Written ByStaff Writer | Updated On: June 16, 2025
Backed by our expert review team, our guide gives you a list of trusted top-rated betting sites, tips on odds, and promotions to take advantage of. Trust our experts to give you recommendations aimed at powering a smarter, and safe hockey betting experience.
This high-profile hockey betting site allows you to bet on over 30 unique leagues from nearly 20 countries. This includes the NHL, KHL, and Finnish Elite League as well as many other competitions across the world. You can watch many of these matches live on the site or the mobile sportsbook.
✅ Live streaming for ice hockey and more
✅ Boosted odds and early cash out offers
Editor’s Take:
I like to watch the games I’m betting on. Cashed makes following live sports really simple. Live-streamed games have a small TV icon next to them, and all I have to do is click on it.
2. TonyBet
TonyBet is the only ice hockey betting site on our expertly researched list with a dedicated mobile betting app. That’s not the only reason we like it, though. Their desktop site is really well-designed, with an intuitive interface and crisp graphics. Best of all, it looks even better on mobile devices.
✅ User-friendly sports betting app
✅ VIP program with exclusive benefits
Editor’s Take:
I’ve tried many, and no betting site makes it as easier to place wagers on the go. Whether I use the app or mobile site, I can always find the bets I want and place them instantly.
3. BetPlays
If you’re a fan of betting on futures, BetPlays is your go-to online destination. You can place bets on markets such as who’ll win the Stanley Cup or which team wins each division. On the site, you’ll also find over/under markets, and bets on which players will take home the NHL’s top awards.
✅ Top hockey futures betting markets
✅ Numerous bet insurance promotions
Editor’s Take:
BetPlays is a great site for die-hard ice hockey fans like me. The futures betting markets allow me to use my sports knowledge to make long-term predictions in the NHL. I also really like the 3+ Goals Ahead promotion, which pays out early if my team takes a big lead.
4. GreatWin
GreatWin has all the same great NHL and hockey betting options as our other top picks, but it’s the unique bet builder that really sets it apart. This powerful tool allows you to combine up to six player and team props into one same-game parlay. The live sports betting interface here is also a real gem.
✅ Handy same-match bet builder
✅ Excellent live betting interface
Editor’s Take:
I like same-game parlays because they allow me to predict how a game will play out from multiple angles. GreatWin is by far the best NHL betting site I’ve found for these kinds of bets.
Popular Hockey Bets Explained: Betting Odds, Lines, and Markets
Single and Parlay Bets
Singles are bets on a single match outcome. Parlays involve two or more events. For example, if you bet on both the Leafs and the Rangers to win. Both teams must win for you to get paid out.
Moneyline Bets
Wagering on a team to win a game is knows as a moneyline bet. These are arguably the simplest bets you can make. For your bet to pay out, your team must win the match.
Puckline Bets (Point Spreads/Handicaps)
Hockey sites offer points spread (handicap) bets with one team marked as the favourite. You must choose whether the favourite wins by more than the spread or the underdog loses by less.
Over/Under Bets (Totals)
Totals wagers are bets on the number of goals or points in a match. You must predict whether the combined number of scores will be over or under the line set by the hockey betting site.
In ice hockey betting, you can bet on the exact score—a high-risk, high-reward market that turns every goal into a nail-biter. Guessing the final score correctly can lead to massive payouts!
More ways to bet on ice hockey
Prop Bets:
Betting on whether a player will score, how much they will score, or on which team will score the first goal
Futures:
Wagering on outcomes that span multiple games or a season, such as predicting a team to win the championship or a team’s total season wins.
Grand Salami:
These are bets on the total number of goals scored in multiple games.
Live Ice Hockey Betting for Action-Packed Thrills
Live sports betting refers to placing wagers on a game after it starts. It’s a highly immersive way to bet on hockey, allowing you to make predictions based on what’s happening during the match.
Live betting odds change rapidly, so you’ll need to pay close attention to your potential payout before placing a bet. Most pre-match hockey betting markets are also available as live bets, plus others such as the next team to score, who wins the next face off, and who wins the current period.
Our top recommended site for live hockey betting is GreatWin for its high responsiveness and wide selection of betting markets.
Hockey and NHL betting odds represent the implied chance of winning a bet. Canadian sports betting sites use the American odds format, where values are represented as positive and negative numbers (e.g., +100 or -100). The bigger the number, the smaller the chance of your bet winning.
NHL hockey betting odds also tell you how much you can expect to win from your bet. American odds use $100 as a benchmark. Positive odds tell you how much you can win from a $100 bet, while negative odds refer to how much you have to bet in order to win $100.
Use this easy formula to calculate your potential winnings from a hockey bet:
Negative Odds: (-100/odds) x Wager Amount
Positive Odds: (odds/100) x Wager Amount
How does the NHL season work?
The NHL is a 32-team league with two conferences and four divisions. There are eight teams in each division and every team plays 82 games. At the end of the regular season, the top three teams in each division qualify for the playoffs. The next two best teams from each conference qualify as wild card teams. Once in the playoffs, teams battle it out for the Stanley Cup over four rounds. Each round is a best-of-seven series. The winner of the final round lifts the Stanley Cup as NHL champions.
Which sportsbook has the best NHL betting odds?
Of our top hockey sites, BetPlays has the best overall NHL betting odds. The site also offers bets with enhanced odds to give you even more value for your money on hockey wagers.
Biggest International Leagues for Ice Hockey Betting
NHL (National Hockey League)
The NHL is North America’s top hockey league and by far the most widely followed in the world. Thirty-two teams play 82 games each for a chance to enter the playoffs for the coveted Stanley Cup. Naturally, all the best hockey sites will have more NHL betting options than any other league.
