NHL BETTING SITES

Updated list of the Best NHL Sportsbooks Online in May 2023

As one of the Big 4 leagues, the National Hockey League truly moves the needle when it comes to betting volume. Due to such high demand, the best NHL sports betting sites are now offering more ways for players to get in on the action than ever before. NHL teams and the league itself have also ventured into the sports betting sector, partnering up with sportsbooks to maximize their exposure among fans.

There are 1,271 regular-season games plus playoffs and the Stanley Cup, so wagering opportunities are vast. NHL betting apps offer all the standard bets — moneylines, puck line, totals — in addition to a range of props that are exclusive to this league. Additionally, most sportsbooks offer NHL-specific promotions and odds boosts for particular games to lure you away from their competitors. 

Long story short —  if NHL betting is your cup of tea, you’ll find no shortage of excellent choices. Is this to say you should sign up with the first sportsbook you come across? Not in the least. Ideally, you should choose an operator who provides the best value to you, whether that is through competitive odds, a generous NHL sports betting bonus, or some exciting kind of wager. Having scanned the US sports betting market in depth, we have identified a few candidates that might fit the bill. 

No matter what your goals and aspirations are regarding NHL betting, this guide will prove to be a valuable tool to you. Here, we’ll present our top picks for the top NHL betting sites, cover the types of bets you can place, events and promos you can claim, and a bunch of other stuff that will be helpful when you get started.

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NHL Betting Diversity

Our assessment is heavily influenced by market depth. Standard bets, including moneylines, puck lines, totals, and live wagers, are offered on all NHL betting apps. However, there is a large gap between how creative sportsbooks are when it comes to futures and props. The best NHL betting sites offer unique season-long props, including the Vezina Trophy, Jack Adams Award, as well as various short-term player and team props for individual games.

Bonuses and Promotions

Promotional incentives can go a long way toward boosting your bankroll — and, thus, your chances of winning. It’s important to compare offers from multiple sites before settling on a sportsbook since there’s lots of bonus cash up for grabs. Look for those sportsbooks that offer both huge welcome bonuses and NHL sports betting promotions for existing customers — free bets, insurance promos, odds boosts, reloads, and risk-free bets. Make sure that bonuses don’t come with too many strings attached so that you can get some value out of them.

Betting Odds and Lines

Quality of odds is an important benchmark when determining how good an NHL bookie is. When comparing NHL betting apps, we consider the timeliness of lines, as well as the price offered. By betting in a sportsbook with subpar odds, you’re leaving money on the table. Our team continuously monitors the market to keep you informed about which operators have the lowest juice on their NHL markets.

NHL Mobile Betting

Those who like to bet on the go will be happy to hear that all of our recommended books come with integrated mobile apps for iOS and Android. As long as you have a stable internet connection and a compatible device, you can place NHL bets whenever you want, wherever you are. We’ve made sure to pick NHL betting bookies with user-friendly mobile apps so that you don’t miss a beat of action due to laggy platforms and cluttered layouts.

Banking Options

Getting money to and from your account should be a hassle-free process. To accomplish this, your chosen sportsbook needs to offer several payment options, such as credit/debit cards, PayPal, bank transfers, and more. When using the best NHL sports betting sites, you will be able to deposit instantly and cash out your winnings in a timely manner without paying any fees.

Customer Service Support

To ensure a smooth betting experience, you need to pick a sportsbook that has great customer support on deck 24/7. There should be a number of contact channels available to you at all times, including email, toll-free phone, and live chat. Optimally, an NHL sportsbook’s website should offer a helpful FAQ section, as well. Responsible gambling resources should also be easily accessible

Brief History of the NHL

The NHL is the premier ice hockey league with 16 teams from Canada and the United States. Its predecessor was the National Hockey Association (NHA), which was founded in 1917 in Montreal, Quebec, with a handful of teams and no conferences or divisions.  When the Boston Bruins were established in 1924, the league expanded to the United States for the first time. 

By 1942, it had been reduced to six teams (also known as the Original Six) due to financial hardships caused by the Great Depression and WWII. From 1942 to 1967, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Detroit Red Wings constituted the NHL.

Six new teams joined the mix for the 1967/68 season. New franchises made up the West Division, while the Original Six occupied the East Division. The league expanded rapidly in the following years, and by 1974, it featured 17 teams. In 1979, the NHL acquired four of the teams from the World Hockey League after it was disbanded. 

