NHL Betting Sites for 2024
We’re less than a month away from the hockey training camps opening up. However, thanks to futures odds on the board, NHL betting season can be enjoyed now. The Colorado Avalanche are the heavy favorites to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. The best sportsbooks online provide a wide variety of NHL odds from moneylines and futures to unique player prop bets throughout the hockey season.
Best NHL Hockey Betting Sites for US Players
Our experts have created a list of the industry’s best sites for NHL betting in the United States:
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2023 Stanley Cup Futures Odds
The Colorado Avalanche’s odds to win the 2023 Stanley Cup have actually improved since they beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2022 Final. The Avs’ odds jumped from +400 to +350 as they remain heavy favorites to repeat the feat. As one would expect from a cold-weather sport like hockey, two teams from the Sunshine State, the Florida Panthers and Lightning, enjoy the second and third-best odds, respectively. The Toronto Maple Leafs, who have not won a Stanley Cup in more than 50 years, are 11-to-1 favorites to snap the slide next summer.
Here is the complete list of 2023 Stanley Cup futures odds:
Team | Odds to win 2023 Stanley Cup |
---|---|
Colorado Avalanche | +350 |
Florida Panthers | +1000 |
Tampa Bay Lightning | +1100 |
Toronto Maple Leafs | +1100 |
Carolina Hurricanes | +1200 |
Edmonton Oilers | +1200 |
New York Rangers | +1800 |
Calgary Flames | +2000 |
Los Angeles Kings | +2000 |
Minnesota Wild | +2000 |
Vegas Golden Knights | +2200 |
Pittsburgh Penguins | +2500 |
Boston Bruins | +2800 |
St. Louis Blues | +2800 |
New York Islanders | +3500 |
Ottawa Senators | +4000 |
Washington Capitals | +4000 |
Dallas Stars | +4500 |
Nashville Predators | +5000 |
New Jersey Devils | +5000 |
Detroit Red Wings | +5500 |
Vancouver Canucks | +5500 |
Buffalo Sabres | +6600 |
Columbus Blue Jackets | +6600 |
Winnipeg Jets | +7500 |
Anaheim Ducks | +8000 |
Philadelphia Flyers | +8000 |
San Jose Sharks | +12500 |
Seattle Kraken | +12500 |
Montreal Canadiens | +15000 |
Chicago Blackhawks | +20000 |
Arizona Coyotes | +25000 |
How to Bet On NHL
Moneyline Bets
Betting the moneyline in hockey is very simple as it only requires players to bet on who will win the game.
NHL odds are marked with an integer (+ or -) which indicates which team is the favorite and which team is the underdog. The positive (+) team is the underdog, while the negative (-) team is favored to win.
The difference between betting on a moneyline and betting on the puckline is pretty basic — when betting on the moneyline, you bet on who will win outright, while a line involves how many goals the favored pick wins by.
NHL Moneyline Example
For example, let’s say this is the moneyline:
- Red Wings +190
- Maple Leafs -225
In this example, the Red Wings are the underdog, and the Maple Leafs are expected to win. To win $100 wagering on the Maple Leafs, you’d need to place a $225 bet. Conversely, a $100 wager on the Red Wings would return $190 profit should they win.
Puckline Betting
Betting a “puckline” is hockey’s version of spread betting. Essentially, it is a wager that the favored team will win the game by a set number of goals – or more.
Puckline Betting Example
Let’s say these are the odds:
- Rangers +1.5
- Canadiens -1.5
In this instance, the Canadiens would need to win by two goals or more in order for your ticket to pay as a winner.
Over/Under, or Totals Betting
Over/under bets, also known as totals bets, are wagers on whether the combined score of both teams is over or under the goal total posted by the sportsbook.
Over/Under Betting Example
Here’s an over/under NHL betting example. Let’s say the total is set at 6.5 for a game between the Maple Leafs and the Canadiens:
Toronto vs. Montreal
- Over 6.5 (-110)
- Under 6.5 (-110)
Numbers in brackets show the odds of each bet. Here, both are at -110, which means you have to risk $110 to win $100. If Toronto wins with a 5-2 score, the total is 7, which means the over hits since 7 is greater than 6.5.
Should an Over/Under total be set at a whole number, like 6, and a final score is 4-2, the bet would push, and you’d be refunded your original wager.
Parlay Betting
A parlay means you can place several unique wagers on a single ticket. By betting multiple outcomes on one ticket, the payout is higher. However, one loss on a parlay means the entire ticket loses. You must get every bet right. Every sports betting site allows bettors to parlay their bets to offer moneyline, over/under and puck line bets on a single ticket. Parlays are widely considered to be best suited for experienced bettors who know how to limit the risk.
Parlay Bet Example
Here’s an example that might be on your parlay ticket:
- You bet on Montreal to beat Toronto
- You also bet on Boston to beat Chicago
For this ticket to pay as a winner, both Montreal & Boston must win – if either lose, you lose the entire wager. However, because of the associated risks, parlay bets carry much higher payouts.
First Period Betting
First period wagers aren’t as popular as typical moneylines or puck lines in hockey betting, but they provide you with an interesting alternative to traditional bet types. In a bet of this type, only the results of the first 20 minutes of the match matter.
Usually, you’re allowed to put your money on a first-period moneyline or a 0.5 spread. Some sportsbooks offer second and third-period betting too, which tends to be all about picking the team that has the highest score by that point in the game.
