.
If you’re looking for some of the best hockey betting apps, then definitely check out our list of recommended sportsbooks as many of them now carry state-of-the-art downloadable apps for both iPhone and Android users.
Types of hockey betting bonuses
The modern global betting industry is intensely competitive. This is good news for bettors,
because sportsbooks need to come up with ever more alluring offers to attract and keep customers.
One popular and successful method of drawing in new clients is bonuses. These
tend to fall into three categories:
Welcome bonus
The instant you sign up with a sportsbook, you usually receive a free bet – or a boost to
multiply your initial deposit
Nowadays it is unusual for a sportsbook not to offer a welcome bonus because of the need to
stand out in their market place
Always take a few minutes to check the T&Cs – it's essential to know that the bonus doesn't
include any awkward conditions
Enhanced odds
When there's a big hockey event in the offing, maintain a keen watch for an offer of enhanced
odds
Ordinarily this will apply to the game result, but sometimes it will be applied to another
popular market
New and existing customers are normally offered enhanced odds. Look out for limitations on your
stake, though.
VIP club
Once you have been a loyal customer of a sportsbook for some time, you may be tempted to extend
that loyalty by joining a VIP club
Customers singled out like this are made to feel special, as if they are part of an elite
Being in the club may have fringe benefits such as free bets and access to exclusive offers and
enhanced prices
It's all about opinions. If you think you know what is going to happen in a game, you can back up your thoughts by betting on that outcome. Your returns, when you get it right, will be dictated by the odds about the bet you place.
How do you bet on hockey?
There are several different ways you can bet on hockey games. One of the most popular is the moneyline bet, which is where you simply pick who you think will win the game.
What is a puckline in hockey betting?
The puckline bet is essentially hockey’s version of the point spread. When it comes to the NHL hockey bets, the underdog will be given an advantage of 1.5 goals, while the favourite is disadvantaged by 1.5 goals, and this line will be adjusted accordingly depending on who is playing.
Does overtime count in hockey betting?
Yes, it can. In ice hockey betting, markets are available for both the Match Result, which is when you’re betting on the result at the end of regulation time, and Win Match Including OverTime, which is when you’re betting on the winner of the game after any overtime or shootouts.
How do hockey betting lines work?
Betting lines are a numerical expression of the probability of an outcome of a match or competition. In hockey, the most common hockey betting lines are the moneyline, puckline and over/under goal total.
The 60-minute line is very similar to the moneyline as it’s based on who will win the game, but the difference is that it only includes the three periods of regulation game time.
You can either bet on Team A or B winning in 60 minutes, or that there will be a tie. But if the game goes to overtime, you lose the bet, so if you think this is a possibility, it’s best not to choose the type of bet.