Best NHL Betting Sites
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Get a detailed ranking of the best NHL betting sites in 2024 so you can register, claim your welcome bonus and start betting on your favorite NHL teams and players.
Top NHL sportsbooks
NHL betting standout features
Sportsbook | NHL betting features |
---|---|
FanDuel | NHL futures markets with the most variety |
Fanatics | FanCash Rewards program gives you credit to buy merchandise |
bet365 | Flexible and valuable welcome bonuses |
Caesars | Quick Picks – a way to get some odds-boosted, pre-made NHL bets |
DraftKings | Great betting NHL market variety and customization options |
BetMGM | Simple NHL same game parlay building |
The NHL regular season is underway with all 32 teams gunning for the Stanley Cup. Right now, it is the Edmonton Oilers (+750, BetMGM) who are the odds-on favorites to hoist the Stanely Cup at season’s end.
Behind Edmonton, you have the Dallas Stars (+950, FanDuel) then the Colorado Avalanche, Caroline Hurricanes, and Florida Panthers are all +1000 odds on BetRivers to win the Cup.
Check out the betting favorites for the major player awards below:
- Hart Trophy (MVP): Kirill Kaprizov (+300, FanDuel)
- Calder Memorial Trophy (ROY): Matvei Michkov (-140, FanDuel)
- Vezina Trophy (Goaltender of the Year): Connor Hellebuyck (+175, BetRivers)
- James Norris Memorial Trophy (Defenseman of the Year): Cale Makar (-286, BetRivers)
- Jack Adams Award (COY): Sheldon Keefe (+550, bet365)
What is the best NHL betting site?
When looking to wager on the National Hockey League (NHL), you’ll have many options available to you. After a thorough review of the best NHL betting sites in the industry, it is our belief that FanDuel Sportsbook is your best option for NHL betting.
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Sportsbook has been counted on as a premier NHL sports betting site for many years now, and we expect this to continue.
- Customizable NHL bets
- NHL-specific promotions
- Seamless app experience
While online sports betting sites tend to cater to the more prominent markets like the NBA and NFL, FanDuel Sportsbook takes care of NHL fans with league-specific promos and an endless variety of betting markets. Many sites don’t even offer NHL promos to existing customers.
FanDuel Sportsbook offers an optimal level of customization options for your NHL bets, allowing you to wager on whatever you’d like. For example, you can move around puck lines in either direction and don’t have to stick with the standard odds and lines like at other sportsbooks.
Another area that FanDuel Sportsbook excels in as an NHL betting site is its player prop market. You can find the largest quantity of player props for your favorite NHL stars, including goal scorers, shots on goal and saves.
FanDuel also offers a robust futures market for the NHL season, allowing you to bet on your favorite team’s win total or their odds to win the Stanley Cup. As the start of the season approaches, you can also find odds for the Vezina Trophy and the Hart Memorial Trophy.
To top it all off, FanDuel Sportsbook has one of the best NHL sports betting apps in the business. The app has become a favorite for fans of all sports and leagues, delivering a seamless experience that is unmatched by its competitors.
When you register at FanDuel Sportsbook in a legal sports betting state, you’ll also be greeted with a generous welcome bonus. FanDuel routinely offers some of the most valuable sign-up bonuses in the industry, so you’ll want to take full advantage right away.
It doesn’t matter if you want to bet on the Stanley Cup or a random NHL game in January, FanDuel Sportsbook is your best bet.
Other NHL betting sites we recommend
The list of the best NHL betting sites doesn’t stop at FanDuel. There are five other NHL sportsbooks that we have identified as excellent options. Let’s explore each one and discuss the best features that contribute to their ranking as a top hockey betting site.
Fanatics Sportsbook
Fanatics Sportsbook is one of the best up-and-coming NHL betting sites, from a brand that has implanted itself as one of the top providers of official sports merchandise in the U.S. market.
- Up-and-coming sportsbook
- Elite rewards program
- Creative welcome bonuses
While the online sports betting industry is congested, Fanatics Sportsbook has done an excellent job of standing out, mostly due to its FanCash rewards model. When you place NHL wagers at Fanatics Sportsbook, you can earn as much as 5% back in FanCash. FanCash can be converted to real cash or used to purchase NHL merchandise with a 1-to-1 conversion.
Fanatics is a sports betting innovator, and its welcome bonuses have typically exemplified this. The site is always trying out new structures. Recently you were able to get your first bet (of up to $100) of each day back as bonus bets for your first 10 days with the sportsbook.
bet365 Sportsbook
bet365 is one of the most well-known names in the sports betting world on an international scale. While the site hasn’t claimed the type of status in the U.S. that it has abroad, bet365 Sportsbook checks in as one of our best NHL betting sites.
