Betting

How to Bet on Hockey Online | NHL Betting Guide

By
Doug Ziefel
Updated Nov. 4, 2024, 3:21 p.m. ET
NHLI via Getty Images

The NHL season offers plenty of exciting opportunities to bet on hockey online. For newer bettors, it can often seem intimidating.

Follow along with this comprehensive hockey betting guide, where I cover everything you should know about wagering on the NHL.

More on How to Bet on Hockey

The Basics: Moneylines, Puck Lines & Totals

The main betting options for a hockey game will consist of three different markets: the moneyline, puck line, and total. 

Moneyline Betting

The moneyline allows users to bet on the outright winner of a game without regard to the margin of victory. One team’s perceived competitive advantage over the other is reflected in the moneyline. Favorites are listed at minus odds (-), while underdogs have plus odds (+).

The number reflects what you can win on a $100 wager. Bet on the underdog, and a $100 wager will win the listed number. For example, bet $100 at +100 and the payout will be $200, which is your initial stake plus $100 in winnings. Alternatively, if you were to bet on a favorite at -200, you’d have to bet $200 to win $100.

Puck Line (Spread) Betting

The puckline is hockey’s version of a point spread, which is the margin of victory within a game. The standard puck line is +/- 1.5 goals. Underdogs are listed at +1.5 goals to even out the field of play, while favorites are listed at -1.5 as an alternative to betting the moneyline.

Bet on the favorite, and the team will need to win by two or more goals for the bet to be graded as a win. Bet on the underdog, and the team can lose by one goal and still win your bet.

Totals (Over/Under) Betting

Also referred to as an over/under, these are bets on the total number of goals scored in a game. The final score for each team gets added together. If that number is higher than the listed total, bets on the over will win. If it is lower, bets on the under will win.

Live/In-Play Betting

Bettors are no longer restricted to putting money on a game or any markets before the puck drops. The available markets will differ, but bettors can place wagers while a game is in progress thanks to live betting.

Common betting markets will include puck lines, moneylines, and totals for each period and the game. Player, team, and game props are also often available. Odds for any live or in-play betting markets are subject to change as the game progresses, so be sure to act fast!

Parlay Betting

Parlay bets allow you to combine numerous bets (also known as legs) together to form a single wager. Of course, the more legs you add, the more you stand to win. But the more legs you add, the easier it becomes to lose because if you lose one leg, you lose the entire parlay. Here’s an example:

  • Leg 1: Panthers -1.5 at +164
  • Leg 2: Oilers-Blue Jackets OVER 6.5 at -125
  • Leg 3: Maple Leafs +1.5 -250
  • Parlay Odds: +565

Should you win all three legs, a $100 wager will result in a $665 payday: your $100 initial stake plus $565 in winnings.

Player Prop Betting

Player props are wagers on how a player performs during a period or the duration of the game. They will usually consist of Over/Under markets, where you bet on whether a player will do more or less than the listed number. For example: Shots on Goal—Alex Tuch O/U 2.5 (-115/-115).

These can be enticing if you are more confident in predicting how a player will perform in a game than how his team will.

Same Game Parlays

Traditional parlays will involve combining bets (legs) from different games to form a single wager. But a Same Game Parlay allows you to combine bets (legs) related to the same game into a single wager. However, to place such a bet, you will usually need to click on a specific section of a betting app to see the markets you can use to construct an SGP. For example at DraftKings Sportsbook, you click on SGP to open the site’s SGP Builder.

Here are a couple of examples:

  • Panthers -1.5 at +165 and Under 6 goals at -102 (SGP Odds: +525)
  • Sam Reinhart Anytime Goal Scorer +110, Alex Tuch Points Over .5 -140, and Owen Power Assists Over .5 +230 (SGP Odds: +850)

Futures Betting

A futures bet is based on the outcome of something that will take place in the future. For example, before the season starts, you can bet on the Florida Panthers to win the Stanley Cup. Or during the season, you bet on Connor McDavid to win the Hart Trophy. Odds will fluctuate throughout the season based on how everything is unfolding, so keep an eye on futures odds often if you plan on placing any bets.

Hockey Betting Tips & Strategies

Now that I’ve covered the various types of bets you can place on hockey, let’s review a few strategies and tips to keep in mind.

Shop for the Best Odds

You should always shop the lines before placing a bet. Check the odds at several sportsbooks to ensure you collect the highest payout possible if you win your wager.

You will need to join multiple sportsbooks to do so, but that also means you can take advantage of more welcome offers.

Check for Situational Spots

Sometimes, circumstances can develop where a team with a much better record may struggle against a lesser team. For example, let’s say the Dallas Stars are one of the best teams in hockey, yet they are +100 against the sixth-place team in the division, the Utah Hockey Club.

It doesn’t make sense, right? Surely, the Stars should be favored. But then you find out Dallas is playing its third road game in five nights and has been hit hard by injuries. Meanwhile, Utah is coming off three days of rest. Always be aware of any situational spots before locking in any wagers.

Monitor Injuries

Knowing who a team will have available is extremely insightful. Whether or not a player is expected to play can impact the odds leading up to a game.

Should a star player have to leave a game with an injury, live betting odds will likely shift as well.

FAQs on How to Bet on Hockey

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding betting on hockey:

Which states have access to legal NHL betting?

The following states have access to legal NHL betting either online, in-person, or both: AR, AZ, CO, CT, DE, FL, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, ME, MI, MS, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, VA, VT, WA, WV, WI, and WY, as well as D.C.

Where can I bet on NHL games online?

You can bet on NHL games online with a sportsbook that is licensed to operate in your state. Popular options include bet365, Fanatics, BetMGM, DraftKings, Caesars, and ESPN BET. 

Which sportsbook offers the most NHL player props?

The number of NHL player props will be comparable among each major sportsbook. Overall, FanDuel probably has the largest selection of player props and odds available.

Can I wager on the NHL Draft?

Yes, you can bet on the NHL Draft. Almost every licensed, regulated online sportsbook will offer some selection of markets for the event.