Best NHL Betting Sites September 2023

If you’re looking for the best NHL betting sites to place your wagers at then this article will be of use. To all the passionate ice hockey fans, we’ve prepared a detailed analysis of the NHL betting process, its pros and cons, the best markets and, of course, sportsbooks with the highest odds. The new NHL season is approaching so fast it’s already here, so brace yourself for some fruitful bets!

The history of NHL matches goes back to 1917 when the first two matches were played in Ottawa and Montreal. However, NHL competitions came to the US a bit later, on December 1, 1924, when the Bruins won over the Maroons with a 2-1 score. Since that time, 104 NHL seasons have already been played.

In the early 20th century, gambling and sports betting were far from legal in the United States, which made illegal gambling a problem that was particularly apparent in the country. 

The very first legislation that made it possible to gamble with licensed and government-approved institutions, the Assembly Bill 98, was signed in Nevada in 1931.

Since then, more and more states started to legalise gambling.

The influence of such major leagues and competitions as the NHL became particularly noticeable with the advent of the internet. Thanks to local and offshore online betting websites, NHL wagering has expanded across the country, inviting more and more adults to place their stakes each season. The oldest known bookmakers that have been offering NHL markets to their customers are William Hill, Bet365, Betfred, Unibet, and Betway.

Interesting facts:

• The most common and profitable betting market for the NHL is money-line.
• The NHL comprises 32 teams: 25 in North America and 7 in Canada.
• A regular NHL season includes 82 games.
• The states that don’t have their professional NHL teams are Kentucky, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Louisiana, and Connecticut. Ohio, in its turn, only has one NHL team: the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The 2023 season has a lot to offer for punters on NHL betting sites. The current preseason is in full swing, with the official kick-off on October 10 to be marked with a match between the Nashville Predators from Tennessee and the Tampa Bay Lightning from Florida.

Other games and match-ups to look forward to are the New Jersey Devils vs. the Detroit Red Wings from Michigan, the Boston Bruins from Massachusetts vs. the Chicago Blackhawks from Illinois, the Los Angeles Kings vs. the Arizona Coyotes, the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. the Ottawa Senators from Ontario, the Colorado Avalanche vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins from Pennsylvania, the New York Islanders vs. the Buffalo Sabres, and many more to come.

Mobile gambling and sports betting bring lots of benefits to punters who are always on the move. Luckily, plenty of online NHL betting sites can offer their native betting apps for an even more comfortable wagering experience. In the list below, we’ve gathered the most prominent and reliable options.

NHL Betting app – 22Bet

22Bet, launched in 2017, is considered one of the best mobile apps for football predictions on the market. However, this is also a good option for betting on other popular sports and major competitions, such as the NFL, MLB, NBA and, of course, the NHL. The official 22Bet for Android and iOS should be downloaded manually, by using the QR code directly on the bookie’s website.

NHL Betting app – 1xBet

Another decent option among the best betting apps UK is 1xBet. The bookie has existed in the industry since 2011 and has long developed its dedicated mobile apps. On the official 1xBet sportsbook app, you can pick a game from more than 50 sports types, check the available bets, outcomes, and odds, and place your stake with just one tap of your finger.

NHL Betting app – Megapari

Megapari is another renowned sportsbook that opened its doors to ice hockey fans in 2019. The official mobile app from Megapari is optimised for all modern Android and iOS devices, with comfortable navigation and a clear distinction between casino gambling and sports betting sections. The app also provides bettors with such features as live streaming, 1-click bet, Edit Bet, cashout, and more.

NHL Betting app – Powbet

Powbet is a relatively new bookmaker that entered the market in 2021. Despite expectations, Powbet doesn’t yet have desiccated native apps but it doesn’t prevent the bookie from offering its official browser-based versions to users. The main advantage of such an app is that you don’t even need to download any additional software: the perfectly mobile-optimised website will be available in a separate tab of your Android or iOS device’s browser.

