Hockey Betting Sites in the US

Hockey is one of the most popular sports in the US and everything you need to know about hockey betting is on this page.

We cover the best hockey sportsbooks, the types of bets available, and the most favorable hockey betting bonuses in the US.

Best Hockey Betting Sites in September 2024

Top Results for Virginia, US

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#	Sportsbook	Bonus	Payment methods	Visit Site	T&Cs
1.	FanDuel Sportsbook	Up to $1,000 risk-free bet Free bet				Play	Use bonus code: No bonus code required; Register to claim Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount Wagering requirement: 1x bonus
2.	Caesars Sportsbook	Bet $50 Get $250 in Bonus Bets Cashback				Play
3.	BetMGM	Up to 1500$ first bet offer Cashback				Play	Use bonus code: No bonus code required. Register to claim offer Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount and no odds restrictions Wagering requirement: 1x bonus. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (available in all of US) 21+ only. Please gamble responsibly. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (NY), 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
4.	BetMGM	Up to 1500$ first bet offer Cashback				Play	Use bonus code: No bonus code required. Register to claim offer Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount and no odds restrictions Wagering requirement: 1x bonus. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (available in all of US) 21+ only. Please gamble responsibly. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (NY), 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
5.	BetMGM	Up to 1500$ first bet offer Cashback				Play	Use bonus code: No bonus code required. Register to claim offer Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount and no odds restrictions Wagering requirement: 1x bonus. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (available in all of US) 21+ only. Please gamble responsibly. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (NY), 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
6.	BetRivers	100% up to $250 Match deposit bonus				Play	Use bonus code: 250MATCH Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount and no odds restrictions Wagering requirement: 1x bonus
7.	DraftKings Sportsbook	Bet $5 get $200 in free bets instantly Free bet				Play	Use bonus code: No bonus code required; Register to claim Qualifying bet: $5 Wagering requirement: 1x bonus
8.	WynnBET	Bet $100 get $100 in free bets Cashback				Play	Use bonus code: XUSBETTOP; Register to claim offer Qualifying bet: Bet $100 or more at minimum odds of -120 Wagering requirement: 1x bonus

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Every betting site has been tried and tested by USBetting’s team of experts, who use strict criteria to judge each one and recommend only the best hockey sportsbooks.

The aspects used to rate each hockey site include how good their promotions are, the competitiveness of the odds, and range of hockey markets, amongst others.

We only ever recommend licensed US betting sites as these are legal to bet with and ensures your personal data and money are both safe.

Hockey Betting Bonuses

US sportsbooks offer bonuses for specific sports and hockey is no exception, with many betting sites having promotions that give you free bets or odds boosts to utilize in your wagering.

Hockey promotions aren’t available on every site simply because NHL isn’t as popular for betting as other major sports, but there are a few out there.

At time of writing, bet365 pay you out as a winner if the team you back goes up by three goals. All you have to do is place a pre-game bet on moneyline on any NHL game and you will be paid out in full if they go up by three goals.

You can also bet on hockey using the welcome bonuses from betting sites. These registration bonuses usually come in the form of free bets or bonus credits, and you should know that these stakes are not included in any returns from successful wagers.

Each major bonus type is listed in the table below along with the best hockey betting site for that type of bonus.

The best and most frequent hockey free bet offers are available at BetMGM, with plenty of bonuses available simply for betting regularly or placing same game parlays.

PointsBet have the best welcome bonus of any hockey betting site, with up to $2,000 available as a risk free bet that you can use on any hockey market.

Those who like boosted returns should go for Caesars Sportsbook, who often have enhanced hockey parlays available during the season and in the playoffs.

Top hockey betting promotions

Best hockey betting free bets BetMGM Best hockey welcome bonus PointsBet Best hockey boosted odds Caesars Sportsbook

Top Hockey Betting Apps

Any sportsbook worth betting with will have an app for both iOS and Android, allowing you to place wagers on your mobile at home or on the go.

Provided you are within a legal state where the betting site operates, even if it is not the one you registered in or live in, then you can use the app to place bets on hockey and other sports.

Our team of experts has tested every mobile betting app available to US bettors, rating them on a range of criteria including ease of use and how simple it is to place a wager.

DraftKings Sportsbook offer a good app that excels in hockey betting due to it’s simple navigation that makes it easy to bet on NHL and deposit when necessary.

In terms of pure app, Caesars is the best on the market and this translates into a good hockey betting experience thanks to competitive odds and a decent range of pre-game markets.

FanDuel Sportsbook is excellent for live betting due to their app, as it has excellent market choice and live stats that are easy to find on mobile – enabling you to make informed bets.

