Hockey Betting Sites and Guide 2024

The Best Hockey Betting Site for Punters in Canada

Due to the popularity of hockey in Canada and the world, there are a plethora of online sportsbooks that offer hockey betting opportunities. The availability of this wide range of options is great but can also pose a problem to those looking for the best platform to place their wagers.

When choosing a sportsbook, the most important thing is to check for its license. Whether you are betting on a Canadian or offshore bookie, a license is essential as it helps protect you from fraud and ensure that you are not against the law.

Also, ensure to conduct in-depth research on sportsbooks before making a choice. It always helps to compare these sites and look for transparency in their services – paying more apt attention to their payout options, odds, markets, customer service, bonuses and promo offers. Our homepage offers comparison and review of hockey betting sites in Canada where you can see everything each platform has to offer and easily choose the best one for you.

Which Hockey Leagues are Best to Bet on?

This is a common question asked by punters, as knowing the best leagues to wager on is an excellent strategy to increase your chances of winning in hockey betting. Here are the most common hockey leagues in Canada that you can bet on.

Ontario Hockey League (OHL)

The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues, all under the umbrella of a governing body known as the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Since the OHL started, it has won various competitions in Canada and helped raise unique talents who had a significant impact in the most professional hockey league – the NHL.

Even though it is a junior hockey league, the OHL remains the most popular Canadian hockey league and is thus full of many betting opportunities. Although some sportsbooks do not cover the three Canadian Hockey League (CHL) due to the age bracket of the players, there are many other online bookies on which you can bet on the OHL.

Western Hockey League (WHL)

The Western Hockey League is the second most popular league in the CHL after the Ontario Hockey League. It consists of 22 teams – most from Canada and others from the United States. Like any other league under the CHL, players in the WHL are usually around the age of 16-20. Since it was created in 1960, it has proved to be one of the best junior hockey leagues with many incredible feats and achievements. One of these is winning the memorial cup – the cup played between champions of each CHL league – thirteen times.

Due to its popularity in Canada and North America, the WHL also provides many betting opportunities and is covered by many sportsbooks.

Which Leagues are the Most Important in Hockey Betting?

Hockey is one of the most popular sports globally, with billions of fans and punters following it worldwide. Therefore, it is no surprise that there are several notable leagues in the sport’s name. Here are some of the most prominent globally recognized hockey leagues to bet on.

NHL

NHL is undoubtedly the most recognized professional league globally as far as ice hockey is concerned. Both aspiring and professional hockey players see the league as the peak of their careers where they attain ultimate success. Established in 1917, the NHL consists of thirty-two teams from the US and Canada, who compete every year to win the Stanley Cup trophy – the oldest and most prestigious trophy in all professional hockey leagues. One of the reasons the league is the most prominent among others is that it has been around for a long time. Also, the NHL has extensive media coverage and has managed to gather several high-income sponsorships and contracts.

Betting on the NHL is lucrative and straightforward as several sportsbooks offer competitive odds for the league, including future odds.

Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)

The Kontinental Hockey League is the only league that can rival the NHL in professional hockey. Founded in 2008 and now regarded as the most prominent professional ice hockey league in Europe and Asia, the KHL comprises 27 teams.

Due to its popularity, betting on the KHL has increased rapidly over the last couple of years. The league’s betting market is full of diverse opportunities as it features various teams, games (both regular seasons and playoffs) and trophies. The KHL is covered by a plethora of sportsbooks from which you can find the best odds, markets, payment options, bonuses and promo offers.

Swedish Hockey League (SHL)

The SHL is one of the most prominent professional hockey leagues globally. Established in 1975, the league consists of 14 teams that compete in 52 games. 12 out of the 14 teams make it to the playoffs, where the top two teams compete for the Le Mat Trophy.

Being the number three ranked professional hockey league globally, the SHL has a large hockey betting market filled with numerous opportunities. For instance, several bookies cover this notable league, and several games are played every week. Thus, you can easily find great odds to bet on.

The Odds in Hockey Betting

How to Find the Best Odds

One of the most essential tips to ensuring success when betting on any sport is to look for the best odds. The odds of a game determine the payout you will receive if you win the game. They also show how high your probability of winning is as they represent the possibility of an outcome happening. The higher the likelihood of an event, the smaller the odds and vice versa.

Finding the best odds in hockey betting can increase your chances of winning by 20%. Since many sportsbooks cover a wide range of hockey leagues, the most effective method in finding the best place to bet is comparing odds from each bookie and selecting the one that best suits you.

Short-term and Long-term Bets

It is essential to know that ice hockey betting is not limited to wagering on matches in the short term or placing live bets. You can also place bets that span over a long period, otherwise known as long-term betting. These bets are also known as future bets.

Odds Range in Hockey Betting

Odds ranges can vary based on the type of wagers placed and the sportsbooks used. There are simple bets in hockey, such as Moneyline bets that give low odds and low payout prices. Often, these odds range between 1.20 and 1.40. The odds for a favorite to win a match is usually small as the probability of the outcome is already high. Therefore, a wager with low odds means a higher chance of winning.

On the other hand, betting on an underdog to win a match usually has higher odds as there is a lesser chance of the outcome happening. High odds are generally above 4.00.

Popular Markets Available in Hockey Betting

Popular hockey betting markets refer to the types of bets you can place on the sport. Here are some of the most popular ones:

• Money Line Bets

A money line is the most common form of hockey betting. It is as simple as wagering on a team to win a match and getting your payout if the said team wins.

