Best NHL Betting Sites for 2023-24 Season

With 32 teams playing an 82-game regular season, betting on the NHL is an excellent option for some fun and rewarding sports action as we head into the winter months. To help you become the Gretzy of betting, we’ve created this guide to help you place your NHL bets. We'll cover everything from an NHL betting guide, how to create an account at a sportsbook, and other tips to help get your journey started.

What Are The Best NHL Betting Sites?

Everyone wants to know what the best option for any product is – the truth about sportsbooks is that there’s never going to be a clear “winner”  thanks to so many factors involved. The same can be said for NHL betting options. It’s all about figuring out what you prefer and which book gives you the most value for your dollar.

If you have friends who are sports bettors, ask about their preferred NHL betting sites and why they use them. It’s hard to go wrong with so many reputable options on the market, and you can always change your sportsbook or use multiple books if that’s more your style.

If you're a new bettor, check out our introductory guide to betting on the NHL!

The Florida Panthers look to even the Stanley Cup Finals in Game 4

 

Are Online NHL Betting Sites Legal?

The short answer on NHL betting laws is that it varies country by country, state by state. It doesn’t hurt to do some research into your region for context or to see when it's going to be available if it's currently not. Our computers and phones know our geo-location, so online sportsbooks that aren't legal in your region will typically not let you make an account or a deposit to begin with.

What to look for when choosing an NHL betting site

Every NHL betting site has several criteria they need to pass to be a sufficient option for bettors -- lucky for you, we’ve vetted each sportsbook that offers NHL betting so you don’t have to. It’s vital to prioritize sites that have fast withdrawals, exclusive bonuses, tons of deposit options, and reliable customer service.

Types of NHL Bets Allowed

Every sportsbook you’re evaluating should offer all the mainstays of NHL betting, including moneyline, totals, puck lines, prop bets, and futures. If NHL betting is legal in your region, everything from the regular season to the Stanley Cup will be included in the hockey betting section of your chosen site.

NHL Betting Lines and Odds

On top of offering all the usual NHL betting options, sportsbook odds should be fair and regulated. No matter where you choose to bet, you’ll need solid lines that are approved by oddsmakers across the world. Odds at your sportsbook of choice will be offered American style (-115), in Decimals (1.20), or in Fractional form (1/5). At Odds Shark, we use the American style for NHL odds and beyond.

We’ll get into “line shopping” further down the page, but there are a few discrepancies from site to site that you can turn into an advantage if you’re clever – regardless, modern online NHL betting sites will offer exactly what you need to make wagers thanks to the growing popularity of hockey betting.

NHL Betting Bonuses

Both new and regular bettors can claim bonuses by betting on the NHL, a feature that’s a must-have among modern sportsbooks. Typically, bonuses come in the form of “credits” – these credits cannot be withdrawn as is, but are instead free to be used on any normal bet you’d make. Winning a bet with credits will reward you with regular currency, meaning a winning bet is required to redeem your bonus value.

  • Initial Deposit: $100
  • Add: Sportsbook Welcome Bonus ($100 in Credits)
  • Total Bankroll: $200 (50/50 of Cash & Credits)

The most common sportsbook perks are welcome bonuses, where new members receive a matching amount of site credits equal to a certain deposit. As the season goes on, you might get a small amount of credits as a token of your loyalty, so go ahead and make a ridiculous ten-leg parlay on the NHL! It's worth a (slap)shot. 

Please read the terms and conditions associated with any bonus you accept. Each sportsbook has stipulations regarding their rewards and it’s important to understand how the fine print applies to the offer.

User Interface

At this stage of the internet, everyone has run into a site or a page that has such a miserable user interface it ruins the entire experience. With so many options for betting, you need an easy-to-use, navigable sportsbook.

This will vary depending on your preferences, but look for sites with clean designs on both their mobile and desktop sites. There are a lot of options for NHL betting, so choosing a book that isn’t too cluttered will make your betting career a lot easier.

