The best NHL betting sites give players the chance to wager on everything from the first puck drop of the season until the last. The betting coverage of the world’s top hockey league has greatly expanded in recent years to match the sport’s committed fan base.
This guide will help players with betting on the NHL from the first game to the Stanley Cup Final. Our experts have delved into the top sportsbooks to give unbeatable advice on where to find the best bonuses, betting apps, competitive odds, and live betting experiences.
After hours of reviewing NHL sportsbooks, our team has picked out our top online betting sites for hockey in the US today. We’ve ranked each platform, provided quick pros and cons, and gone in-depth with reviews based on our experts’ genuine experiences.
It went to overtime in our review process, but BetMGM came out on top in the shootout. BetMGM is one of the best NHL betting sites because it simply does almost everything really well. You’ll find all the top NHL markets you could want to wager on, with odds that we found always rivalled the best lines from other top sportsbooks. Each NHL matchup is filled with player props, game props, and alternate lines. With a simple design scheme, BetMGM’s menu never feels too cluttered.
BetMGM also stands out thanks to its top NHL futures. The platform boasts some of the most in-depth Stanley Cup futures. Not only can you bet on the outright winner, but the state/province, division, or country of the winning team. There are also markets for conference champions, division winners, and all the major NHL awards. Finally, BetMGM got top marks for how consistently it provides profit boosts for all major sports, including the NHL.
25+ sports markets. Generous welcome bonus. Frequent odds-boosts. T&Cs and 21+ apply
FanDuel is hard to beat for hockey fans looking for an NHL betting app with incredibly deep markets. Click on any upcoming NHL game at FanDuel, and you’ll find 50+ markets to choose from. The platform doesn’t overload its users, though, with smartly designed menus for distinct betting types. Sections like “Popular,” “Game Specials,” and “Quick Hits” are perfect for casual bettors who don’t want to endlessly scroll looking for the right markets.
FanDuel is also a great option for betting on NHL futures. We found lines for the Stanley Cup winner and other championship outcomes, such as first-time winners. FanDuel also offers up extensive team points futures, conference and division futures, and even specials like a bet on all Canadian teams to miss the playoffs. To add to all of that, FanDuel is an official partner of the NHL and has its own streaming service called FanDuel TV. This means that you can bet on the games and watch them live all in the same place – and don’t we all love a bit of digital convenience in 2026?
Wagering Needed (WR): 1x Deposit. T&Cs and 21+ apply
DraftKings is among the best NHL betting sites we’ve spent time with. It all starts with the strength of the hockey markets on offer. DraftKings boasts extensive game lines, props, futures, and parlay betting for the NHL. The site’s flexibility is arguably its greatest strength, allowing players to easily customize bet lines for team totals. We also routinely saw NHL-specific promos, like a 30% boost for a 3+ NHL parlay.
If you’re new to betting on the NHL, DraftKings does a great job of helping you get up to speed on the ice. Every day, pre-built parlays are offered up. There are also in-depth stats for every NHL matchup to help you decide where best to wager your money. For example, if you want to pick any anytime goalscorer, DraftKings will tell you how often that player has scored against the opponent.
Multiple betting options. 20+ sports represented. Solid welcome bonus. T&Cs and 21+ apply
Fanatics is another strong option for NHL bettors, especially those who prefer a mobile betting experience. While Fanatics doesn’t quite boast the breadth of betting markets available at our top three NHL sportsbooks, they still have all the important ones covered. Plus, it’s easily the most enjoyable app to navigate. Swapping between games and markets is seamless, and you can quickly adjust your bets or experiment with alternate lines. This makes it an especially strong NHL live betting option, too.
Fanatics is always coming up with exciting new approaches to the standard sportsbook experience. FanCash is a great example of this. For every bet you make, win or lose, you’ll earn FanCash. It’s a similar rewards system to credit cards and cashback. At the bottom of your bet slip will be a FanCash percentage that you’ll earn. You can convert FanCash into bonus bets or use it on Fanatics merchandise.
High-value welcome bonus. Competitive odds. NFL live streaming. T&Cs and 21+ apply
On the surface, most NHL sportsbooks look the same. But our team of experts has spent countless hours on these platforms and knows which small differences can make a significant impact on your betting experience.
After carefully reviewing and testing each sportsbook, here are the key factors we considered when deciding what to recommend to you.
If you can dream it, a top NHL sportsbook should offer it. With such competition among betting sites, you shouldn’t need to compromise on what you want to bet on. The best NHL betting sites provide in-depth wagers on game lines, props, and futures, as well as competitive odds that are released early.
A welcome bonus is the first impression for a hockey betting site. Our team highly rates platforms that not only offer generous offers, but ones with fair and transparent terms and conditions. We also want to see a variety of welcome offers, such as deposit matches and no-sweat bets. For NHL fans, top sportsbooks will offer profit boosts and offers related to big events, such as the Stanley Cup.
No other features of a betting site are worthwhile if it isn’t a completely safe and secure platform. All our recommended sportsbooks use the latest security technology and have valid gaming licenses, so users can play knowing their information is safe. We also look for sportsbooks that fully utilize responsible gaming tools and make them easy to implement.
