The NHL adopted a truncated 56-game schedule and introduced four realigned divisions for the 2021 regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs. With the Stanley Cup Final fast approaching, the search for a terrific NHL betting site begins today.
As more legal betting sites come online in 2021, our Covers experts are here to dish on how you can gain access to the top hockey betting sites and mobile apps for betting on the NHL online. We provide unbiased sportsbook reviews, share expert advice on how to bet NHL games, read the odds, identify betting markets, break the latest news, and more.
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Our experts utilize the Covers BetSmart System™
when comparing and measuring sports betting sites. In addition, the collection of comprehensive guides provide you, and the Covers community, the most up-to-date information
and analysis.
NHL betting action is brisk, but not all online betting sites are created equal. As a result, the choice you make can impact your experience and, most importantly, your bottom line.
We'll show you how to select an online sportsbook to place your hockey bets and identify the popular features of online sports betting.
Trust and integrityLike a top defensive pairing or starting goaltender, shutting down or eliminating threats is one of the keys to NHL betting victory. Our listing includes online sportsbooks that have implemented stringent security measures like SSL data encryption, and registered authorities legally license each.
CoverageShutouts are incredible for goaltenders, but that shouldn't happen in online sports betting. Selecting a site that offers coverage of all NHL hockey games and types of bets available is paramount to success. The most reliable and established sportsbooks will offer hockey odds on top-flight leagues like the NHL, while some include the KHL and ECHL in their lineup, too.
Bonuses and promotionsNew bettors like you are akin to NHL free agents. The best hockey sports betting apps and sites use recruiting tools like welcome bonuses, special offers, betting bonuses, and bet credits to attract new users and retain existing customers. Just remember to review the terms and conditions before accepting these offers.
Best oddsOddsmakers operate similar to NHL general managers in that they are not willing to overpay their players or pay out at exaggerated betting odds. The top 10 hockey betting sites on our list offer fair odds, but keeping an eye on NHL odds from several different sites can help you find the best price.
Numerous betting options can be overwhelming, but they are crucial to profitability. Identifying the best betting odds — and locking in the best price — can yield a lucrative betting strategy.
BankingStanley Cup Final overtime games are exhilarating and unpredictable. That should not be the case when evaluating payment and withdrawal options. The top betting sites highlighted earlier offer standard banking methods, so choose the one that you are most comfortable with using. Locking in your bets before puck drop and securing your winnings post-game should be top of mind.
Mobile appsTrusted NHL betting sites are mobile-friendly, offering either dedicated apps free to download for your iOS or Android devices or websites optimized for betting on the go. So Stanley Cup Final fans can live bet from their seat at home or the arena.
Live bettingThe NHL's live betting markets are robust. Hockey betting sites update NHL odds throughout the game, which allows you to place live bets on specific outcomes, including which team will score next or whether a particular player will score a goal.
Customer supportTeams make call-ups from their respective farm clubs for help with their lineup, and you, the NHL bettor, can reach out to customer service agents for help. The better hockey betting sites offer 24/7 customer service help via live chat, email, or phone.
With the field of teams and sportsbooks narrowed down, let's go step-by-step through the process for how to start wagering at the best NHL betting sites.
Creating your account can be achieved in a few minutes. Tap the sign-up button and follow the prompts. You'll likely be asked to share personal information, including full name, date of birth, and home address.
Real money funds must be added to your newly created account ahead of any wagers being placed. Identify the 'deposit' or 'cashier' button within the account or profile section and follow the directions to complete this required step. Choose the one you're most comfortable with and check with your bank to ensure that the request can be achieved using a credit card or debit card.
Once you have completed the previous steps, it's time to line up your wagers and access the hockey betting markets. Enter the amount you want to stake for the game, and the selections will show up on your betting slip.
The featured betting sites on our list offer instant deposits and lightning-quick ways to secure your winnings. Remember, the payment option you used to make the initial deposit will be used for all withdrawals, too.
As a new bettor, you'll need to learn the basics and understand how to bet on hockey. Once you become more engaged and active with betting on the NHL online, you'll likely want increased flexibility with your bankroll.
We've shared a few of the more common NHL bet types and explain how these bets work and when you can apply them to a betting strategy.
This type of hockey bet is a wager on which team is going to win the game. The moneyline is easily the most straightforward bet, too, and should be high on the list of any recreational and serious hockey bettors. Our moneyline calculator will show you the potential payout based on the odds and amount wagered.
Hockey's version of the point spread is the puck line. Look at it as a way for you to bet on which NHL team will outperform its expectations. Here, you can bet on the teams you think will lose and wager on teams you expect to win handily with a more lucrative payout.
Since NHL contests are often low-scoring affairs, the most common puck line is 1.5 goals, with the puck line favorite set at -1.5 and the puck line underdog at +1.5. However, you will find more prominent puck lines in more one-sided contests in leagues other than the NHL.
Over/Under bets serve as a terrific way to get involved in the game without having to choose an outright winner. Oddsmakers set the expected number of goals per game scored by both teams, and bettors wager whether the final tally will be Over or Under that total.
With NHL parlays, you are wagering an amount across several hockey bets in the pursuit of a larger potential payout. The rub: Each bet tied to the parlay must win to secure the payout. Even one incorrect bet registers the parlay as a loss.
Placing an NHL futures bet allows you to wager on overall results like odds to win the Stanley Cup or individual player honors like the Conn Smythe Trophy.
NHL prop bets — short for proposition bets — are wagers tied to certain game circumstances and not usually connected to the final score. Hockey prop bets include odds on an individual team or player performance and events and happenings throughout a game.
With an assist to our engaged Covers community, we have identified several hockey betting sites engaged in irresponsible business practices. Our findings uncovered issues about late payments or bets not honored, poor customer service, and other nefarious activities. Therefore, we advise you to avoid these blacklisted betting sites at all costs.
Before you figuratively suit up for the Stanley Cup Finals, we'll leave you with a few helpful tips for choosing the best NHL betting sites:
Yes, as long as sports betting is regulated in your area. The list of sports betting sites highlighted above legally post odds on NHL hockey games.
New bettors are strongly encouraged to register with one of the trusted sports betting sites recommended on this page. Take a cautious NHL betting strategy at first to become familiar with terms and bet types.
The 60-minute line functions similar to the moneyline in that it is based on who you predict to win the game. However, it only covers the first three periods of regulation, and you must choose an outright winner or bet on a tie.
The juice, or vigorish, is tied to each team's odds and is effectively the price online sportsbooks charge for making any form of a bet.
