How to choose an NHL betting site
In order to find the best NHL sportsbook, there are many things you should consider as a bettor. Do they cover all the markets you want to bet on? Does the sportsbook offer decent promotions on a weekly basis? Is the live-betting interface easy to navigate through? Take a look below and make sure all your questions are answered before you make your first deposit.
League coverage
The best NHL betting sites offer extensive coverage of the league, with a plethora of markets ranging from specific player and game props to futures betting on the Stanley Cup champion. To truly maximize your sportsbook experience, it's essential to ensure all these markets are available and that the NHL odds provided are competitive.
Betting markets availability
When it comes to the top NHL sportsbooks, there should be a variety of betting markets available. Not only should you have the basic lines available to you (puckline, moneyline, total), but you should ensure there are game and player props surrounding everything you wish to bet on. Shots on goal from a specific player is a popular prop, but your options shouldn’t be limited. Further below we will break down all of the industry leading NHL sportsbooks so that you can make a smart choice based on your betting habits.
Competitive betting odds
From strong coverage to competitive markets and odds, there’s no excuse for a top NHL sportsbook not to package them all for you. While you can always find an edge if you line shop at different books, the sportsbook you ultimately choose should, on average, have the top NHL odds available for you. For example: for a futures bet surrounding the Stanley Cup champion, each book will stay competitive with each other. While one book may have the Bruins at +375, another could have it at +400. Finding these small edges and compounding them gives you the best chance to be a successful bettor.
NHL promo codes & bonus offers
Each sportsbook you come across will have some sort of variation of a welcome offer for new customers and ongoing sportsbook promos for existing users. It’s up to you to choose the one that works for you and your betting style, for example: in the past, FanDuel has run a “No sweat first bet” offer up to $1000, meaning if your initial wager loses the sportsbook will refund your entire stake. Other welcome offers from other sportsbooks include “Bet $5, Get $200.” Ultimately, find the best offer that works for you, or claim all of them. While each sportsbook has a welcome bonus, the ongoing promotions differ. Continue reading to find out more.
In-play betting and live streaming
While all top sportsbooks will offer live and in-play betting, not all of the industry leaders will offer live streaming to supplement your wagers. When it comes to the former, it’s important to note how often and how long each book takes their odds down once an event unfolds in a given game. The top NHL sportsbooks will only take their odds down once a goal is scored or a power play is given for a short amount of time. If you need a live streaming service, ensure you are betting with a NHL sportsbook that has the service embedded into its app and understand whether or not you need money in your account to use it.
Mobile applications
All of the top NHL betting sites will have a dedicated app armed with top of the line security that keeps your funds safe and sound. These mobile betting apps should accept various methods to both withdraw and deposit your funds, and some might even accept crypto as a form of payment. Ensure the navigation on the app is just as quick and easy as the desktop version, as seconds can play the difference between getting the odds you want and not – especially for live betting.
Payment options
Payment options surrounding the top NHL betting sites will be vast. If you are looking for comfortable ways to both withdraw and deposit your money, the base line you should look for are Visa and Debit deposits, as well as Interac e-Transfers. You will need to make yourself aware of any fees associated with using certain payment methods: does the sportsbook take a percentage of your deposit, or is it completely free? Each top NHL betting site will indicate whether or not the method you are using incurs a fee, so be on the lookout.
User interface
The user interface is arguably the most important aspect of an NHL betting site and is something to take seriously when looking to go into “business” with a sportsbook. It should be a smooth process to find the markets and odds that you want, and the ability to place a parlay should be easy as well. Depending on the type of bettor you are when it comes to the NHL, make sure to try out a variety of sportsbooks before you choose one or two that has earned your respect.
Cash out feature
Cash out features for the best NHL betting sites are also a massive aspect to consider when thinking about betting on hockey. As games unfold in the NHL, you have to make quick decisions. Did you bet -1.5 on the puckline for a team and they are up by a goal but getting heavily outshot? You should have the opportunity to cash out in the green and move elsewhere. Make sure to double check whether or not an NHL sportsbook has this feature, as it can go a long way to locking in profits.
Bet builder
The leading NHL gambling platforms provide a bet builder function, which encompasses options such as same-game parlays, community parlays, and multi-game parlays. Depending on your preferred betting markets, these bet-building tools can deliver significant benefits throughout the season.
Customer support
Customer support can be a tremendous help for bettors who experience any type of issue with the top NHL betting sites. The best customer support offers a 24/7 live chat, which you will find in most of the industry leaders today. Another aspect to watch is whether or not they have sufficient FAQs for you in order to resolve the issue yourself and within moments. Overall, customer support should be polite, quick, and should resolve any issues you may have within a few hours.