First Period Betting Example
Let’s say the Vancouver Canucks are playing against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Canucks are the favored team. The odds favor the Canucks at (-200, risk $200 to win $100), so you place a $100 bet the Canucks will lead after the first period.
Indeed Vancouver leads 1-0 after one. So, you win $50 plus the initial $100 wagered.
Hockey Props Betting
Prop bets allow you to bet on elements of the game besides the final score, ranging from which player scores first, to who sings the national anthem. The term “proposition bets,” or “prop bets,” refers to all the bets that aren’t covered by any of the categories listed above.
Hockey Props Betting Example
In hockey betting, many sites offer props that allow you to wager on the first player to score, the shot totals or the first team to score.
NHL Futures Betting, or, Stanley Cup Odds
Futures odds wagers allow bettors to wager on the future hockey outcomes like odds to win the Stanley Cup.
Sportsbooks open lines on a variety of futures bets before the start of every NHL season. Futures bets also include individual postseason player awards like Conn Smythe Trophy.
Hockey Futures Wager Example
In the world of NHL betting, a futures wager could be on who will win the Stanley Cup, who will win the Eastern and Western conference titles and where will a free agent be playing next season, to name a few. Betting the over/under on a team’s points total for the upcoming NHL season is another popular futures bet.
These will also allow you to select a “FIELD” option, offering flexibility if you believe a player stands to win who is not listed as an option.
Live NHL Betting
The top sports betting sites offer live betting on NHL games. Like the name suggests, these bets are only available after the puck drops and the action starts. You can make all your standard hockey bets, such as moneyline, puckline, and totals. These odds are controlled by an algorithm that centers on the time remaining, score and volume of bets made.
Live NHL Betting Example
The odds and wagers listed for live hockey betting options on an online sportsbook essentially look similar to the examples above, only, in real-time after the game has started.
Legal NHL Betting Sites Online
If you’re new to NHL betting, what is legal and illegal in the United States can become a little confusing. Below is a state-by-state breakdown of where it’s legal to bet on the NHL at a land-based sportsbook as well as the best online NHL sportsbook in each state.
State | Legal Land-Based NHL Betting (Y/N) |
---|---|
Alabama | No |
Alaska | No |
Arizona | Yes |
Arkansas | Yes |
California | No |
Colorado | Yes |
Connecticut | Yes |
Delaware | Yes |
Florida | No |
Georgia | No |
Hawaii | No |
Idaho | No |
Illinois | Yes |
Indiana | Yes |
Iowa | Yes |
Kansas | No |
Kentucky | No |
Louisiana | Yes |
Maine | No |
Maryland | Coming soon |
Massachusetts | No |
Michigan | Yes |
Minnesota | No |
Mississippi | Yes |
Missouri | No |
Montana | Yes |
Nebraska | Coming Soon |
Nevada | Yes |
New Hampshire | Yes |
New Jersey | Yes |
New Mexico | Yes |
North Carolina | Yes |
North Dakota | Yes |
Ohio | No |
Oklahoma | No |
Oregon | Yes |
Pennsylvania | Yes |
Rhode Island | Yes |
South Carolina | No |
South Dakota | Yes |
Tennessee | No |
Texas | No |
Utah | No |
Vermont | No |
Virginia | Coming soon |
Washington | Yes |
Washington, D.C. | Yes |
West Virginia | Yes |
Wisconsin | Coming Soon |
Wyoming | No |
Recommended NHL Betting Tips
Home Ice
In hockey betting home ice doesn’t provide the same advantage it boasts in other sports. The fans and the team are separated by tall plexiglass. This allows the NHL teams to focus on the game a bit more, plus, teams playing an away game aren’t as distracted by jeers and boos’ opposing teams’ fans can create. Therefore, you might find a home arena doesn’t offer the same advantage it does in other sports.
Embrace Stats
Be sure the statistics you collect come from a reputable source. For example, are you looking at states from ESPN, TSN or even stats from the official NHL site? Be sure you’re not wasting time studying numbers that might not help you make an informed bet.
Head-to-head season series record and which goalie is in net and their goals allowed per game average play a pivotal role in handicapping the NHL.
Hockey R&R
When it comes to betting on the puck, you should note which teams or players have had several days off since their previous game, or didn’t make the playoffs the previous year.
Keep tabs on roster transactions and injury reports – who is in, who is out – before placing your next wager.
How To Bet On Hockey FAQs
Where can I bet on NHL games?
There are several great places to enjoy NHL betting online. We’ve listed the best and most trusted online sportsbooks near the top of this page.
Who is favored to win the Stanley Cup this year?
According to online sportsbook BetOnline, the Colorado Avalanche are the heavy favorite to win the 2023 Stanley Cup with +350 futures odds. The Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs are the only other three NHL teams with better than 12-to-1 odds to win the NHL championship.
How do I bet on hockey?
There are several different way to enjoy NHL betting. For the novice, a moneyline bet is the easiest one to learn. For the more experienced bettor, a puckline or parlay NHL bet may be a more enticing option. If you’re looking for something a little different, a NHL prop bet is a fun, entertaining NHL betting option.
How does the puckline work in hockey?
What do NHL odds of +200 mean?
The easiest way to under NHL odds of +200 is to think of it in $100 increments. If the odds are +200 and you risk $100 and your bet is a winner, you win $200 and recoup your $100. If the NHL odds are -200, you must risk $200 for a chance to win $100 dollars or the inverse.
What is a three-way bet in hockey?
A three-way NHL bet is similar to a moneyline bet, but overtime and shootout play is not included. So, you bet one team to win, the other team to win, or bet a tie.