How to Bet on Hockey

Betting on hockey in the US is not as complicated as other major sports simply because there are fewer markets available compared to the likes of NFL and NBA.

It is still important that you know what you’re betting on, what the puck line is, and how to read American odds.

You can find out more about how to bet on hockey by clicking on any of the links below.

Hockey betting explained

• How to place a bet
• Odds explained
• Bet types
• Betting Tips

How to Place a Hockey Bet

Hockey betting is a little easier to understand than other sports because there are generally fewer markets available.

This is largely due to NHL not being as popular as the likes of NFL and NBA, and so betting sites do not provide as many options.

When registering for a new betting site, you need to provide some personal information such as your address and the last four digits of your Social Security Number. This is to verify your identity as part of Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations.

1

Find legal US betting site

Check out our list of recommended US sportsbooks and pick the one that appeals most to you.

2

Register for a betting account

Sign up to that sportsbook on their website, taking advantage of their welcome offer if you wish to.

3

Find the game you want to bet on

All betting sites will list hockey separately in their navigation bar but NHL may be shown at the top of it as a featured league.

4

Do an analysis of the game

At the very least, check stats for the two teams playing in the game.

5

Find the market

Sportsbooks tend to offer limited lines on hockey games, at least compared to other major sports.

6

Compare odds

Have a look at other sportsbooks available in your state to make sure you’re getting the best odds.

7

Place your bet and wait for it to settle

Choose your wagering amount and then place the bet.

How to Read Hockey Odds

American odds always start with a plus or a minus. If it is a plus, then the number shows the amount you would win from a theoretical $100 wager. You don’t have to bet exactly $100, it is just how the price is denoted.

If the number begins with a minus then that is how much you would have to wager to win $100. Again, that is just hypothetical and you can wager any amount within the sportsbook’s rules.

American Odds format does not lend itself to being particularly user-friendly for new bettors, with Decimal Odds (such as 2.50) and Fractional Odds (like 6/4) much easier to understand but much less common in the US.

Hockey odds explained

-110 Wager $110 to win $100 profit -200 Wager $200 to win $100 profit +100 Wager $100 to win $100 profit +500 Wager $100 to win $500 profit

Hockey Odds Comparison

Hockey sportsbooks provide different odds for even the same games, which highlights the need to shop around and not rigidly stick to a single betting site.

The odds comparison table in this section shows how varied odds can be for a single game – in this case the Detroit Red Wings’ trip to Boston Bruins.

DraftKings offered the best odds on the Red Wings to win the game, with +235 ahead of the other three listed hockey sportsbooks. However, their moneyline price on the Bruins is significantly worse as a result.

The puck line is a little more interesting as all the sportsbooks use -110 odds as a guide for both sides, which is not as common in hockey compared to basketball and football betting where you’ll see it far more frequently.

Caesars and FanDuel didn’t move their odds from -110, leaving their margin at 4.8%, but bet365 offer slightly better odds on Detroit to cover whilst DraftKings go a little bit better on Boston.

Bet Types

Hockey betting offers a few different options for wagers which are available at every US betting site, and you should be aware of at least the basic ones.

Some sportsbooks may have a more varied range of markets and the concepts listed here can usually be applied to those.

These bet types are available everywhere but may be listed under a different name, such as “match winner” for moneyline at some hockey betting sites.

Spread/Puck Line

The spread, which is also known as the puck line in hockey, is betting on a team to win by more than a specified number or for the other team to lose by less than that number.

This is also referred to as handicap betting and the easy way to work out whether your bet has won is to simply subtract the spread number from the pre-game favorite after the game has finished.

Because of the low-scoring nature of hockey, at least compared to NFL and NBA, the puck line is almost always set at -1.5. This is similar to betting on baseball.

Whichever team is the winner after that number has been subtracted is said to have covered the spread.

Totals (Over/Under)

This is betting on how many goals will be scored in a single game by both teams combined.

The line tends to be set somewhere between five and 6.5 goals and usually includes overtime, although you should check the rules of your preferred betting site for that.

You can place a bet on whether the actual number of goals scored will be over or under the line set by the sportsbook.

Moneyline

Moneyline is just another way of asking which team will win the game. No handicaps or other conditions are attached to this.

Many bettors prefer to bet on the underdog moneyline rather than the puck line, especially if there’s not much between the teams, as it presents greater returns.

Player Props

Player props are wagers on how well a specific player performs in a single game. Unfortunately for hockey bettors, this is usually very limited and tends to only include goals, assists, and points.

