New to the NHL and looking to bet on ice hockey? From NHL betting advice to the popular types of NHL betting markets, our in-depth guide offers all the information you need.
NHL betting is the most popular form of ice hockey betting. The highest standard and most lucrative league in the world, the NHL features teams from across the North American continent.
With NHL games continuing to grow in popularity as audiences for American sport increase in the UK and across Europe, you might be wondering how you can get started betting on the NHL in the future. Here, we explain everything you need to know.
How does NHL betting work?
The main concepts of NHL betting will be familiar if you have wagered on other team sports. The moneyline, puck line, and totals are the staples of betting on the NHL, and will be the most popular markets to bet on when Betway releases its lines.
The puck line works in the same way as the spread in the NFL or the run line in MLB. Other markets, like props, can get a little bit more complicated, but we’ve got you covered on all that below.
How to read NHL betting odds
Part of learning how to bet on NHL games requires knowing how to read NHL betting odds. Fortunately, it’s far simpler than it might seem, with fractional odds being easy to understand.
Fractional odds show a stake on the right of the fraction and the potential winnings from a given stake on the left. For example, if the New York Rangers were 10/1 to win the Stanley Cup, a £1 bet would have £10 in potential winnings (plus your stake back).
NHL betting advice
As with other sports, conducting research prior to placing an NHL bet is very important. Fail to research properly, and you’ll leave yourself at a clear disadvantage.
Look into a team’s splits between home and away games, see whether a player has been in a purple patch of form or a slump, and even look at the specific matchups – perhaps one of the star players has traditionally struggled against an upcoming opponent.
Hockey Reference is a useful site for anyone getting into wagering on the NHL, offering immense detail on the league and providing reams of data to analyse before you commit to your bets.
Common mistakes when betting on the NHL
Looking for more NHL betting advice? These are the mistakes to avoid when choosing a bet:
Failing to research.
Not devising a consistent, reliable strategy.
Forgetting to check injury news.
Overlooking head-to-head records and splits.
Blindly betting on the most well-known teams and players.
Popular NHL betting markets
Before we touch on what sorts of NHL bets you can make, let’s first go over the main NHL betting markets preferred by fans:
Stanley Cup: The winners of each conference meet in the Stanley Cup Finals to decide the eventual champion.
Stanley Cup winning conference: A bet on which conference the Stanley Cup winner will come from.
Eastern Conference winner: This is a wager on a team to come out of the Eastern Conference playoffs and reach the Stanley Cup Finals.
Western Conference winner: This is a wager on a team to come out of the Western Conference playoffs and reach the Stanley Cup Finals.
Stage of elimination: A bet on which stage a team will be eliminated in. For instance, you might bet on the Bruins to be knocked out in the first round.
Team regular-season points: A wager on how many points a team will collect during the regular season.
Player regular season points: A wager on how many points a player will collect during the regular season.
Players awards: Make sure you learn how to bet on NHL MVP before engaging with player award markets. Betway has an array of player awards, including MVP, Rookie of the Year, and the Vezina Trophy.
Types of NHL bet
Ready to place your first bet? Here are the main types of bets you can place on NHL games:
Moneyline: A bet on a team to win a game. It’s always worth checking if this includes overtime.
Puck line betting: The NHL’s version of the spread – a puck line bet sees the favoured team handicapped and the underdog ‘given’ goals.
Over/under points: A bet on the total number of points scored in a game.
Live betting: This refers to any wager placed after a game has begun.
Props: Props are wide-ranging across team, player, and game markets.
How to bet on NHL online
Betting on the NHL couldn’t be any easier:
Start off by heading to our account registration page.
You will be asked to enter details, including your name, date of birth, and address. These pieces of information are necessary for betting on the NHL.
You may be required to verify your age or address with a personal document like a form of ID or a bank statement.
Once this is complete, you’ll simply need to pick your preferred banking method and decide how much money you wish to deposit.
Now the money is in your account, you need to settle on your strategy for how to bet on the NHL and place your first bet.
Where to bet on NHL games
Looking for where to bet on NHL games? Betway is the place to be, with its catalogue of NHL odds, a slick website, and a pair of high-quality apps (available from the Play Store or App Store with live NHL markets, constantly updated odds, and plenty of competitive promos).
Other ice hockey markets to consider
It’s not all about the NHL when it comes to betting on ice hockey, though. The sport is vastly popular outside of North America, and we offer odds for Switzerland’s National League, Germany’s DEL, Finland’s Liiga, and Sweden’s SHL.
Related to NHL betting
Now that you know where to bet on the NHL, including playoff games and MVP picks, it’s time to add to your hockey knowledge by visiting our NHL blog, featuring tips and a wide range of articles – including the Stanley Cup explained and a geographical breakdown of Stanley Cup support.