Deposits and Withdrawal

Always be sure to check out a sportsbook’s banking options for whatever works best for you – the more payment methods, the better. Most online NHL sportsbooks accept credit cards like Visa, MasterCard, and American Express, debit cards, money transfers, e-wallets like PayPal, Neteller, or Skrill, and cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dash, or Ethereum.

Image of payment options for sports betting sites


For the most part, you’ll be able to take money out of your account in the same way you deposited it – withdrawals can take anywhere from a few seconds to a few days, but cryptocurrency is the only type that is instantaneous.

Customer Support

As an NHL sports bettor, you’re entitled to raise any questions or concerns about your betting account. Whether it’s the accuracy of a result, money-related, or anything else, you need effective customer support. The best sportsbooks have customer support agents available by phone, email, and live chat 24 hours a day, seven days a week – some sites even assist bettors through their social media channels.

Safety and Convenience

The most important aspect of a sportsbook – this is your money we’re talking about! It needs a safe betting site where it can come and go with ease. Big-name sportsbooks will be up to snuff when it comes to security requirements, but if you’re exploring more niche options, make sure to do your research and get customer testimonials on their integrity.

How To Sign Up For NHL Betting Sites

This is a basic rundown of what your first sign up and betting experience on an NHL sportsbook will be like, follow along through your future betting journey.

Register

Once you've selected your preferred sportsbook, the signup process is pretty smooth -- you'll need to input details like your name and address (for banking purposes) and select a deposit option.

Deposit

You gotta spend money to make money, right? You'll need funds in your account to bet on the NHL, so use your selected deposit option to put some cash in the account and you'll be off to the races.

Claim Your Welcome Bonus

Don't forget this part! Sportsbooks will usually match your first deposit up until a certain amount (ex. $1000). There should be directions on how to redeem the bonus -- if you don't see them, check your email, browse through your account on-site, or consult customer service.

Start Making Bets

Your first step on a long journey -- look through tonight's NHL games and get your betting career started on the right track by wagering on whatever tickles your fancy. Remember to have fun with it and start with a team you're familiar with, there will be plenty of opportunities for wild, high-odds bets down the road.

 Withdraw Your Winnings

Congrats! You did win, right? When you've made a profit you're happy with, go to your account and withdraw your winnings in whatever method you choose, usually in the same fashion you made your deposit. The withdrawal might take a bit to go through but you'll see it reflected in your bank account in the coming days. Check with customer service if a withdrawal doesn't work properly, or it's been a while before the profits show.

What bets can you make at an NHL Sportsbook?

Here's a brief explanation of the most common bets you'll see NHL sports bettors make -- this list is not comprehensive by any means, it just includes popular options. Dive into your sportsbook and check out all the options!

Moneyline Betting: Picking A Winner

Moneyline bets are simple – you just need to select which team you believe will win the game straight up. For a game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Ottawa Senators, odds would look something like this, with the minus sign (-) attributed to favorites and a plus sign (+) for underdogs:

  • Tampa Bay Lightning -120
  • Ottawa Senators +150

If you were to wager $100 on the Lightning and they won, you’d get a payout of $183.33 – you get your original $100 back along with your prize of $83.33. On the other hand, a winning bet on the Sens would give you a payout of $250 – you get your $100 back, plus your loot of $150.

Underdogs provide the most value but are less likely to win the game, according to the oddsmakers. Favorites are not as lucrative as underdogs but have a better chance to win in the eyes of the sportsbook. Consider using NHL consensus picks to see what similar bettors are placing their money on, or our NHL computer picks if you prefer an algorithm-based approach.

Important Note: The NHL doesn’t have draws, thanks to an overtime and shootout format for tied games, so you might see the option for a 3-Way Moneyline – this is you betting on a game ending in regulation time, basically one that won’t go to overtime. The odds on these are a bit higher because of that risk, but can be an attractive option for heavy favorites.

Puckline Betting: Which NHL Team Will Cover?