The San Jose Sharks joined the league in 1991, bringing the total number of teams to 22. Since then, the NHL has grown to its current number of 32 teams. 

In the modern era of the NHL (1992–present), there have been two major lockouts — in the 1994/95 season and the 2004/05 season. 

Recently, the 2019/20 season was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 24 teams participated in the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, which ended on September 28, with Tampa Bay winning the title. 

The NHL returned to its full 82-game regular-season schedule in 2021/22.

NHL Format

The NHL campaign consists of three phases — preseason (September through early October), regular season (October to mid-April), and Stanley Cup playoffs. 

The league has been restructured multiple times throughout its history. Currently, it consists of 32 teams split into two conferences and two divisions. The Eastern Conference consists of the Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions, while the Western Conference is divided into the Central and Pacific divisions. There are eight teams in each division.

All teams have to play 82 games in the regular season, after which their standings and potential playoff positioning are determined. Each division’s top three teams and two wild card teams qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

The playoffs consist of four best-of-seven knock-out rounds, which culminate with the Stanley Cup — the Championship series. 

The Tampa Bay Lightning are the reigning champions. The Florida-based team has won back-to-back titles in 2019/20 and 2020/21. 

During the Stanley Cup, betting action is through the roof. That’s when NHL betting sites release special promotions and props that aren’t normally available.

How NHL Sports Betting Online Works

Using NHL betting apps is a walk in the park. You can place bets on NHL games the same way you would on the NBA, NFL, or any other league. Let us guide you through the entire process — from finding the best NHL betting sites to placing a few bucks on your favorite teams.

How to Get Started With Legal NHL Sports Betting Online

Each NHL sportsbook uses a different registration form, but the signup procedures are largely the same. After you’ve browsed our top lists and found an operator that tickles your fancy, here’s how you can set up an account:

1. Visit your chosen sportsbook website. If you are accessing the platform from your mobile device, you can download the app and complete your registration there. 
2. Find the Join Now/Sign Up/Register buttons. Most sportsbooks place them near the top right corner. 
3. Fill out the form. Along with your login credentials, you will be asked to enter your name, address, birthday, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. A welcome bonus code may also be required. Don’t forget to check the T&C boxes after you enter the required information. 
4. Make a deposit. Upon completing the signup, log in to your account and click or tap on the Deposit tab. Next, select the preferred payment method from the drop-down box and follow the on-screen instructions. After entering all required payment information, confirm the transaction. The funds will be transferred almost immediately to your account. 
5. Claim the welcome bonus. In some cases, the welcome bonus may automatically kick in after you’ve made your qualifying deposit. However, there are sportsbooks that require you to opt in and manually activate the intro promotion. 
6. Start betting. The wagering menu is usually located on the left side of the interface. When you select a sport, the available markets for it will pop up across the middle of the page.

Most Popular Types of NHL Bets

The NHL betting apps listed on this page provide plenty of ways to wager on the action. Betting portfolios are different between operators, but the content is similar for most.  

That said, here are the most common types of bets you’ll come across in legal NHL sportsbooks:

Moneyline NHL Bets

From preseason games to Stanley Cup matchups, this is the most basic kind of bet you can place on individual NHL games. Here, you’re betting on one side to win the game straight up. In a moneyline bet, secondary aspects like goals scored or winning margin have no bearing on the outcome. You will collect your payout as long as your side wins. 

Favorite teams are represented by a minus (-) on the moneyline, and the accompanying number shows how much you need to bet to win $100. Underdogs are marked with a plus sign (+), and the attached odds show what a $100 winning bet would pay. 

Take a hypothetical scenario in which the Boston Bruins are playing the Tampa Bay Lightning. The moneyline for this specific matchup might look like this on NHL betting sites:

• Boston Bruins +220 
• Tampa Bay -150

In this fictitious game, you’d have to stake in $150 on Tampa Bay to lock in $100 in the event of their victory. On the other hand, a $100 bet on the Bruins would net you $220 in profit if the team wins.

Puck Line NHL Bets

The puck line in the NHL is equivalent to the spread in the NBA. It revolves around the winning margin in a given game. This type of bet was introduced to level the playing field in lopsided games. 

Basically, sportsbooks “handicap” the favorite team by taking away a few goals from its total. These goals are added to the underdogs’ tally to make the game more balanced.