- Great international sportsbook
- Flexible sign-up bonuses
- Lenient wagering requirements
bet365 has been steadily expanding its reach in the U.S. over the past few years with multiple state launches. We expect this site to grow even more in the coming NHL seasons, so registering today if the site is live in your state is ideal.
Since bet365’s inception, it has offered the most valuable welcome bonuses for NHL bettors. You can typically find multiple offers to choose from, with all options retaining lenient wagering requirements and bettor-friendly terms and conditions.
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook comes from one of the most recognizable brands in online gambling. Caesars stands out as one of the best NHL betting sites because of its easy-to-use mobile app and its consistent odds boosts.
- User-friendly app
- Consistent odds boosts
- Valuable welcome bonuses
Odds boosts for NHL betting are some of the most valuable existing user promos you can find. They can improve your bottom line exponentially and are routinely offered for specific NHL sports betting markets.
Caesars Sportsbook has always offered welcome promos with gaudy maximum bonus amounts, so if you’re a bettor with a larger bankroll, this is the NHL betting site for you.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook is another great option for NHL sports betting. DraftKings has just about everything you can want in an online sportsbook.
- Beginner-friendly app
- Vast prop betting markets
- Great sign-up bonuses
After reviewing DraftKings Sportsbook, it is one of the best NHL sports betting site for beginners. This is mostly because the layout of its desktop site and mobile app are so easy to navigate. Even if you’ve never placed a sports bet in your life, it’s not difficult to figure out how at DraftKings Sportsbook.
What stood out to us about DraftKings Sportsbook is its betting market variety. There are a multitude of game props that you won’t be able to find at any other NHL betting site. You can bet on the exact scores of games, shutouts, and more.
There are also a host of bet customization options available at DraftKings, specifically for NHL games. You can use the early cashout feature at DraftKings, too. This allows you to get back your stake if you regret an NHL bet you made or can help you get some money back if your bet seems destined to lose, available on select events.
DraftKings also offers one of the best sign-up bonuses, sometimes providing new users with multiple options to pick from.
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM Sportsbook is a great NHL betting site for new and experienced bettors alike. The user interface is intuitive and well-designed, while NHL betting options are extremely vast.
- High-value welcome bonus
- “Build Parlay” function
- Vast NHL betting options
Over the course of reviewing BetMGM Sportsbook and their NHL betting options, it’s evident that they are one of the best choices for beginners. Everything is laid out across the site in an easy-to-comprehend manner.
The NHL section at BetMGM is formatted in such a way that standard bets, parlays and futures are all able to be located and placed without stress. Furthermore, the bet customization and odds for NHL markets are amongst the industry’s best.
Our favorite picks for NHL betting
There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a sportsbook to bet on hockey. Here are our favorite sportsbooks for some of the most important categories.
Where can you get the best sign-up bonus?
NHL betting sites are frequently changing their sign-up bonuses, but you can typically find the best ones at bet365 Sportsbook. In fact, bet365 welcome offers routinely have the most favorable terms and flexibility. Often, you will find multiple options to pick from when it comes to welcome bonuses, allowing you to tailor your bonus to your preferences.
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Validated on: December 27, 2024
What is the best NHL betting app?
The question of which NHL betting app is the best is a tough one to answer, but after our thorough review, we believe the answer is FanDuel.
Below is a comparison of the reviews in the App Store and Google Play Store to give a better indication of how these apps stack up.
Sportsbook | Apple App Store Rating | Google Play Store Rating |
---|---|---|
FanDuel | 4.9 | 4.6 |
DraftKings | 4.8 | 4.6 |
Fanatics | 4.7 | 4.6 |
bet365 | 4.8 | 4.6 |
Caesars | 4.7 | 4.3 |
BetMGM | 4.5 | 4.8 |
The FanDuel Sportsbook mobile app has the best average rating among iOS devices. So there are thousands of other customers who see it exactly as we do.
FanDuel’s mobile app has the best design and while the interface is basic, its simplicity allows you to navigate to wherever you need to in a straightforward fashion, and is great for beginners.
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What is the best sportsbook for NHL live betting?
FanDuel Sportsbook is the best NHL live betting site. FanDuel excels as a sportsbook in just about every area and its live betting platform is no exception.