How To Start Betting
Everything You Need To Know In 5 Easy Steps!
Find the right betting site for you and sign up
Make a deposit with the payment provider you prefer. Consider responsible gambling features and bankroll management.
Many betting sites have a welcome bonus or free bet, which you can claim after making the first deposit. *never forget to read the small print!
Find an event you are interested in, select a betting market that appeals to you the most and "click" on the odds.
Go to the bet slip and input the details of your desired bet and confirm the wager.
Top NHL betting sites in the US
FanDuel
FanDuel is one of the top sportsbooks in North America. From its aesthetically pleasing interface to the promotions it awards ongoing customers who are loyal to the sportsbook: it provides a platform like no other. You will find competitive odds on the NHL and a top of the line live betting interface when using FanDuel.
DraftKings
DraftKings is a platform known for its boosts across all four major North American sports – this includes the NHL. Simply opt in to any NHL boost on the front page of the sportsbook and follow the instructions, and you are ready to go. Pair that with a strong welcome bonus and DraftKings may be the sportsbook for you.
Caesars
The Caesars welcome bonus may be the best in the game. Its blanket welcome bonus is a risk-free first bet up to $1,250, which is an incredible way to build your NHL bankroll. Not only that, its live betting section is quick and odds are always competitive with the leaders of the industry.
BetMGM
BetMGM is a strong choice for bettors of all experience levels. It offers probably the best platform for responsible gaming, giving players a chance to set deposit limits as soon as they sign up and every day that you are registered with the sportsbooks. It’s certainly flashy, having partnerships with some of the biggest celebrities today, and its rewards program is also one of the best there is.
Use BetMGM promo code ODDSBONUS when signing up to receive up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first bet is unsuccessful.
How to sign up and bet on an NHL betting site
Register a new betting account
Registering for a new sportsbook is a simple process. Read below to understand how to do so:
- Click on “register” for any sportsbook that intrigues you
- Follow the instructions and input some industry-standard information
- Opt in to the welcome offer
- You are ready to go!
Choose a payment method and make a deposit
Following registration, here is how you can deposit and choose a payment method in order to get the ball rolling:
- Click on “deposit” at the top right-hand corner of the app you wish to bet on
- Choose which payment method works best for you
- Find a unit that works best for you, and click deposit
- You are ready to bet!
Make your bets
Once you have registered and deposited into your account, here is how you can place your bet:
- Click on the market you wish to make a wager on
- You will then be prompted to look at your bet slip
- Input the amount of money you wish to wager
- Click on “Bet now”
- Your bet will be processed within seconds and you are ready to rock
Make your first withdrawal
After you’ve made a successful bet and if you wish to withdraw your money, follow these steps below in order to receive your funds back into your bank account:
- Click on “Withdraw” within your sportsbook
- Enter the amount of money you wish to withdraw
- Choose your method in which you would like to receive your money
- Click on “request withdrawal”
- Depending on your method, you should receive your withdrawal within a few hours or 3-5 business days
Popular NHL betting markets
The top NHL betting sites come with a huge range of markets and betting options. Not only can you bet on the winner of individual games, but you can bet on an array of specific events occurring during the game.
Whilst all of these markets are available, there are a few individual game bets that always prove especially popular with NHL fans:
Pucklines
The puckline is a handicap given to the underdog and favorite that will help bettors make a more informed wager with less-juiced odds. For the NHL, the puckline is usually -1.5 or +1.5 so the bets will be closer to equal on both sides. If you’re on a -1.5 side, that means the team you wagered on has to win by at least two goals. On the underdog, if the team you wagered on loses by just one goal or wins outright, you win your bet.
Totals
The total, or over/under, is a wager you can make where you bet on whether or not the game’s score will go over or under a specific number. For example: for an April game against the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars, the total is set at 5.5. This means that if you bet the total to go over the number, the end score has to combined to be six goals or more between the two teams. If you wager on the under, the combined score must stay below five goals.
Parlays
Parlays are a way to combine your NHL moneyline, total, or puckline bets across a handful of games for increased profits. If you feel like you have an edge across two or more games/markets, you’ll be able to combine these bets for a large profit. You can also cook up a same-game parlay, combining bets from the same game, which could include moneyline and prop bets, for an increased profit.
Futures
Futures are a longer investment a bettor can make for increased profits. They are usually bets on teams or players hitting lofty targets, like who will win next season's Stanley Cup, or who will lead the league in scoring.
Prop bets
Prop bets provide an exhilarating opportunity to delve into individual games. Leading sportsbooks boast comprehensive coverage of player props and game props. Whether it's betting on the scorer or predicting the number of shots a player will take, top NHL betting sites present multiple avenues for placing wagers.
