How to Bet on NHL Games Like a Pro: Canadian Bettor’s Guide

Is NHL Betting Legal in Canada?

Hockey is Canada’s official national sport and is played year-round, which makes it one of the best sports for betting. The sport is completely legal across the country, with the Canadian Criminal Code, through the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act (Bill C-218), authorizing single-game sports betting. Even so, you must be of legal gambling age to bet on NHL games — over 18 or 19 years of age, depending on your province. In addition, even with federal legislation, individual provinces have the authority to regulate NHL betting within their borders. 

There are two ways you can bet on NHL games in Canada. You can either place wagers on government-run sports betting programs or use online casinos and sportsbooks. If you prefer using online casinos and sportsbooks, which is the most convenient option, you must place bets at operators licensed by reputable gambling authorities in Canada, like the Ontario iGaming or a reputable offshore licensing authority. Some of the most trusted Canadian sportsbooks for NHL betting include Bet99, Betway, and Sports Interactive. These betting sites provide a safe and secure way to bet on hockey games online. They also offer a wide range of NHL betting options and better odds.

NHL Betting Basics: Odds, Lines & Types of Bets

It’s no secret that Canadian sports fans love the NHL, and with it being legal in every province in Canada, the sport is sure to see tons of betting action. To become a successful NHL bettor, however, you need to learn the basics of hockey betting, and hockey odds are the first things you should learn. The odds, also called lines, show you the probability of your bet winning, which team is expected to win, or how much you can make from your bet.

In Canadian NHL betting, the odds are displayed in different formats. The decimal format (the number displayed, i.e. 3.1, multiplied by your stake, is what your payout will be) and the American format (odds with a + have lower probability of winning while those with a - have higher probability) are the most common. We recommend that you compare odds between different sportsbooks before placing your bets to find the odds with the most value.

When it comes to betting options, the NHL has a variety of bet types. The most popular types of bets in hockey include Moneyline, where you wager on the team you think will win, and Puck Line best, where you bet on the margin of victory. Other popular NHL betting options include prop bets, where you bet on specific occurrences or events within a game, and over/under bets, where you wager on the total number of goals scored. There’s also live betting, where you place live bets as the game unfolds in real time.

Advanced NHL Betting Strategies

It's always helpful and easier to succeed in NHL betting in Canada when you plan and adopt strategies that can help you bet smart. Here are our winning NHL betting strategies.

Bankroll Management

Bankroll management is arguably the most important strategy to keep in mind when betting on NHL games. You should set a budget for how much money you’re willing to spend and stick to it. Setting a budget and being aware of your limits will also help prevent overspending, ensuring your NHL betting remains fun and safe. Also, don’t chase losses or let yourself get carried away after a big win by spending more than you could afford to lose or more than your budget allows.

Understanding Team Form, Injuries & Goalie Rotations

If you want to improve your winning odds in every bet you place, you need to study the team and players, including their form and injuries. You will want to know how an injured player can change the team’s performance and how much of the team’s success depends on the player. You also need to research the team’s form by looking at its head-to-head records.

The rotation of the goalies is another factor you should consider in this strategy. If the team’s goalie is in good form, you can capitalize on some under bets and wager on the correct team.

Analyzing Matchups and Trends

While players’ and goalies’ stats highlight individual efforts, analyzing the team’s trend can give you an overall picture for predicting the game outcome. To assess a hockey team's win potential, research on their recent form and key statistics. You can start by analyzing their scoring habits and defensive stats, as well as how their strengths and weaknesses compare to their teams.

You should also analyze the team’s winning and losing streaks. Hockey teams that are on a hot streak, for instance, may be more likely to win, while those that are struggling are more likely to lose.

Home vs Away Performance

Also defined as the home ice advantage, this strategy looks into how an NHL team performs at home and on the road. And some teams perform exceptionally well on home ice compared to on the road. For example, the iconic Toronto Maple Leafs have won more than 62 of their home games, compared to just 45 on the road.

Similarly, high-altitude teams often benefit from home ice, as visiting teams often struggle with the high elevation. Still, there are some factors that can offset the home-ice advantage. If the visiting team has elite goaltending or strong on-the-road records, for example, they can beat the home team. So, always consider how the teams have performed in the past at home and on the road before placing your bets.

Value Betting and Line Shopping

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when betting on NHL games is blindly betting on favourites. While they are famous, sportsbooks often tend to overprice them, which lowers the bettors’ payout. So, instead of wagering on these teams, look for underdogs that the bookie undervalues and that you believe have higher actual odds. This is called value betting.

Also, you should compare odds on different NHL betting sites (line shopping) to find the best NHL odds that can boost your winnings. You can even sign up at multiple NHL sportsbooks that offer favourable odds.

Choosing the Best NHL Betting Site in Canada

There are lots and lots of betting sites with NHL betting in Canada, but which sportsbook should you join? To help you pick the right sportsbook for you, here are some key considerations for finding the perfect hockey betting site.

• Licensing and regulation: Before you sign up at an NHL betting site, do your due diligence to ensure the site you’re joining is properly licensed by a reputable gambling authority, like Ontario iGaming, in Canada. Operators with offshore licensing are also good picks.

• Competitive NHL odds: When choosing a sportsbook shop around for betting sites offering competitive odds or better value for the same odds. By doing this, you’ll win more for less stake.

• Promotions and bonuses: Except for Ontario bettors, bonuses and promotions can boost your bankroll and give you more funds to bet with. Some top NHL betting sites even provide special promotions specific to hockey betting during major NHL events. Thus, pick a site with generous and lucrative bonuses to improve your betting experience.

• Mobile NHL betting: This is a must-have feature for a top NHL betting site, as it allows you to bet on hockey games on the go and from anywhere with your mobile device. So, choose sportsbooks with native mobile apps and mobile-optimized websites. The apps and websites should also be responsive, with intuitive user interfaces.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Betting on NHL Games

As a beginner in NHL betting in Canada, there are some common mistakes you should avoid to get the most out of your hockey betting. And the top mistake many bettors make is betting with emotions. You should never let emotions cloud your judgment when placing bets. Instead, focus on facts and make rational decisions based on stats and information you can access.

Some bettors also tend to ignore goalies’ news when researching teams’ performance trends. Goalies are as important as the players. If they are in good form, for example, they can improve the odds of an underdog winning the game, impacting your Moneyline and over/under bets.

Other common mistakes you should avoid are chasing losses (instead, stick to your budget and limits) and overvaluing favourites. About favourites, focus on finding value bets, as sportsbooks tend to overprice favourites or assign them wrong odds and lines.

More From Our Experts...

• How Canadian Weather Can Affect Betting Trends in NHL and CFL

• How to Use Live Betting to Your Advantage in Canadian Sportsbooks

• How to Profit from CFL Betting: A Strategy Guide for Canadian Football Fans

Responsible Gambling

Canadian NHL betting is pretty fun and can be lucrative for smart bettors. To ensure you always have an enjoyable and rewarding hockey betting experience, though, you should bet responsibly and with the money you can afford to lose. You should also set a budget and realistic bet limits, and this will help you avoid overspending, betting on emotions, and chasing losses. If you develop problems with betting, you can use tools like self-exclusion or links to responsible gambling organizations provided by the sportsbook to get professional assistance.