You can find an exceptional array of betting markets while games are in progress, often with markets that you can’t find anywhere else. Sometimes, you might even get a promo related to NHL live bets at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Best sportsbook for betting on the NHL playoffs
FanDuel Sportsbook is the best NHL sports betting site for the NHL playoffs and the Stanley Cup Final as well. In addition to the vast markets FanDuel offers on Stanley Cup Playoff games, you’ll be able to claim playoff-centric promos and odds boosts as well. During this review, FanDuel was offering 50% odds boosts on same game parlays from select Stanley Cup Playoff games.
What makes a good NHL betting site?
Choosing an NHL sportsbook to place your bets with isn’t hard, but there are a few things to consider when making your choices. We’ll lay them all out here:
1. Bonuses & promotions
One of the most important parts of an NHL betting site is its bonuses and promotions. You should be able to find valuable offers as either a new or existing customer. The welcome bonus is only the first step. An NHL sports betting site should have sports betting promos for your daily wagers on the ice to grade out well in our process.
2. Competitive odds & betting markets
To rank among the best NHL betting sites, the sportsbook must have competitive odds that extend as much value as possible to bettors. While this doesn’t apply on a game-to-game basis, it can mostly be found in futures markets. Additionally, an NHL betting site should have a large quantity of betting markets to pick from as well.
3. Live betting
One of the key components of any NHL betting site is its live betting menu. While pre-game odds and lines are important, the next step is live betting. If you’re watching a game and want to bet on it, the site should have a host of bet types readily available for you. The faster a sportsbook updates its live odds, the better.
4. Banking options
Processing deposits and withdrawals can be strenuous, so the NHL betting sites that have the most banking methods available and the quickest transaction times grade out well for us. The site should have the most common methods for handling transactions and have generous limits.
5. App quality
Most bettors today are betting from their phones, so having an easy-to-use app is extremely important. An NHL sports betting mobile app should be intuitive, load quickly and not require a large learning curve to use.
Understanding NHL betting markets
The NHL is one of the most extensive betting markets offered at major sports betting sites. There are so many different wager types available at any given time, and we’re going to explain the most common ones you’ll encounter during your time at an NHL betting site.
One important note with NHL betting that is different from almost every other major market is that there is an overtime betting variation with odds. You can choose to bet on regulation time, which ends after three 20-minute periods. If not, you can choose to wager on the complete outcome of the game which can include overtime and a shootout.
Moneyline
When you wager on an NHL moneyline, you are betting on a team to win.
For example, suppose that the Carolina Hurricanes are favored with a -150 moneyline in regulation against the Dallas Stars. Let’s say we bet $100 on the Hurricanes. If the Canes win the game without overtime, we win our bet for $66.67 in profit. If the Stars win or the game is tied at the end of regulation, we lose the bet.
Puck line
While many sports have spreads, NHL betting sites offer something called a puck line. Because NHL games are relatively low-scoring, this better handicaps the two teams. A team that is favored will typically draw a “-1.5” puck line while the underdog draws a “+1.5” puck line. Based on how tight the game is expected to be, you can see anywhere from -200 to +180 odds. The spread for MLB betting (called a run line) also works this way, and it’s also because the games are generally lower-scoring affairs.
For example, let’s say the New York Rangers are -1.5 on the puck line at +120 odds against the New Jersey Devils. The Rangers must win by two or more goals for the bet to win. If any other outcome occurs, you lose the bet. Conversely, if you bet on the Devils at +1.5, they can lose the game for your bet to win, as long as they only lose by one goal.
Total
Betting on the total for a full game means wagering on the combined scoring output of both teams by the end of the game.
Suppose that you want to bet on the “Over” for a game between the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings that is set at 6.5 goals. To win the bet, you need the Ducks and Kings to combine for seven goals or more. So, if the final score is “Ducks 3, Kings 2” you lose. If it’s “Ducks 6, Kings 2”, you win.
Parlays
You can always construct an NHL parlay at any of the best sportsbooks. Parlays are wagers with much longer odds to win because they incorporate multiple different bets. To win a parlay, you must win each of the bets, or “legs”, on the ticket.
For example, let’s say you want to parlay Connor McDavid to score a goal (+110), the Colorado Avalanche to win against Anaheim (-110), and the Over 6.5 in the New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils game (-110). The odds of your parlay are +665. Instead of betting on all these picks separately, you’d be betting on all of them to win. This bet type can provide exponentially larger payouts but comes with a lower likelihood of winning. It should also be mentioned that sportsbooks don’t offer standard parlay odds when legs involve the same game.
Player props
Player props are bets directly tied to the statistical performance of a given player. NHL player props can vary from goals scored, assists, and points to saves, ice time, and more.
