From the opening faceoff in October to the Stanley Cup Final in June, the NHL serves up betting action almost every night of the week. With NHL Vegas odds available on over 1000 regular season + playoff games and some of the most unpredictable playoffs in sports, hockey is a favorite for bettors who love a higher price.
But fans of several NHL teams live in states without legal US sportsbooks, including California, Texas, and Minnesota. That’s why so many hockey bettors turn to offshore sportsbooks, which accept players from all 50 states and cover every game, every night.
Below, we’ll show you the best NHL betting sites, how to sign up, and exactly how to bet on the NHL, from moneylines and puck lines to totals and parlays.
Best NHL Betting Sites
To bet on hockey, you need a sportsbook that covers every game and accepts players from your state. These are our top five NHL betting sites, all of which offer fully functional mobile sites, so you can bet from your phone without downloading an app:
Sportsbook ratings
BetOnline
RegionsAustraliaCanadaUnited States
No Strings Welcome Offer50% up to $250
Minimum deposit$10 Crypto
BetUS
RegionsCanadaUnited States
Welcome Bonus125% up to $2500
Minimum deposit$100
Lucky Rebel
RegionsCanadaUnited States
Welcome Bonus125% Free + 50 Free Spins
Minimum deposit$50
Bet105
RegionsCanadaUnited States
Welcome Offer$25 Free Bet
Minimum deposit$50
How to Bet on NHL Games Online
Getting your account set up only takes a few minutes, and it’s best done before game day, since the key news in hockey often breaks just hours before puck drop.
Choose a sportsbook from our top five and click “claim now.” Fill in your details, create your login, and check the welcome offer while you’re there, since many bonuses need to be claimed with your first deposit.
Then fund your account through the cashier. Offshore books accept cards and crypto, and crypto is usually the fastest way to get money in and out.
PRO TIP: Starting goalies are often confirmed on the morning of the game, and lines can move fast once they are. Having funds ready in your account means you can bet before the odds change.
How to Place a Bet on an NHL Game
Once your account is funded, head to the hockey or ice hockey section and select NHL. Every game comes with three main betting options.
For this example, we’ve used the odds for the Tampa Bay Lightning against the New York Rangers:
Moneyline
The moneyline is the most popular way to bet on hockey. You simply pick which team will win the game, including overtime and the shootout.
Here, the Lightning are the favorites at -143, and the Rangers are the underdogs at +126. A $100 wager would win:
Lightning (-143): $69.93
Rangers (+126): $126
Your stake is returned on top of your winnings, so a winning $100 bet on the Rangers would pay back $226 in total.
Because hockey is so low-scoring, upsets happen all the time. One hot goalie can steal a game, which is why underdogs in the NHL win far more often than in most other sports.
Puck Line
The puck line is hockey’s version of the point spread, and it’s almost always set at 1.5 goals. Instead of moving the line, the sportsbook adjusts the odds.
Lightning (-1.5, +183): Your bet wins if the Lightning win by two goals or more. A $100 bet would win $183.
Rangers (+1.5, -215): Your bet wins if the Rangers win or lose by one goal. A $100 bet would win $46.51.
That’s why the favorite has plus odds on the puck line. So many hockey games are decided by a single goal that asking the Lightning to win by two makes them the riskier bet.
So if the Lightning win 3-2, the moneyline bet on Tampa Bay wins, but so does the puck line bet on the Rangers.
Total (Over/Under)
Totals betting is about how many goals both teams score combined, including overtime. Here, the total is set at six goals.
Over 6 (-101): Your bet wins if there are seven goals or more.
Under 6 (-115): Your bet wins if there are five goals or fewer.
Because the total is a whole number, a game that finishes with exactly six goals is a push, and your stake is returned. In our 3-2 example, the five goals would make the under a winner.
Keep an eye on the final minutes, though. A team that’s trailing will often pull its goalie for an extra attacker. If the Lightning were to score into the empty net to make it 4-2, the puck line bet on Tampa Bay would suddenly win, and the total would land on exactly six for a push.
How to Place an NHL Parlay Bet
If you want to bet on more than one game, you can combine your picks into a parlay. The odds multiply with every leg you add, so a small stake can return a big payout. The catch is that every pick has to win, or the whole bet loses.
To build one, click the odds for each pick you want, and they’ll be added to your bet slip. Then select the parlay option and enter your stake.
For this example, we’ve combined three moneyline picks:
- Tampa Bay Lightning (-143) at New York Rangers
- Philadelphia Flyers (+143) at New Jersey Devils
- Buffalo Sabres (-106) at Columbus Blue Jackets
Together, those three picks pay +702, so a $100 parlay would win $702. If any one of those teams loses, though, the full $100 is gone.
To compare, here’s the same $100 split into three $33.33 straight bets:
If all three win, you’d make $102.41, a lot less than the parlay. But if one pick lets you down, you still come out ahead:
- Lightning lose, the other two win: $45.77 profit
- Sabres lose, the other two win: $37.64 profit
- Flyers lose, the other two win: $21.42 profit
The Flyers are the underdog here, so they’re doing a lot of the work. Lose that one, and your profit drops to $21.42. That’s the trade-off: straight bets give you a safety net, while a parlay gives you a much bigger payout for taking on more risk.
When to Bet on the NHL
In hockey, one position moves the odds more than any other: the goalie.
- The day before: Lines for each game usually go up the day before. If you like a side early, this is often when you’ll get the best number.
- Game-day morning: Starting goalies are usually confirmed after the morning skate. If a team’s number one goalie is resting, the line can move sharply.
- Back-to-backs: Teams playing on consecutive nights often start their backup goalie in one of the two games. It’s always worth checking the schedule before you bet.
Why Use Offshore Sites to Bet on Hockey?
For fans of several NHL teams, US sportsbooks aren’t an option at all.
California is home to three NHL teams: the Kings, Ducks, and Sharks, and Texas has the Dallas Stars. Neither state has legal US sportsbooks. The same goes for Minnesota, home of the Wild, and Utah, home of the Mammoth.
In Florida, home of the Lightning and the Panthers, bettors can use only one legal sportsbook, which means one set of odds and no way to compare prices.
Offshore sportsbooks accept players from all 50 states and cover every NHL game and market. With a game almost every night, having accounts at a couple of sites also means you can shop around for the best price every time.
NHL Betting FAQs
How do I bet on hockey?
Sign up with an online sportsbook, fund your account, then head to the hockey section and pick a game. From there, you can bet on the moneyline, puck line, or total, or combine picks into a parlay.
What’s the best site to bet on the NHL?
BetOnline is our top pick, with lines on every game and a strong range of markets. BetUS, MyBookie, Lucky Rebel, and BetWhale are all strong alternatives, and all five accept players from every state.
Can I bet on the NHL from any state?
Yes, with offshore sportsbooks. All five of our recommended sites accept players from all 50 states, including California, Texas, and Minnesota, where US sportsbooks aren’t available.
Can I bet on the NHL live?
Yes. Most offshore sportsbooks offer live betting on every NHL game, with odds that update throughout. You can back a team after a slow first period, or take a higher price on a favorite that’s fallen behind.
What’s the best NHL bet for beginners?
The moneyline is the simplest, since you just pick the winner, and in hockey it’s also the most popular bet. Once you’re comfortable, the puck line and total give you more ways to bet on every game.