NHL Betting app – 20Bet

For hockey bettors looking for betting apps Canada options, 20Bet is one of the most popular around. The apps for Android and iOS platforms are available for download on Google Play and the App Store. Right after installation, you’ll get access to the bookie’s comfortable interface and be able to place your wagers on NHL matches without any boundaries. Also, right upon download, 20Bet will reward you with an excellent welcome bonus.

Before you make your picks and place some bets on the most anticipated NHL matches, our expert team has prepared a number of building blocks for a powerful NHL betting strategy. Here are some useful tips for wagering on the NHL online betting sites that will make your experience with the game particularly immersive.

1. Manage your bankroll

   If you’re a seasoned sports fan, you must know that managing your bankroll in advance is crucial. Even if you’re sure about the winners of this year’s NHL season, it’s wiser to allocate funds equally and not to spend all of your money on one team. Instead, take your time to read the tips from betting experts and define the main season favourites, along with their strong and weak points and possible player injuries or replacements.

2. Choose money-line

   For beginners in ice hockey betting, we would recommend using money-line as the primary market. Money-line betting is the most widespread for major competitive sports and that’s for a reason. Since this bet type is extremely straightforward and easy to figure out, you won’t be risking losing too much money if you play it safe with money-line bets.

3. Look for value

   For such dynamic and competitive games as ice hockey, especially during big annual tournaments, it’s important to give priority to the bets where the odds are higher than the probability of a certain outcome. Mind this value while placing your wagers on the NHL: in this way, you can significantly increase your final reward.

4. Study the game and teams in advance

   Among your primary goals should be knowing the game well enough before placing any bets. For this purpose, follow the advice of seasoned tipsters and study all the main aspects of the game and the tournament in particular, such as the division (or tier), conferences, and the latest news. Of course, you can’t be expected to think like a professional, but knowing the basic factors and strong points of every team, such as their play style or the members who dominate the field, will greatly simplify the bet settlement.

5. Research the bonuses

   Last but not least, always look for enticing NHL best betting sites offers. Bonuses and promos can take you far – of course, if you’re using them wisely. A lot of bookmakers provide their customers with exclusive promos to celebrate major tournaments. These promos might include bonus bets, bet credits, accumulator boosts, cashback and, of course, welcome packages. But don’t forget that every bonus involves qualifying bets and certain wagering requirements. Study our list of the best sports betting sites bonus offers around and be ready to claim your exclusive offer before the NHL match you plan to bet on.

Apart from the commonly accepted ice hockey bets, you might consider some special NHL markets. Here are the most noteworthy bet types that you can come across on NHL sports betting sites.

Parlay bets

There is an abundance of NHL parlay betting sites that can be found on the market, so you won’t have any trouble finding a suitable bookie. However, even though this bet type opens our list, we would recommend treating parlays very carefully, especially if you’re a newbie. Since parlay bets involve linking two or more selections together, you’re risking losing the entire bet if at least one leg loses.

Main features:

• Can greatly increase your outcome
• Can help you save money on bets
• Risky and slippery, especially if you don’t know the game well

Money-line

It’s no secret that the most common type of NHL bet is the money-line. Although this option can be similar to futures markets, where you also place your wager directly on one of the outcomes, it’s also inherently different. With money-line betting, you don’t have to place your bet weeks or even months prior: this market allows you to wager right in the heart of the action and pick one of the two or three possible outcomes of every NHL match.

Main features:

• Simple and straightforward market
• Perfect for beginners
• The most common NHL bet type
• Available at all sportsbooks

Handicap betting

Even though handicaps are mostly popular for football matches and competitions, such as the Premier League or the UEFA Champions League, this doesn’t mean that you can’t place some handicap bets on the NHL. Indeed, handicap betting will be the perfect choice if, in your chosen match, one team heavily surpasses another in terms of winning chances. In that case, your bookmaker will define a favourite and an underdog and give the latter an advantage in points.