An example of an NHL player prop would be if you wagered on Auston Matthews to score two or more points in a given game. Let’s say this prop has +140 odds. If you were to wager $10 on the bet, you’d get $14 in profit (in addition to your $10 stake back) if Matthews had 2+ points. If he failed to reach that mark, you’d lose the bet.
Futures
Futures bets carry some of the largest potential payouts at NHL betting sites because of the long odds attached to most wagers. Futures can include win totals, award winners and, playoff performance.
Say you wanted to bet on the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup at +450 odds. If they do, you win the bet. If they don’t, you lose. It’s that simple. You could also bet on Nathan MacKinnon to win the Hart Memorial Trophy, or the Colorado Avalanche to win over 50.5 games. There are tons of possibilities in the futures market.
NHL betting strategies
Betting on the NHL can be profitable if you approach it correctly, but all the while, it can be strenuous. There are many betting strategies our experts employ to aid our NHL betting efforts and we’ll outline a few in this section.
Analytics
NHL analytics are far behind those of other sports, but consuming as much data as possible is integral to understanding how the game works. More importantly, data is imperative to gather to understand the betting aspect of the NHL.
Track trends
The most easily accessible way to learn more about NHL betting is to track trends. Historical trends don’t lie because they aren’t forecasts, they are merely the results of games that have already occurred.
Monitor injury news
Because there are so many minor injuries in the NHL due to the nature of the sport, it is important to constantly check out the news cycle. Lines can change quickly based on one report, so you must be able to act quickly.
There are many other strategies that profitable NHL bettors use that you can find. However, there is no replacement for experience. You’ll learn more about ice hockey and what goes into the betting process by watching games more than doing anything else.
To learn more about strategies for NHL betting, check out our full list of sports betting guides.
Major events on the NHL calendar in 2024
Event | Date |
---|---|
NHL Opening Night | October 8, 2024 |
NHL trade deadline | March 7, 2025 |
Last day of regular season | April 7, 2025 |
Stanley Cup Playoffs begin | April 19, 2025 |
Stanley Cup Final
The playoffs culminate in the Stanley Cup Final, a best-of-seven series to see who wins the Stanley Cup.
NHL Free Agency
NHL free agency is one of the most exciting times in the sport, with marquee names changing teams. You can often bet on where a top-tier player goes in free agency at major NHL betting sites.
NHL Season
The 2024-2025 NHL season is set to begin on October 10, 2024.
How to sign up for an NHL betting site?
The registration process at your favorite NHL sports betting site is likely to be straightforward and can typically be handled within mere minutes. We have listed the steps of how you can sign up for a typical NHL betting site in an efficient manner while claiming a sign-up bonus.
- Go to your selected sportsbook’s desktop site or download its mobile app.
- Register for a new account and supply all accurate information regarding your identity (name, address, etc.).
- Create your username and password for the sportsbook.
- Agree to all of the sportsbook’s terms and conditions.
- If you have one, enter a promo code for the site’s sign-up bonus.
- Make your first deposit.
- Place your first bet.
FAQ
At NHL betting sites, the best promos can routinely be found at bet365 Sportsbook if you’re a new user. If you’re an existing customer, FanDuel Sportsbook and BetMGM Sportsbook offer the most valuable promos for your NHL bets.
After thoroughly reviewing the best NHL betting sites, it is believed that the best sportsbook for wagering on the NHL is FanDuel Sportsbook.
Betting on the NHL is completely legal as long as you’re in a state that has legalized online sports betting and betting at a legally regulated sportsbook.
As mentioned, you can bet on the NHL in any state that has legalized online sports wagering. New states are passing legislation every year, so look out for news if your state doesn’t have NHL betting yet.
The NHL and ice hockey as a sport are different from any other. You can find unique markets like point scorer props, saves and different futures wagers.
The best odds for NHL futures can also be found at FanDuel Sportsbook. While this can vary by market, our review of the odds for awards and the Stanley Cup Final lead us to believe that FanDuel has the most bettor-friendly longshot odds among NHL sports betting sites.
When choosing an NHL betting site to sign up for, look for five different components. A site should have an exceptional welcome bonus and promos for existing customers, plus a wide variety of betting markets available. It must also have an extensive live betting catalog, multiple payment processors with quick transaction times and a top-tier mobile app.
While most online sportsbooks offer live streaming, NHL games will be difficult to find. This is mostly because NHL teams and the league itself have pre-existing broadcasting contracts that restrict NHL betting sites from offering them.
Yes, you can always live bet on the NHL. In some ways, this can be even more profitable than betting on pre-game odds and lines.