Initial prop lines for goals and assists are set at 0.5 but many sportsbooks also offer alternate lines of 1.5 and 2.5, which are great if you fancy a player to perform well.

Parlays

Parlay bets consist of selections from multiple games, with all legs needing to be successful for the bet to win.

The chance of a parlay winning lessens with each selection you add, but the potential return amount increases and is higher than it would be if you placed the same wager on each market individually.

Period Betting

Period betting is almost identical to regular betting except it only applies to a specific period of the game. The bet is settled at the end of that period and anything else that happens in the game does not impact period wagers.

You can only bet on the first period of a hockey game before it starts, with second and third period betting made available in-play for live betting.

Hockey Futures

Futures are bets that take the whole season into account, rather than just a single game, and so they are settled at the end of the year.

They are typically placed at the start of the season – although that is not a requirement – and generally on overall champion markets or player awards.

• Champion – The team that wins the Stanley Cup in NHL. This is one futures market that is available all year round, usually going live as soon as the previous season’s Stanley Cup has finished.
• Player awards – NHL hands out a range of individual player awards at the end of the season, including MVP, Best Defenseman, and Rookie of the Year. These awards are named after important hockey figures of the past and may be listed under their official title, such as Hart Memorial Trophy for MVP.
• Points total O/U – Betting sites project an overall season points total for each NHL team and you can bet on whether their actual total at the end of the campaign will be higher or lower.
• To make/miss playoffs – Only 16 of the 32 NHL teams qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs and each team has odds on whether they will be involved in the postseason.
• To win division/conference – NHL is split into four divisions and two conferences, with betting sites offering odds for each team to win their respective division and conference.

Hockey Betting Tips and Advice

As well as knowing how to pick a betting site, place bets, and read odds, there’s still some other tips and tricks that are worth knowing.

Remember, this are only general advice to help you decide what wagers to place – it is not a foolproof way to win every bet.

These steps are always worth considering before placing any hockey bet as being regimented with sports wagering is always better than relying solely on gut feel.

Hockey Live Betting

Live hockey betting lets you bet on games as they happen, adding a new dimension to sports betting that does not restrict you to only placing wagers pre-game.

Sharp minds can use in-play betting to find value in certain markets as you can utilize statistics from both pre-game and in-game to justify wagers.

This gives you as much information as possible at your disposal to place bets with, especially as live betting offers a range of markets that aren’t available pre-game.

The main live hockey betting markets available include:

• Moneyline
• Puck line
• Total
• Next goalscorer
• Next team goalscorer
• Next player to get penalty minutes
• Next team to score
• Final score

Some hockey sportsbooks excel at live betting and our team of experts have picked out the best ones for in-play.

BetMGM consistently offer strong odds on live hockey so you get more value on bets and they also have great stats available so you can make informed wagers.

FanDuel Sportsbook have lots of live markets for NHL games, clocking in at over 60, and their live stats are updated quicker than other sites. However, they don’t have any other hockey leagues available for in-play betting.

PointsBet are also fantastic for live NHL betting and their app is simple to navigate so you’re not wasting time trying to find the game you want. Unfortunately, their selection of markets is quite poor.

BetMGM

Competitive live odds

Lots of stats available

Not as many markets as others

BetMGM review

FanDuel Sportsbook

Live stats constantly updated

Good range of markets

Fewer games available to bet on

FanDuel Sportsbook review

PointsBet

Easy to use

Great for NHL

Not many markets

PointsBet review

How We Rate Hockey Betting Sites

Every betting site we recommend has gone through a series of tests to determine how good it is.

These tests consist of strict factors that our team of expert bettors have determined, allowing us to give you the best suggestions possible.

It’s not vital that a sportsbook is the best at every aspect listed as very few are amazing at everything, so you should rate sites depending on what is most important to you – such as promos or odds.

• 

  Security

  It is important that a betting site holds valid US licenses for every state it operates in, as this means they are legal. Legal sportsbooks keep your money and personal information safe with strong security measures.

• 

  Promotions

  Hockey sits pretty low in most sportsbooks’ priority list so promotions for the sport are quite rare, which makes those that do have hockey promotions always worth considering. The best hockey bonuses are worth just $50, much lower than other sports, although welcome bonuses can be sued on hockey and they go as high as $2,000.

• 

  Mobile apps

  Being able to place wagers on your phone or tablet is essential for any sportsbook as many bettors prefer to use an app over a computer. The best apps have simple navigation that make it easy for you to get to the hockey section and place bets on games.

