Ice hockey is one of the most popular sports in the world. The biggest and most important hockey league is the US National Hockey League, or the NHL, though other countries like Russia and the Scandinavian countries also hold a strong footing in the sport. Many of them are featured in UK online betting sites and include a wide variety of betting markets.
With this said, not all hockey betting is the same. In some hockey leagues, there are bets you can make, that you can’t make in others. On this hockey betting page, you will not only find out what the best hockey betting sites are but also learn about the best hockey betting markets, as well as how and where to bet on hockey. So, let's get started with the three currently best hockey betting sites for online bettors.
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BetfairSign-up OfferDeposit $30, play with $60ZSKABY18+, New Customers only, Terms & Conditions apply #adDetails -
UnibetSign-up OfferMoney Back as Bonus up to £40 if Your First Bet Loses + £10 Casino Bonus18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 35x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. No deposit required for NI customers. Call 08081699314 to claim. Full T&Cs apply. #adDetails -
bet365Sign-up OfferUp to $200 in Bet Credits!CD365Open Account Offer Up to $200 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Sign up, deposit $10* or more to your account and bet365 will match your qualifying deposit in Bet Credits when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. The bonus code CD365 can be used during registration, but does not change the offer amount in any way. Full list below. #adDetails -
888sportSign-up Offer100% up to $100New Customers only • $10 min deposit • The bonus will be applied once the full deposit amount has been wagered at least once with cumulative odds of 1.5 or greater • Wagering must be cleared within 60 days • This offer may not be combined with any other offer • Casino Bonus valid for selected games only • Bonus wins capped at $500, exc. JP wins • To withdraw bonus & related wins, wager 30 x (bonus amount) • Wagering requirements vary by game Full T&C’s apply #adDetails -
BetVictorFree BetsBet £/€5 Get £/€3018+ New Customers only. Deposit, opt in and place a £5 qualifying bet at odds of 2.00 or greater within 7 days of opening a new account; excludes cashed out bets. Receive 2x £10 Free Sports Bets, valid on set events only at odds 2.00 or greater, expires in 7 days. Plus a £10 Game Show Bonus, selected games, wager 40x to withdraw a max of £250. T&Cs Apply. Please Gamble Responsibly. #adDetails -
William HillFree BetsBet £10, Get £30P30New customers using Promo Code P30 only, min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15 (30 days expiry), free bet/payment method/player/country restrictions apply. #adDetails -
BetfredFree BetsBet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets + 60 Spins!SPORTS60New UK & NI customers only. promo code ‘SPORTS60’. Deposit & place first sports bet of £10+ in one bet transaction, at odds of Evens (2.0) +. settled within 60 days. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets credited within 48 hours of bet settlement, 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS validation may be required. Max 60 Free Spins on Justice League Comics. 7-day expiry.Full T&Cs apply. #adDetails
Betfair
Betfair is generally known as a sportsbook that offers the best betting odds from all major sports, both in the UK and abroad. The bookmaker doesn’t make any exceptions when it comes to hockey betting. With Betfair’s betting exchange, you can enjoy the best odds on the market. You also get the chance to play against other hockey punters, rather than going against a sportsbook. Betfair is an exceptionally good opportunity if you are a bettor from the UK who prefers betting on large hockey markets, such as the NHL. The bookmaker also includes a wide selection of betting options for all major markets. During major hockey games and competitions, Betfair includes a truly staggering number of betting markets for hockey pundits.
Unibet
Unibet is one of the veterans in the industry and a sportsbook that exactly knows what its customers want. It is a major player in the UK, but also has a pretty extensive offer for Nordic bettors. This explains why they have some of the most comprehensive hockey betting offers you can find. Unibet also offers odds that are amongst the highest in the market.
Unibet’s website and platform also look as they are tailor-made for live hockey betting. It is a perfect option for bettors who love to place live bets and features a very solid selection of betting options. Another great side of Unibet is that live betting is also available on mobile and tablet devices. This means you can bet on live matches from wherever you are, all you need for it is the Unibet app and a stable internet connection. Overall, Unibet is one of the best hockey betting websites in the world and a great option for all of your hockey betting needs.
bet365
bet365 is one of the largest if not the largest online betting site in the world. It offers a great variety of betting options. Not only this, bet365’s website excels as a live betting platform. It includes a lot of statistics and data that help you follow hockey games even better. The live betting section is fast, reliable and easy to use.
Bet365 is one of the most well-established and trustworthy sportsbooks on the today's market. Its portfolio consists of very competitive odds and betting options. It is also very safe and has a lot of deposit and withdrawal methods, making financial transactions a breeze every time.
Sportsbook Hockey Odds Comparison
We’ll take a representative example of the three above-listed sportsbooks and their Stanley Cup winner betting odds:
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To Win the Stanley Cup |
Betfair |
Unibet |
Bet365 |
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Tampa Bay Lighting |
9/1 (10.00) |
17/2 (9.50) |
8/1 (9.00) |
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Toronto Maple Leafs |
17/2 (9.50) |
9/1 (10.00) |
7/1 (8.00) |
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Boston Bruins |
10/1 (11.00) |
11/1 (12.00) |
9/1 (10.00) |
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Nashwille Predators |
10/1 (11.00) |
9/1 (10.00) |
10/1 (11.00) |
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Winnipeg Jets |
12/1 (13.00) |
10/1 (11.00) |
11/1 (12.00) |
If you’re a bettor who intends to start betting on ice hockey, any of the aforementioned bookmakers are an excellent choice. The example featured in the table is so you can evaluate which sportsbook has the best hockey betting odds in general. Besides that, all three sportsbooks are reputable and amongst the best in the business, so you won’t go wrong no matter which one of them you decide to go with. In fact, wagering at multiple hockey betting websites is maybe your best bet, since you will always have the option of browsing between offers and markets, and choosing the one that suits you the best.