Pucklines are comparable to the spread in the NFL and NBA, or runlines for baseball. To make a spread bet, you don’t need to determine which team will win, just how much they’re going to win or lose by. This is known as their performance against the spread (ATS), for example:

  • Vancouver Canucks -1.5
  • Anaheim Ducks +1.5

The Anaheim Ducks are spotted 1.5 goals before the game starts because they’re considered the weaker team – they need to either win or lose by no less than one goal. The Vancouver Canucks are given a disadvantage of 1.5 goals because they’re the stronger team and need to win by at least two goals.

The puck line will normally be given with even odds, like both -110s above – in closer matchups, you might see the favorite’s puckline with + odds.

Totals Betting: More or Less Points Scored

Oddsmakers will select a total number based on how they think the game will pan out. To make a total bet, you’ll have to decide if the total number of points in the game will be OVER or UNDER that selected number.

Let’s say the Columbus Blue Jackets are playing the Toronto Maple Leafs with the total set at 6.5 goals. That 0.5 indicates the total is set at 7, with no possibility of a PUSH, which is possible for lines ending in an even number, like 6.0.

If you bet the UNDER, you think the combined score will be six goals or less. If you bet the OVER, you think the Leafs and Blue Jackets are going to score seven or more goals.

NHL Prop Betting: Shots, Goals, and so much more

A prop is a bet on a player or team milestone that may not directly correlate with the outcome of the game – although live props are available (covered below), these are usually made before puck drop. 

Player and team props can range from which team will score first to which player will score a goal, or how many shots a player might take in a given period. The list is long and inclusive of anything and everything that goes on in an NHL game, so don’t be afraid to browse once you get your sportsbook chosen!

NHL Futures Betting: Long-Term Gambles

NHL futures are bets on an outcome that will happen at a later date. Bets like this involve guessing who will win the Eastern / Western Conferences, which team will win the Stanley Cup, or who will win NHL awards like the Hart Trophy, Rocket Richard, etc.

Futures odds for the Stanley Cup Finals would look something like this:

  • Colorado Avalanche +450
  • Dallas Stars +500
  • Carolina Hurricanes +600
  • Vegas Golden Knights +600
  • Toronto Maple Leafs +650

The trick is to choose a good valued team earlier than later, as the odds dip heavily for every successful team as the season goes on – capitalizing at the beginning of the season will net you a much bigger payout if your futures wager pays off.

Parlay Betting: The Multiple Bets Bundle

A parlay bet combines more than one wager on one betting slip. For example, two totals, a moneyline and a puckline, or any other combination. What makes a parlay bet risky is that all selections must win for you to get a payout - you can also include bets from other sports or leagues on your parlay ticket. Check out our parlay calculator to determine whether or not the reward justifies the risk.

Live NHL Betting Online: Betting While The Game Is Going On

Touched on above, a live wager lets you place a bet on an NHL game happening in real time. This is great if the favorite has a slow start, or if the underdog is giving their all and leading at the end of the first period, as you have an opportunity to exploit the live odds if you believe the value is there.

Following NHL betting trends and power rankings can become extremely valuable when live betting, as you can place educated wagers as the game goes on based on previous results. Remember – live odds disappear fast, so when you see odds you like, it’s best to jump on them quickly.

Benefits of Creating Accounts With Multiple NHL Betting Sites

There are a lot of sportsbooks to choose from, most of which offer tantalizing welcome offers, so it’s not surprising that using multiple sites is a fan-favorite trick for NHL bettors. Aside from letting you double-dip into those juicy bonuses, each NHL betting site will offer different odds for each line.

LinesSportsbook #1Sportsbook #2Sportsbook #3
Moneyline-115-120-115
Spread-1.5 (-115)-1.5 (-105)-1.5 (-120)

Let's look at a theoretical example of an NHL favorite. Our sportsbooks all have the same team favored, but their lines differ slightly. If you want to bet the moneyline, choose option 1 or 3 -- notice that #2 has the same spread as #1, but their odds differ slightly in favor of #2, so that’d be your spread option.

The percentage each site takes off the top of each bet (known as "the juice" or "vig") will vary because different sites use different oddsmakers. This practice is called “line shopping”, a great tactic that lets you squeeze every drop of value out of your favorite looks for the NHL season.

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