Guide To Ice Hockey Betting

Ice Hockey Betting

Ice hockey is a global sport that attracts huge crowds to the arenas and draws big TV audiences all over the world. On this page we’re going to outline how sports betting applies to ice hockey and give UK-based punters the information you need to get gambling.

There’s never been a better time to bet on sports. Thanks to the top online sports bookmakers,you can now place bets 24-7 and wager on events going on all over the world. When it comes to ice hockey the markets are not just reserved for matches in North America’s top tier.. European and Asian ice hockey competitions are available for wagering throughout the season, and then there’s the business of international and Olympics hockey to get excited about.

For newcomers to ice hockey betting, there are a few different types of wagers that you will need to understand before jumping into the big bets. There are generally two different general wager types you will come across at a standard online bookmaker. Ice hockey is similar to other sports in that it offers the money line as well as another bet type - in this case called “the puck line”. Let’s get into the specifics:

Researching the form of a team is especially important when making a punt on post-season ice hockey fixtures, as you will have a better understanding of what sort of run your team is on.

Money Line

The money line is one of the most popular bets around, no matter what sport you are having a punt on. Anyone who has signed up to an online bookmaker should already know how the money line works, but here's a quick recap for the newcomers.

Let's say that the Detroit Red Wings were taking on the Colorado Avalanche in a regular season NHL game. The money line would look something like this:

Detroit Red Wings:

-115

1.87

13/15

Colorado Avalanche:

+285

3.85

57/20

As you can see, the odds above are displayed in all three formats. The bookies have the Red Wings favourites to win at home, and a wager of £115 will earn you a £100 profit if Detroit manage to win. However, if you back the underdog, you stand to win £285 from a £100 punt on the Avalanche.

Puck Line

Ice Hockey Betting

While the money line is extremely popular across the board, the puck line is loved by ice hockey gamblers because it offers the potential for huge payouts. Colloquially known as the "spread", the puck line incorporates the money line as well as the anticipated goal difference at the end of the match. A standard puck line will be set out as follows:

Detroit Red Wings:

-1.5 -110

Colorado Avalanche:

+1.5 -130

The puck line plays out exactly the same as a standard spread, so if you have ever made a bet on NFL or baseball matches you will already understand how it works. In the above scenario the odds have changed because the Avalanche have been spotted 1.5 goals. This means that even if Colorado lose by a goal, you will still win your wager because that one goal is within the spread. However, for you to earn a payout on a Detroit puck line bet the Red Wings must win by two goals or more.

Finally, it's important to note that form plays a pivotal role in determining the odds of an ice hockey match - as does whether you are backing a home or away team. Researching the form of a team is especially important when making a punt on post-season fixtures, as you will have a better understanding of what sort of run your team is on. If any trades or injuries are affecting squad selection, then taking them into account will help you when deciding what wager to place as well.

As well as betting on the final outcome of individual matches, you can place bets on markets such as which player will score the first goal, or which player will go into the sin bin first. There’s also the option to get involved with real-time in-play betting, where the markets evolve based on what’s happening in the game.

For more information on the NHLStanley Cup, and Olympic ice hockey, click on the relevant links.

Related Pages