How to Bet on Hockey?
Hockey is a very entertaining sport, but betting on it can sometimes be a challenging task. Here is a quick but detailed guide on how you can place bets on hockey matches:
- Launch up the bookmaker of your choice or try one of the sportsbooks featured above.
- Register or login to their platform
- Navigate to the sports page and click on hockey the hockey section
- Find the match you want to place a wager on
- Choose a market you want to place your bet on
- Select the specific bet and enter your stake
This is basically all you need to do to place a bet on a hockey match. Of course, when you bet on hockey, you need to have a general grasp of the sport and know what are the things you should look out for.
What are the Most Popular Hockey Betting Markets?
We all know that the NHL is by far the most popular hockey league in the world, but there are many more leagues you can bet on, including European and Russian hockey leagues. In total there are countless betting markets and thousands of hockey matches at your disposal. We will take a look at some of the most popular betting markets when it comes to hockey betting. They include:
Money Line Betting in Ice Hockey
The money line betting market is nothing more than a simple wager on what team you think will take home the victory. Regardless of the point spread or other game factors, the team you’ve placed a bet on has to win. This is the most popular bet in hockey. Both the favorite and the underdog have certain odds attached to them, and you choose on which team you want to place a bet on. The bigger the favorite, the lower your betting odds will be, and vice versa. This is known as two-way money line betting. In some hockey competitions, you will also be able to place three-way money line bets, where you will have the option to pick between three options – home win, away win or draw.
Hockey ‘Goal’ Markets
If you’re looking for a heartstopping betting adventure, betting on goal markets is the way to go. These betting markets offer you a wide variety of betting options, that would make betting even easier and more enjoyable. The popular ‘Goal’ markets include total goal bets, total goals by the team, correct score, total goals in a period and many other options. This also includes bets on the over/under goal totals.
The Puck Line Bet
While betting on the winner of a game might be the most popular betting option, there are many other betting markets, such as the puck line. It is similar to goal bets, the only difference is that you don’t bet on the exact score of a game or the number of goals. Instead, you can choose to bet on the underdog and take a certain goal advantage, or bet on the favorite and take on the handicap. This is also known as point spread betting. It is a great choice for pundits who are betting on a fixed budget. Point spreading is also less expensive than straight out betting on the favorite.
Outright Market Bets on Hockey Teams and Players
In terms of general outright bets, you can place specific outright bets on a competition or a team of your choice. For example, if you decide to bet on the NHL, you can place outright bets on which team will win the Division, Conference or the Stanley Cup. There are also many individual prizes you can place outright bets on, but it all depends on the league you are betting on. Almost all UK bookmakers that feature hockey betting offer outright betting.
Hockey Prop Bets
Prop bets relate to every event that will or won’t happen during a single hockey game. It has nothing to do with which team will win, or what will the game’s final outcome be. It is a bet you can make mostly for entertainment purposes, but one that can also bring you a nice profit. For instance, you can place a prop bet on a team or player you think will score the first goal, on a player you think will be ejected, or pretty much anything you think can happen during a hockey game.
The Grand Salami Bet – The Handicappers Dream
The ultimate and most difficult type of hockey bet. The Grand Salami bet is only recommended to avid hockey fans and expert handicappers. It is a hockey betting institution and derives its name from the popular term ‘Grand Slam’. It works in the following way: you are allowed to place a bet that covers all of the scores in a single league day. The way you do this is that you need to estimate the total number of goals that will be scored that day. The bookmaker will set your odds, and you can choose to bet on over or under. You can go even further and place a wager on how many goals will be scored by the home or the away team.
Live Betting on Hockey Games
Almost every UK betting website offers live betting on hockey or in-play betting. This means you can make live bets, as soon as the hockey game starts. Although live betting can be an amazing betting option, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Under ideal conditions, you would want the live betting website to have all of the necessary features that go along with live betting. This includes live streaming, visualizations, live game data, and many other features.
NHL Betting – Welcome to the Big League
The NHL is by far the most popular hockey league in the world. It is a premier competition that includes 31 teams made up of the best players in the game. Betting on NHL games requires a lot of knowledge, savvy and a bit of luck. Of course, while it is the most reputable hockey competition, it is not the only one featured in online UK sportsbooks. Other leagues and competitions you might like to bet on if you’re a hockey aficionado are Winter Olympics, World Championships, Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), Swedish Hockey League (SHL) and the American Hockey League.
Where to bet on Hockey?
If you don’t have a go-to online bookmaker for hockey betting, Betfair, Unibet, and Bet365 are all great options to begin your betting experience with. They give you plenty of opportunities and options to bet on the sport. There is no definitive answer where you should bet since you need to pick an online sportsbook that best meets your betting needs. Look at prices, bonuses and loyalty programs as well as accumulators and special betting offers. Also keep your eyes open for cash out options and in-play betting policies, as they can greatly improve your betting experience. Take your time to research and compare bookies and use the information you’ve picked up on this page. Hockey is a really exciting and fun sport, and it is an even more entertaining one when you are winning.
Hockey Betting Pros & Cons
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Pros |
Cons |
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Reputable UK hockey betting sites |
Difficult to pick up right away if you’re a beginner |
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Live Match Streaming |
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Over 100 hockey betting markets in total |
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Betting is unique, exciting and unlike any other sport |
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Hockey Betting FAQ
With a background in esports betting and a regular bettor himself, Theo loves helping punters find the best deals. Whether it’s welcome offers or odds comparisons, he wants every SportsBetting24 reader to find the bookie that’s right for them.
