How to Bet on NHL - The Complete Guide for 2024
Unlock the ultimate guide to NHL betting in March 2024. Discover how it works, the best sportsbooks, various bet types, and more with FanNation.
The late winter/early spring makes for a fantastic time of year on the sports calendar, and the NHL is a primary contributor to the constant sports entertainment. As the sports legal gambling landscape continues to expand, so too does NHL betting. If you are interested in how to bet on the NHL and where to bet on the NHL, read on for an NHL betting deep dive and the sign-up bonuses available at the best sports betting sites.
๐ Where is NHL Betting Legal?
Since the United Statesโ federal ban on legal sports gambling was lifted in 2018, there are now quite a few states. that have legalized sports betting with other states working through logistics. If youโre wondering, โcan I bet on NHL games online legally?โ here is where you can do so:
Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maines, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
๐ How to Bet on NHL
Each sportsbook will have their own specific website or app layout, but the steps to place bets on the NHL are generally similar across the board. The process will look something like this:
- Sign up for a sportsbook by creating an account via our links or banners
- Once your account is active, toggle the sports available for betting and select NHL
- Browse the matchups and markets available within the NHL and select the bet with respective odds you would like to make
- Enter the dollar amount you want to wager
- Click โSubmit Betโ
๐ฒ Where to Bet on NHL Games Online
The NHL and media have embraced sports gambling companies as they have grown more and more prominent. There are several sportsbooks consistently vying for your business, but here are a few great options that you will likely recognize:
NHL at DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook is one of the most recognizable names in the sports betting space for a reason. They are an industry powerhouse and have been operating for over a decade in the fantasy sports and sports gambling space. DraftKings offers a huge variety of markets and several promotions among other attractive features of the Sportsbook.
Currently, DraftKings is offering new users a $1,000 No Sweat First Bet when they place a $1-$1,000 wager on anything after signing up here. If you lose, you get all your money back in bet credits!
NHL at FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Sportsbook shares a duopoly of the sports betting industry with DraftKings. Combined, they own a massive share of the market and are constantly competing for more new users. FanDuel has a very user-friendly app which makes for a seamless betting experience.
They offer great odds boosts and frequently have other great promotions for bettors. After creating a new account, place a $5+ bet on anything. If you win, you'll receive $150 in bonus bets.
NHL at Caesars Sportsbook
Another operator constantly battling for increased market share is Caesars Sportsbook. Caesars is obviously no stranger to the gambling industry as they have operated in Las Vegas since 1966. They have one of the best sports betting apps and a great live betting platform.
Caesars is a very legitimate operation with a strong reputation and an overall great sports betting destination. When new users register here with code FNEG1000, they will receive up to $1,000 back as a bonus bet if their first bet loses.
NHL at BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM Sportsbook is another operator known for their in-person resorts and has also become one of the best NHL betting sites. They have a fantastic rewards program, and of course, an incredible sign-up bonus. Their 'Bet $5, get $150' offer works exactly how it sounds.
Just click here to sign up, deposit $10+ and wager $5+ on anything and receive $150 in bonus bets no matter the outcome.
NHL at Bet365 Sportsbook
Bet365 Sportsbook is the largest operator internationally, and they're now bringing their great service to the states. To help enjoy that to the fullest, all new members can get the best bang for their buck thanks to an incredibly generous welcome offer.
After you use this link to sign up, all it takes is a $5+ bet to receive either $150 in guaranteed bonus bets win or lose, or up to $1,000 back on a losing first wager. You'll have the option to choose which sign-up bonus you prefer when registering.
๐ How NHL Betting Works
NHL betting is similar to other sports where users can bet on a money line, puck line (spread), and game total (over/under) among dozens of other markets. Popular bets in addition to outright outcomes include game props, player props, and parlays. Simply view the available markets and respective odds, select the bet(s) you would like to make, enter the amount you will wager, and submit the bet.
๐ Popular NHL Betting Types
As mentioned, there is no shortage of bet types by sport and the NHL is no exception. There are dozens of bet types available for users to choose from, but here are some of the most popular outside of the common money line, puck line, and game totals bets:
NHL Parlays
NHL parlays are when the user combines multiple bets and thus multiple odds. In order to win, every pick must win. If even one pick of your parlay loses, then you lose. Odds increase as parlays are less likely to hit, but if they do, they can be profitable.
NHL Same Game Parlay
Similar to the aforementioned NHL parlay, the Same Game Parlay combines multiple picks from the same game. For example, within a single game, a user can bet on the money line, game total, and perhaps a player prop. The odds of each pick are combined and increase with each pick added as the probability of each pick hitting becomes less likely.
NHL Teasers
Teasers essentially allow bettors to โbuy pointsโ or move the line. An example of a teaser would be if the Rangers were -2.5 (+120) against a weak Ducks team, you can tease down the puck line to Rangers -1.5, but the odds would be less favorable as the +120 would likely move to somewhere around -150.
NHL Futures
With NHL futures, you can bet on a team or player outcome in the future. For example, you can bet on a team to win a division, conference or Stanley Cup, or you can bet on individual awards like the player that will win the Hart Trophy. Even though these are futures, odds change based on factors such as injuries, trades, and hot and cold streaks.
๐ NHL Odds & Betting Lines Explained
If any mention of betting types or lines confused you above, read below for clarification. These are common betting types among all sports but there are a few specific to hockey. Here is a brief explanation and examples of popular NHL betting types:
Money line: Betting on a teamโs money line is strictly betting on them to win the game outright.
