When discussing sports betting in Canada, you have to talk about NHL betting in Canada. After all, hockey is the national game of Canada so it only makes sense that any betting sites in Canada offer a comprehensive array of hockey betting. But what makes one site stand out from all of the other hockey betting sites? That is what we are here for. In the guide below, you will find out which sportsbooks offer the best NHL betting apps as well as the deepest selection of hockey betting options to choose from. Let’s get into it in the next section.
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What makes for the best NHL betting sites?
Finding the best option among a litany of different sportsbooks can feel daunting. After all, what is the difference between the average site and one of the top options for hockey betting in Canada? How do we choose which ones make the list and which ones do not?
Consider this the overview section with more to come. In short, there are several factors that make for trustworthy hockey betting in Canada. Keeping data safe is crucial but there must be enough betting options and league coverage to keep interested.
What about customer support? Being able to resolve issues in short order is essential. Bonuses and promotions, different bet types, league coverage, and so much more are all part of creating a trustworthy sportsbook.
Let’s go further into what makes for the best NHL betting apps. Before long, you will feel confident that you have found the best option among sports betting apps, whether it be an established sportsbook or one of the new betting sites in Canada.
Legal NHL betting sites
One of the first things that many bettors will ask about is the legality of sports betting. Can you bet on hockey in Canada legally? Are there legal betting sites in Canada? The good news is that sports betting, both online and in retail locations, is 100% legal in Canada.
For a long time, this was not the case. As a matter of fact, betting on the NHL was technically fine but there was a catch. It was illegal to bet on single games with only parlay options being available through retail sportsbooks. Parlays create bigger odds and potentially bigger winnings, but it is much tougher to win when there are multiple legs of a bet involved.
But things changed in August 2021. Canadian lawmakers made an amendment to the nation’s Criminal Code, allowing bettors to participate in single-game sports betting. This is via amendment C-218 which gave way for major online sportsbooks to begin operation across Canada.
Now, bettors can play on legal betting sites in Canada from some of the best and most trusted names in the industry. It is a good time to be a Canadian sports bettor, whether you are looking for hockey betting in Canada or other sports of interest.
The Best NHL betting sites in Canada
Let’s get right down to it. Who are the best sportsbooks when it comes to hockey betting in Canada? Who has the best NHL betting apps where bettors can get right into the heart of the hockey action and start making wagers?
We broke it down into five sportsbooks: Sports Interaction, Bodog, PowerPlay, BetVictor, and Bet99. Each has its own set of comprehensive offerings and lands on this list for a reason. Here is what each of these NHL betting sites has to offer.
Sports Interaction
Sports Interaction began as one of the best hockey betting sites in Quebec and has since become one of the best of the best in Canada as a whole. They got here through two avenues: more betting options than you can shake a stick at and some of the best NHL coverage around. Betting on hockey is tough even if you have a deep knowledge of the sport and Sports Interaction brings in-depth coverage.
Sports Interaction has a page for predictions, breaking down not only a score prediction but the odds, puck line, money line, and over/under. Each article takes a deeper look at each team, the current matchup, team leaders, and so much more.
If you want to enjoy some of the best hockey betting in Canada, Sports Interaction is a great place to start. Even the most inexperienced sports bettors can find all that they are looking for by betting on hockey at Sports Interaction.
Bodog
There is a lot to love in what Bodog brings to the table. In addition to being one of the top NHL betting sites around, they offer offerings from the Swedish Elite League, Canadian Major Junior hockey, college hockey, the AHL, and more. Any hockey league with any renown can be wagered on using Bodog.
Bodog also has a huge array of betting markets and bet types to choose from, providing more opportunities to place a hockey bet than you would find at a competitor. There is even a cool feature called #NameYourPlay where you can request personal odds for any of the matchups offered by Bodog.
With tons of betting types and a huge offering of hockey leagues to choose from, there is a lot to love when you choose Bodog. Whether you are looking for NHL betting in Canada or want to dive a little deeper, you will find no shortage of selections at Bodog.
PowerPlay
PowerPlay is another staple when it comes to betting on the NHL in Canada. There are plenty of reasons to check out this great sportsbook, most notably its offering of not only NHL games but leagues from around the world.
On top of all that, PowerPlay brings the heat with one of the best welcome bonuses around. If you are looking for great betting sites with a welcome bonus, this one delivers. With so many positives, it is easy to see why PowerPlay has come to be one of the top hockey betting sites in Canada.
BetVictor
The next up on the list of the top hockey betting sites in Canada is BetVictor. One theme that you will notice with the sportsbooks on this list is that it is about more than being among the best NHL betting apps in the game.