Betting on the go is the preferred way for many bettors, so top hockey betting sites must have a dedicated app to be recommended by us. We test the best betting apps for response time, evaluate its design for usability, and ensure there are no discrepancies between the desktop and mobile versions.
Hockey is a high-octane sport, making it one of the most enjoyable ones to bet on live. Our recommendations boast dedicated live betting sections, with in-depth markets and real-time odds updates. If a platform couples its live betting with live streaming, it’s sure to shoot up our rankings.
These days, betting involves so much more than just backing one team to win. So, we’d like to run you through the basics and then look at more detailed ways to bet on hockey in 2026. Here is a breakdown of the most common NHL betting types and how they work.
Even if you’re new to betting, you likely have heard of moneyline bets. They are simply outright picks for the winner of a game. The NHL betting site will set the line, so, for example, you could bet $100 on the New York Rangers to win at +120 and earn a profit of $120.
Hockey’s version of points spread betting is called the puck line. So just like when betting the spread, you’re predicting how much a team will win or lose by. As a highly competitive league where games are most commonly decided by one goal or fewer, NHL games almost always have puck lines of -1.5/+1.5. If you bet on the Toronto Maple Leafs at -1.5, they’ll have to win by two or more goals for a successful bet.
If you don’t want to bet on the outcome, the other major betting line for NHL games is totals. The bookmakers set these over/under bets for every matchup based on the quality of the teams’ offenses. Just like puck lines, you’ll almost always see totals set at 5.5 or 6.5.
Prop betting involves betting on specific outcomes within a game instead of the overall result. These props can be focused on one particular player’s performance or any overall team statistic. Here are some of the most common props you’ll find.
Parlays let bettors combine multiple bets into one big wager, with all the legs needing to be successful. NHL fans can make same-game parlays in which you pick only bets from one matchup, or multi-game parlays that combine wagers from at least two different games. Parlays are high-risk, high-reward bets, so we recommend using small stakes and 3-4 legs. Players should also keep an eye out for parlays boosts that increase the potential payout.
Live betting, or in-play betting, involves making wagers once the puck has been dropped. Odds move in real time, reacting to score, injuries, momentum, and time remaining. If you don’t like the odds before an NHL game begins, you can find great value in betting on things like favorites who go down a goal early.
If you’re looking to bet on hockey and claim sportsbook welcome bonuses for the first time, you can follow our step-by-step guide to get started:
Here at Deadspin, we’re all about helping out other hockey fans. So, here are our top five tips to help you use the best NHL betting sites and get more value out of your wagers:
Hockey is an intense sport, and teams play a tiring 82-game regular season. As a result, teams are often required to play back-to-back nights. There is value in fading a team that is playing its second game in succession, especially if they’re playing on the road. This can be used to bet on the moneyline or puck line, but also on totals and player scoring props, as offensive output can dip.
Top goalies can swing matchups in the NHL, which are often decided by one goal. But goalies can’t play every game. Sportsbooks attempt to anticipate when a backup goalie will be inserted into the lineup. But bettors can still find value by following morning skate reports and following insiders. Also, it’s vital to know the quality of a team’s backup. Some teams have strong second options, while others will see a significant drop-off from their starter.
You can find plenty of stats for free that can help your wagers, but if you really want to up your game, you can subscribe to data websites that pro scouts and coaches use. I find this is especially useful if you want to get into props betting, and it’s also handy if you play fantasy hockey.
Dressing room bust-ups, personal scandals, and other off-the-ice factors can heavily impact the outcome of each game and how the regular season pans out. That’s why I recommend that you follow the hockey news here at Deadspin.
Last, but most importantly, you should always make a basic bankroll and wagering plan. The easiest way to burn through your deposit quickly and wind up with a zero balance is to act on instinct.
Now it’s time for you to start your NHL betting journey. We’ve covered everything you need to know, so you should be able to head to your chosen sportsbook with confidence. But remember to refer back to this page for any further guidance, and enjoy all the NHL betting action.
On the whole, BetMGM is our top-rated site for NHL and hockey betting in general. However, FanDuel, DraftKings, and Fanatics also come highly recommended. Check out our reviews here at Deadspin to find your ideal hockey betting sites.
Betting online has never been easier, as long as you are over 21 and live in a state where online sports wagering is legal. If you are, you just need to pick a sportsbook, create an account, and then make a real money deposit to get started.
The answer to this depends on your location, as all legal gambling states have a different selection of betting apps available. Discover what’s on offer in your state and keep up with the latest sports news stories here at deadspin.com.
The most common NHL betting types are moneylines, puck lines, and totals. Team and player props and futures are also widely available at top NHL sportsbooks.
The best NHL betting apps we’ve recommended all allow players to bet on NHL games once the action is underway, with comprehensive markets on offer.
The spread, or “puck line,” is nearly universally set at -1.5/+1.5 because hockey is a relatively low-scoring sport and the majority of games are decided by one goal or fewer.
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