- Vegas Golden Knights (-130) vs Florida Panthers (+120)
Puck line: The puck line determines how many goals the favorite wins by. If the favorite is -1.5, then to cover the puck line, they need to win by two or more goals. If the underdog is +1.5, they need to lose by one or win the game outright in order for you to win.
- Vegas Golden Knights -1.5 (+140) vs Florida Panthers +1.5 (-160)
Game total: The game total is the total number of goals that will be scored in the game. The sportsbook sets the total, and the bettor simply selects over or under that total for their bet.
- Over 5.5 (-120) vs. Under 5.5 (+100)
Player props: Users can also bet on statistics of individual players for a game. Popular NHL player prop bets are anytime goalscorer, first goalscorer, points, shots on goal, and more. The sportsbook sets the prop and the user bets whether or not that prop will hit.
- Anytime goalscorer: Matthew Tkachuk (-110), Aleksander Barkov (+140), Jonathan Marchessault (+150), etc.
๐ How to Read NHL Odds & Betting Lines
Reading odds and betting lines can be confusing for new bettors at first. But after the first couple bets, it becomes much easier to get the hang of. Odds are based on a $100 wager. It can seem counterintuitive, but a โ-โ indicates the favorite while the โ+โ indicates the underdog.
If the betting favorite team is -110, that means that a user would have to bet $110 to win $100. But if they bet $100 on a betting underdog team that is +110, their winnings would be $210 with a net $110 win.
Any time you see a line that has odds with a โ-โ, then that outcome is more likely to occur. If the odds have a โ+โ, then that outcome is less likely to occur and thus why the bettor gets plus money (the $100 to win $110 example).
๐ NHL Betting Trends
Sports bettors may prefer integrating trends into their NHL betting strategy. Trends entail the examination of historical data to uncover patterns that could hold potential relevance for future bets. Credible trends usually showcase high success rates over a substantial data set, though it's crucial to recognize that they don't assure consistent winning.
One trend that could be popular with NHL betting is wagering on first period unders in the games featuring a specific team that seems to struggle out of the gates but performs later in the game. While there might be valid reasons behind this trend, such as travel, it's important to reiterate that trends don't necessarily ensure profitable bets, especially within a limited sample size.
๐ค NHL Betting Strategies
As with any sport, there are different types of strategies that can be used for how to bet on NHL games. Thereโs no singular strategy that guarantees winning bets, but perhaps using some of the tips below can be a great place for you to start.
Basic
A basic NHL betting strategy could be simply using the thoughts and opinions of experts to place your own bets. You could listen to podcasts, read articles, or watch videos where experts will provide insight that might lead you to make a particular bet. Even simpler, you could directly follow the picks of experts, although even those are not guaranteed to profit.
Intermediate
Simply watching the NHL games could be considered a form of an intermediate betting strategy. If you watch a game as opposed to seeing highlights, headlines, or just watching in passing, you may pick up on a player, matchup, or trend that caught your eye that you would not have picked up had you not watched. You could use your intel from that game to place a bet on that teamโs next game.
Advanced
An advanced NHL betting strategy would mostly revolve around the use of statistics and advanced analytics. There are various statistical sites available that can help with how to bet on the NHL. Thereโs no guarantee that using these stats will allow you to make winning bets, but they could help.
โ What to Avoid When Betting on the NHL
Betting on NHL requires a lot of time and effort, but also discipline. Successful bettors are ones that last, not ones that fall into the common pitfalls below.
Chasing losses: Say your account has $150, but after a couple losses you go down $100. The remaining dayโs games may present a chance to win back your money, even though you donโt have a strong opinion on which team to bet on. But you feel that you need to win your money back, so you bet your remaining $50 on the first half over. Unfortunately, the teams get off to a slow start and you lose your entire bankroll. Skilled NHL bettors donโt make this mistake.
Needing to bet on every NHL game: Even though there can be many games in a day, thereโs no reason to bet on all of them. You should place almost all of your bets on games in which you have a strong opinion. Donโt place bets just to have action on the game, unless they are small amounts. Always bet within your means.
๐ฑ Betting on NHL games With Mobile Apps
We believe that the most convenient and optimal approach to NHL betting involves utilizing sportsbooks' mobile applications. These apps can be effortlessly downloaded from either the App Store or Google Play Store, providing users with direct access to a diverse range of current betting markets directly from their mobile devices.
The advantage of a mobile app also includes the ability to access the live betting markets while watching the games.
FAQs
โ What is the Over/Under in NHL Betting?
The over/under involves predicting the combined number of goals that will be scored in a game. If a game has a total of 5.5 goals. Opting for the over implies a win if the score reaches or exceeds six goals, whereas betting the under leads to a win if the total finishes with five or fewer goals.
โ Can I Bet on Individual Player Performances in NHL Games?
Yes, the player prop market has become one of the most popular ways to bet on the NHL, and those markets are always evolving.
โ Can NHL Betting be Profitable?
Yes, betting on NHL games can be profitable, but there is no way to be guaranteed to win. Use our guide on how to bet on the NHL for the best chance at winning, but please remember to bet responsibly.
โ How to Bet on NHL and Win
We have mentioned that there is no guaranteed way to win in NHL betting. We say it often because it is that important. Please bet within your means and avoid chasing any losses you may face.
Enjoyed this article? Further enhance your betting experience with our guides, handpicked for you:
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ and present in select states. FanDuel is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas Star Casino, LLC. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, KY, MI, NJ, OH, PA, IL, TN, VA, VT), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org(MD), 1-800-522-4700 (WY), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV).
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