Main features:

• A handicap market evens out the playing field
• You can win even if the match ends in a draw
• Calculating the odds for handicaps might be difficult for beginners
• The most popular type of handicap bet for hockey is puck-line betting

Prop bets

If you’re tired of placing wagers on the game’s outcomes, you should really try prop bets. Player props are a common option for competitive sport bets – especially for major tournaments. The challenge is that, instead of wagering on the match’s outcome itself, your goal is to pick and bet on one of its minor aspects. For example, thanks to player props, a bettor can wager on the best goalie or a player dominating the ice.

Main features:

• Prop bets allow for betting flexibility
• The most entertaining market for competitive sports
• Increased potential payouts

All NHL bookmakers on the market allow their customers to place in-play wagers on hockey matches. Wagering with live betting sites can be extremely profitable and fun as you’re given an opportunity to adjust your bets according to the progress of the match.

On top of this, some sportsbooks include live streams for major competitions, allowing you to watch any NHL game without leaving the website. Check your chosen bookmaker for the availability of live streaming in advance before shooting your shots with in-play bets. In this way, you’ll be able to keep your eye on the ongoing game and track all the changes in live scores and odds. Note that you always have to mind the time limits of every match if you don’t want to be late with your bet.

In the list below, we’ve gathered the most popular and trusted NHL bookmakers. For a more extensive NHL index (betting sites + sportsbook), you can additionally check out our review of the best Ice Hockey Betting Sites.

Certainly, the NHL is not the only major ice hockey league that bettors all over the world look up to. If you want to place some fruitful bets on other big competitions, consider the options below.

• 

  Swedish Hockey League (SHL)

  The Swedish Hockey League has been a significant draw in the country since 1975. The 2022–23 SHL season comprises 14 teams from all around Sweden and each team competes in a total of 52 games. The regular season begins in late September and continues until the beginning of March, followed by the playoffs from March to April. The final winning team will be defined by a series of best-of-seven games and win the Le Mat Trophy.

• 

  Finnish Liiga

  The Finnish Liiga is the main ice hockey competition in Finland that was first inaugurated during the 1975–76 season, which makes this league almost 50 years old. The recent champions, Tappara, claimed its 12th title in the 2022–23 season. In a regular Finnish Liiga season, which usually starts in mid-September, each team plays 60 matches and the six best teams then proceed to the quarter-finals. Since the 2007–2008 season, all winning teams from the quarter-finals proceed to the best-of-seven series. The tournament is completed by the playoffs, which finish in mid-April.

• 

  American Hockey League (AHL)

  The main developmental league for the NHL, the American Hockey League has existed since 1936. It comprises 32 teams: 26 from nearly every state of the United States and 6 from Canada. The 88th season of the AHL will kick off on October 13, 2023, and last until April 21, 2024. The current champions are the Hershey Bears from Pennsylvania, holding their 12th title. Will the 2023–24 season bring another champion to the table? Stay tuned and don’t lose the opportunity to place some profitable bets on the AHL.

• 

  Extraliga

  The youngest ice hockey league on our list is the Czech Extraliga, inaugurated in 1993. It involves 14 professional ice hockey teams that compete in 52 matches, with each team playing each other four times in total. Prior to the 2022–2023 season, the Extraliga was considered the fifth best ice hockey league in Europe.

For this section, we’ve handicapped the top NHL bookmakers from our full list of new online betting sites. Pay close attention to each option and its main pros and cons before picking the sportsbook that will suit your betting needs best.

There are many ways in which you can choose to place the most profitable bets on the NHL but the main rule should always be remembered: always try to look for the bookmakers with the highest odds on the market. You can always look for the most beneficial bookies by utilising our reviews to pick the website that displays the highest numbers on your chosen NHL event. Strong odds will influence the result of the match and, therefore, the success of your bet.

Bookmaker margin for the top NHL leagues

Bookmaker margin for the top NFL leagues

Bookmaker	SHL	Finnish Liiga	AHL	Extraliga
	6.49%	5.22%	5.22%	5.51%
	7.85%	6.28%	6.28%	6.61%
	6.29%	5.45%	5.45%	5.98%
	7.71%	6.97%	6.97%	6.70%
	5.26%	5.73%	5.73%	5.71%