• 

  Quality of odds

  Consistently providing very competitive odds on the main hockey markets – puck line, moneyline and totals – is key as better odds means more money when you win bets.

• 

  Markets

  A large choice of markets makes betting more fun as it means you can explore different aspects of a hockey game, rather than being stuck to the same few. Hockey sportsbooks offer around 50 markets on average whilst the best have over 70 choices, with many extra markets coming as more in-depth player props like power play points.

• 

  Live betting

  The best hockey sportsbooks offer attractive odds and lots of markets for live betting, giving you plenty of options for in-play. They also have good apps as most people prefer to live bet on their phones whilst watching a game on TV.

• 

  Payment methods

  There aren’t many bigger turn-offs than a betting site not accepting the method you want to use. A sportsbook with popular options like PayPal, Play+, VISA, Mastercard, and VIP Preferred is more likely to be rated higher than one with only a couple of methods.

Hockey Betting Sites to Avoid

Because online sports betting was only legalized in 2018, this gave offshore sportsbooks the chance to take a firm grip of the US betting market.

These betting sites are not licensed to operate in the US but can accept US customers, making them enticing to those with few legal options in their state.

However, you should stay away from sites that are not licensed to operate in the US – primarily because there’s no recourse if something goes wrong.

There’s nothing that can be done if they withhold your deposit, for example, and they also charge extortionately high fees for withdrawals.

Bovada

No US license

High deposit and withdrawal fees

No app

BetOnline

No US license

High minimum deposit

Withdrawal fees

MyBookie

No US license

High fees on deposits and withdrawals

Withdrawals take over a week

Most Popular Hockey Leagues

Hockey is popular in the US and Canada and in large sections of Europe, so there are lots of leagues all over the world. However, the highest-quality leagues are in North America.

The NHL remains the premier league with millions of viewers tuning in to regular season games and the playoffs, which culminates with the Stanley Cup in a best-of-seven series.

From a betting perspective, most sportsbooks only offer in-depth markets on NHL as well as limited odds on college hockey and some European leagues.

NHL

NHL is the world’s premier hockey league, with players from all over the globe suiting up every and increasing the worldwide appeal of the sport.

Games are played almost every night between October and June, with a host of outdoor games including the Winter Classic and the Stadium Series which also attract more casual viewers.

Not many betting sites offer much in the way of markets and promos for hockey, and bonuses are generally only worth around $20. New sportsbooks often have bigger hockey bonuses that are worth $50, although that is still lower than other sports.

NHL info

Year established 1917 Number of teams 32 Number of games played per team 82	Start of regular season October End of regular season May Team with most titles Montreal Canadiens (25)

NHL is by far the most popular hockey league so check out our dedicated page about NHL betting. NHL betting sites

NCAA Hockey

College hockey only has a handful of teams compared to other NCAA-organized major sports like football and basketball, but it’s still popular in the US.

Most betting sites only offer futures and basic markets on college hockey so your betting options may be limited, and specific NCAA hockey bonuses are non-existent.

As with other college sports, the NCAA host a post-season tournament to crown the overall champion. The 16 best college hockey teams are split into four regional competitions, with each winner advancing to the Frozen Four before two teams play for the national championship.

NCAA hockey info

Year established 1948 Number of teams 59 Number of games played per team Up to 34	Start of regular season October End of regular season March Team with most titles Denver Pioneers, Michigan Wolverines (9)

Find out more about NCAA betting in the US on our college hockey page. NCAA Hockey betting sites

KHL

The premier league in Europe is the Kontinental Hockey League, which mostly consists of teams from Russia but also has sides from Belarus, Kazakhstan, and China.

Teams are split into Eastern and Western conferences, like with NHL, and eight of the 12 teams in each advance to the Gagarin Cup playoffs.

It’s rare to find any sort of depth with KHL wagering but many sportsbooks offer moneyline and spread betting on it, which gives you the chance to bet on individual games or create parlays.

KHL info

Year established 2008 Number of teams 22 Number of games played per team 68	Start of regular season September End of regular season February Team with most titles Ak Bars Kazan (3)

Conclusion

Hockey has fallen in popularity in recent years but is still extremely well-supported in the US thanks to NHL and college play, so there’s always lots of betting opportunities.

Over 1,000 NHL games are played every season but there’s not usually many bonuses around for hockey as sportsbooks prioritize other sports. As a result, markets and odds are less competitive as well.

Lots of hockey live betting markets are available to get stuck into and the sportsbook welcome bonuses can be used on any hockey league, whether that’s NHL, NCAA, the KHL, or any other league that one of our recommended sportsbooks has to offer.

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