The KHL is Russian’s top division hockey league. While not as high-profile as the NHL, it comes a close second with many of the best players in history getting their professional start in this league. KHL betting varies from site to site, but most of the top sites should have bets for every game.
The SHL (Swedish Hockey League) prioritizes parity, which makes it really unpredictable and fun to bet on, especially for backing underdogs. It’s also a highly competitive league where teams can be relegated, so expect to see hard-fought games all season long.
Finland’s premier ice hockey league has long been a favourite among hockey bettors. It’s easily accessible, with many sportsbooks offering live streams of Liiga games. However, as a smaller league, if you’re new to hockey betting, consider doing some extra research before placing any bets.
The Czech Extraliga is the smallest of the major leagues we have highlighted here, but many people say it is the most fun. Czech teams have an incredible fan culture and often have connections with larger sports clubs, like Sparta Praha, which also has a top division soccer team. Like with the Liiga, a lot of betting sites allow you to watch Czech Extraliga games live.
The surge in mobile gaming has prompted the top hockey sites to ensure compatibility with mobile devices across multiple operating systems. Sports betting apps and mobile-friendly sites allow easy access to NHL odds and markets for convenient ice hockey betting anywhere, anytime.
Each of our top five hockey sites has either an app or mobile-optimized site. Our experts have comprehensively reviewed them all and rate TonyBet as the best mobile site for ice hockey betting. Here’s how it compares to the BetPlays mobile betting experience, another top contender:
Since Ontario online casinos welcomed legal sports betting in April 2022, many Ontario NHL sites have entered the market. All of these platforms offer betting markets on the NHL and many other international leagues.
We highlighted some of the new online casinos we reviewed that have hockey betting:
Quebec residents have access to a wide variety of hockey sites, including Ninlay being the leading sportsbook for Quebec hockey betting players. At almost all Quebec online casinos offering sports betting, you’ll find betting odds for the NHL and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.
Our favourite online sportsbook for NHL betting is Ninlay Casino: Quebec NHL fans can score more than just great odds—this top-rated sportsbook offers a 100% match bonus up to $150 to get you started. Plus, enjoy weekly reloads, cashback, and accumulator boosts tailored for hockey bettors.
Expert Tips and Strategies for NHL Bettors
If you’re new to hockey betting, here are some tips and strategies to consider before placing your bets:
Matchups:
Some teams play better against one team than others because of the way the players match up. Look at the past meetings between them to see if one team has the other’s number.
Trends:
Winning and losing streaks can tell you a lot about a team. For more wagering opportunities, you can also look at how often a team wins against the spread and other trends.
Playing Schedule:
The NHL season’s schedule isn’t balanced – some teams play back-to-back games, while others get extra rest, creating an advantage that bettors can tap into.
Injuries:
It’s often individual players that win games for ice hockey teams. If a star player is out injured, you should adjust your predictions for the game accordingly – or not bet at all.
Line Movement:
If a team’s betting odds shorten quickly, that’s usually an indication that many players also have faith in that team. These trends can help inform your own bets, either by following suit or going against the crowd.
Referees:
Match officials can be as big a part of the game as the players. For example, strict referees can lead to more power plays, which can affect the number of goals in a game.
Expert tip
Savvy hockey bettors keep an eye on weather forecasts for outdoor games—factors like wind speed and ice conditions can subtly impact performance and scoring.
How to Bet on NHL Games
What is the best way to bet on hockey? Follow this step-by-step guide to get started:
Step 1
Visit the NHL betting site:
Go to your preferred ice hockey betting site and select the “Register Now” button.
Step 2
Complete the sign-up form:
Enter your email address and create a strong password. Provide any requested personal information such as your name, birthdate, address, and so on.
Step 3
Verify your identity:
If requested, upload a photo of your ID (passport, driver’s licence, etc.) to verify your identity. You may also be asked to upload a utility bill to verify your address.
Step 4
Make your first deposit:
Visit the cashier section of your sportsbook and select the deposit tab. Then choose your preferred payment method and the amount you want to deposit.
Step 5
Start betting on hockey!
When the deposited funds hit your account, you can look through the available options and start placing your hockey bets!
Step 6
Withdraw your winnings:
When you’re ready to cash out, visit the cashier and select the withdrawal option. Select the amount you wish to withdraw and submit your request.
How We Bring You the Best NHL Betting Sites
You might be wondering how we rate and rank the best hockey sites in Canada. After all, why should you take our word for it? The answer lies in our expert review process, which evaluates all key criteria to ensure the top recommended online sportsbooks meet your high expectations.
Licensing and Security
Safety should always be your number one concern. We review casino licensing information, security features, and data protection protocols. We know what to look for and provide our unbiased opinion about whether a site can be trusted.
All the best NHL sites offer you a welcome bonus when joining. We assess these bonus offers and closely examine the terms and conditions to make sure the promotion is as good as it sounds.
Odds Competitiveness
We compare the overall value of the betting odds across sites to ensure they are fair, and then look to see which sites offer better value for specific markets.
Betting Market Variety
The best Canadian sportsbooks sites offer plenty of NHL bets, including moneylines, totals, spreads, props, and more. They should also have a decent selection of futures bets available on both local and international hockey leagues and tournaments.
Mobile Experience
The best NHL betting sites perform as seamlessly on your phone or tablet as they do on your desktop. We don’t discriminate against sites that offer mobile-optimized sites rather than a mobile app because the experience is similar, or even better in some instances.
Live Betting
Live hockey betting is one of the most engaging ways to bet on ice hockey. Our top hockey sites have a wide selection of live betting markets. We also look out for features such as live match stats and results, sports streaming, and lots more to enhance your in-play betting experience.
Customer Support
Our team runs through the customer support process at every hockey betting site we review, so you know what to expect before reaching out yourself. We want to know which options are available, and how responsive and helpful they are.