• Puck Line Bets

As the name implies, puck line betting is only available in hockey. It is a point spread bet where you allow the favorite to win by a certain number of goals known as the puck line. The puck line is usually +/- 1.5 goals in hockey betting. That is, your favorite has to win by two or more goals.

• Totals or Over/Under Bets

This is another popular hockey betting type. It involves predicting the total of goals that both teams in a match will score. The bookie can also set a total goal mark for you to place an over/under bet. Under means, the total goals scored in the match will be below the mark, while ‘over’ means the goals will be above the set mark.

• Prop Bets

Proposition bets involve betting on a range of events to happen or not to happen. These bets are known to serve entertainment purposes but can also yield good profit. For instance, you can bet on whether the first goal will be scored in the first half or on how many shots will be taken by a team.

• Parlay or Accumulator Bets

Parlay bets involve betting on multiple selections and selecting winners from various teams on the same bet slate. This is done often to hit a bigger win. However, to win this bet all the selections must hit, as a loss on one of the games is a loss of the entire ticket.

Short-term betting in Hockey

Short-term betting is the most popular type of betting in hockey. It involves wagering on an outcome that will be known in a short period, such as betting on a match that will be played the same day or week. Most hockey betting markets fall under this category as most people want to know their best result and get their payout within a short time.

Long-term Betting in Hockey

These bets are also known as future bets. A future bet may require betting on who will win the Stanley Cup in the NHL before it begins or the first team to score 15 goals in a hockey league that just started. You can also bet on a player to win an award at the end of an NHL year from the beginning of the year. The advantages of long-term hockey betting include long-term entertainment and bigger payouts.

Live betting/In-Play betting in Hockey.

Apart from playing games and predicting outcomes for hockey matches before they start, punters can also place their wagers on an outcome even after a game has already begun. This is known as live or in-play betting. In-play hockey betting helps because seeing a match in action before placing your bets can significantly increase your chance of winning. Also, placing wagers on a game that is already underway can be more fun and thrilling than an average bet.

Live hockey betting does cover as many markets as possible. You can still wager live on a wide range of betting markets – ranging from Moneyline and total to puck line, draw no bet, including some unique prop bets.

The Best Sites for Hockey Betting

Since hockey is a big deal in Canada, many punters like to explore its betting opportunities. Today, hockey betting cuts across various leagues such as NHL and CHL leagues which are covered by several online bookmakers. However, it is essential to ensure that the bookmaker you choose to bet on is licensed and trustworthy.

Here are essential features to look out for in an online bookmaker:

• Attractive odds and hockey betting markets
• Fantastic promo offers and bonuses for both existing and new customers
• Sign-up bonuses
• Live betting option
• Convenient deposit and payout methods
• Excellent customer service
• Easy-to-use mobile apps and websites.

FAQs on Hockey Betting

Popular Stars in Hockey

Though there is no straight answer regarding the best hockey player globally, certain players are top-rated for their outstanding performances over the years. Here is a shortlist of players who presently have a significant impact on hockey worldwide.

Connor McDavid

Connor McDavid is regarded as the best player by most people in the hockey world today. He currently plays in the NHL for the Edmonton Oilers and has displayed outstanding performance in most of his games. The 25-year-old has won multiple awards, including the Art Ross, Ted Lindsay and Hart trophies. He put up one of the best performances in the NHL history 2020/2021 season – scoring a total of 105 points in 56 games (72 assists and 33 goals).

Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby has won the Hart Trophy, the Conn Smythe twice, and the Stanley Cup thrice in his outstanding career. He plays for Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL and is considered by many to be one of the best hockey players of all time. Sidney is the 7^th best of all time in the NHL, with an average of 1.27 points per game.

Marie-Philip Poulin

Marie-Philip Poulin was ranked by the NHL as the greatest player in women’s hockey. Over the years, she has achieved outstanding performances, including scoring the winning goal to win her team the gold in the 2021 Olympics. Marie-Philip Poulin has scored in every Olympic final she took part in from 2010.

Nikita Kucherov

Nikita Kucherov is another outstanding player in the world of hockey. He plays for RW, Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL and has received several awards for exceptional performances. The Russian player made a record as one of the three players in NHL history in the 2019/2020 season when he scored 30+ points in consecutive postseasons.

The Biggest Teams in Hockey

Here are some of the hottest teams in the NHL at the moment:

Montreal Canadiens

Popularly known as ‘the Habs,’ Montreal Canadiens was established in 1909 – before the National Hockey League (NHL) was founded. It is the oldest active NHL team and the oldest franchise in the league. Since its inception, the team has garnered tremendous achievements. They have won the Stanley championship for a record 24 times – making them one of the most successful sports teams in North America.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leaf was also established in Canada, eight years after the founding of the Canadiens. Alongside the Habs, they are one of the six founding members of the NHL. They are, however, regarded as the most valuable team in the NHL – having won 13 Stanley championships.

Detroit Red Wings

Formally known as the Detroit Cougars, the Red Wings were established in 1926, and it only took them barely ten years to win their first championship. Since then, they have gone ahead to win ten more, making them the American team with the most success in the competition.

Boston Bruins

Alongside the three teams mentioned above, the Boston Bruins are also a part of the six founding members of the NHL. They are the oldest established NHL team in the US and the third oldest team worldwide. Since their establishment, they have won six championships – the fourth-highest won by any team.