Here’s how the lines may appear:

• Detroit Red Wings +1.5 (-120) 
• Toronto Maple Leafs -1.5 (-120)

Maple Leafs are -1.5 favorites in this scenario and must win by 2 or more goals to cover the puck line. A puck line bet on the Red Wings will be a winning one if the Detroit team wins the game outright or loses by one goal. 

Since hockey is such a low-scoring sport, the books usually set the puck line at 1.5.

Over/Under NHL Bets

This is a bet on the total number of goals scored in a particular NHL game. The NHL betting apps set an estimate (usually 5.5), and you have to predict whether the actual total will go over or under that line. The payouts are usually similar on both sides of the spectrum.

Futures

Like in other sports, futures in the NHL are long-term picks that predict eventual division winners, conference winners, or champions. Future odds also may include who will win the Hart Memorial Trophy, Norris Trophy, the Presidents’ Trophy, and more. These markets are extremely hard to hit but can yield huge payouts, which is why they are so appealing.

Props

NHL props are bets placed on certain occurrences within a game. They are usually based on the three main statistical categories — points, goals, and assists — but they can also include a combination of the three. The best NHL sportsbooks offer a wide range of player and team props for every matchup and will have a specific segment for these bets in their portfolios.

Grand Salami

A Grand Salami is a hockey wager that takes into account the total number of goals scored in all games on one particular day. In essence, it’s an over-under bet that takes into account multiple games.

NHL Sports Betting Bonus Offers

The NHL season brings enticing bonuses and promotions from US sportsbooks, which can help you build your bankroll, boost your odds of winning, or even increase your payouts in some cases.

Right out of the gates, you’ll be welcomed with a hefty intro promo that will come into play as soon as you make the first deposit/bet. As you become a regular customer, you will receive numerous other promotions from the top NHL sports betting sites. 

Here are the promo deals you may find in NHL betting apps:

• Risk-free bet — This type of bonus gives you a safety net that comes into effect if your bet loses. It is usually offered as part of the welcome package. As an example, a sportsbook may award you a risk-free wager up to $1,000 upon registration. In this case, you would receive a full refund worth up to $1,000 if your first bet loses. 
• Free bets — Free bets are quite popular among sportsbooks, as they provide users with a chance to bet on their favorite NHL teams without risking their own money. The bonus bucks are basically promo bucks with a 1x rollover and one caveat — when you win with the bonus bucks, you won’t get your stake back. 
• Match deposit — With this promotion, the sportsbook matches a percentage of your deposit up to a certain sum. You may be offered a 100% bonus up to $500 on your initial deposit. This means that if you deposit $500, you’ll receive an additional bonus worth $500. As a result, you will have a playable balance of $1,000. 
• Odds boosts — The concept with odds boosts is self-explanatory — they give bettors a higher payout for the same amount of risk on specific markets. These are often offered to highlight a specific game or series, such as the Stanley Cup. You might be able to get Tampa Bay Lightning at +200 instead of the standard +150. 
• Insurance bets — Insurance bets come in several varieties. The offer usually gives you a refund  (up to a certain amount) in case your team loses in overtime.

NHL Live Betting

Live betting has exploded in popularity across all sports in recent years, and the NHL is no exception. This form of wagering lets you bet once the action gets underway. The odds fluctuate quickly in response to momentum swings and scoring changes, creating opportunities for arbitrage bets. 

As an example, imagine your favorite team gets off to a bad start. If you believe it will bounce back and win the game, you can bet on it at longer odds. It is vital that you take advantage of NHL live betting opportunities as soon as they arise because they won’t last long.

NHL Betting Tips

When it comes to betting on the NHL, there is no foolproof method that will guarantee you’ll win every time. The key is to do your homework and opt for data-driven betting methods. Simply put, the more information you gain about this sport, the more successful your bets will be. 

Here are some of the tips that might help you get over the hump: 

• Factor in the home ice advantage: Home-ice is an important consideration in NHL betting. Performing in front of a home crowd gives home teams not only a huge confidence boost but also the last line change. 
• Look into the stats: Whenever you bet on the NHL, you should collect all the available information about participating teams and players before the game. You should look at previous H2H matches, the current form of the teams, injury reports, news, and anything else that might have an impact on the outcome. 
• Shop for lines: If you want to get the best bang for your buck, you should always compare the odds and lines of different NHL betting apps. One bookmaker might offer lucrative moneyline odds for a given matchup, while another might offer better totals odds.