BetVictor is another of the great sportsbooks that offer odds for not only the NHL, but Canadian Major Junior, European leagues, the AHL, and more. On any given night of the week, you can find hockey action that is worth getting involved in.
With a huge range of betting markets, one of the top betting offers in Canada, and killer live-streaming options, you will find many reasons to log into BetVictor. It will ensure that you have great hockey action to wager on whenever you want.
Bet99
Bet99 sportsbook has risen through the ranks and has even partnered with the NHL itself in a sponsorship deal. If a pact with the league directly does not get you on the list of sites for NHL betting in Canada, what does?
Bet99 also has a huge array of hockey betting markets to choose from. With access to all of the other top leagues on the planet, hockey betting in Canada has never been easier. It also doesn’t hurt that Bet99 has great features like live betting to improve the action even more.
If you are looking for a great place to make your next hockey bet, you would be hard-pressed to do better than Bet99. With a litany of sports betting bonuses, great customer support, and more hockey than you can shake a stick at, Bet99 is a great place to wager on the NHL and beyond.
How to bet on the NHL
Now that you are familiar with all the options for hockey betting in Canada, it is time to learn how to make a wager. Whether you are new to one of the sportsbooks on the list or new to sports betting in general, tips go a long way. For instance, simple things like learning how to read NHL betting lines can be invaluable.
The first thing to do is choose which sportsbook you want to use for betting on hockey. NHL betting in Canada is pretty straightforward once you get past the difficult task of choosing a sportsbook and one of the online betting bonus offers they have available.
When you have made your choice, log into your account, and look for the NHL section. For most of these sportsbooks, you can customize the dashboard so that you can see your preferred sports and betting markets. If you want to make NHL bets, that can be a handy step to take.
Choose the game (or games) of interest and make a selection. We’ll go over the bet types in a second, but when you are good with your picks, move to the bet slip. On the bet slip, you can determine how much you are going to wager or whether to use one of your bonus bets. When your wager is set, click “bet” and hope for a winner!
With any of the best NHL betting apps, you can place any number of wagers. Here are some of the top bet types that you can choose from:
Types of bets
While a huge array of league selections is ideal for NHL betting sites, it won’t mean very much if there aren’t enough bet types to go around. The more bet types that there are, the more ways that bettors can have to win. Let’s take a brief look at some of the different bet types that you will find available on some of the hockey betting sites you will find.
Money line: The simplest of the bets, the money line is found in just about any sport across any sportsbook. All that you need to do is choose which team is going to win. The good thing about hockey is that the odds tend to remain somewhat reasonable compared to sports like basketball and football.
Puck line: This is the spread for hockey. Since there aren’t as many goals scored as you would find points in other sports, the puck line is generally set at -1.5 for the favorite. In real mismatches, it can climb to -2.5.
Totals: NHL betting sites will set the total number of goals expected to be scored in the game and the bettor has to predict whether that total will fall over or under that amount. With live betting sites, you will find that things like the total can shift as play changes and events unfold.
Player props: Betting on teams can be difficult but there is another avenue in player props. A player prop involves betting on a specific action to happen. So, you may choose a player and bet on their shot totals, goals, and points, as well as things like saves and goals allowed for goalies. A much different layer of betting than team wagers.
Parlays: If you want to increase your odds and the size of your payout, a parlay is a great way to do a little hockey betting. While the odds are much higher, because there are multiple bets happening in one wager, the chances of a win are much lower. This is because each leg of the bet must be successful in order for the parlay as a whole to be successful.
Futures: Finally, there is the futures bet. If you think you know who is going to the Cup Final or winning it all this year, you can take NHL betting in Canada to another level by placing a futures bet. At any point before the final series of the season, you can place bets on which team you think will walk away with Lord Stanley’s Cup. Odds change as the season unfolds, so watch for value plays as things develop.
Finding the best NHL betting sites
The most obvious question becomes, “how do you rank the best NHL betting sites? What makes one site better than the others when it comes to betting on hockey?” The answer is a little more complex than you may realize.
For starters, there has to be a huge array of offerings available. Players in Canada will want to not only be betting on the NHL but various other leagues as well. In addition to offerings within the sport, we will look at things like bonuses, security, banking options, customer support, and bet types as well.
Available leagues
What some may not realize is that there is more to hockey betting than betting on the NHL. As a matter of fact, there are several leagues around the world that receive coverage, offering bettors more opportunities to wager on hockey.
NHL: The NHL is the big one. When most people look to place a hockey bet, they are thinking of the NHL. Hockey betting sites need to cover all of the NHL action that unfolds over the course of the season, both in the regular season and playoffs.
This also means offering player props on all of the top names in the games. Bettors can wager on things like shot totals, points, goals, saves, and so much more. The better the sportsbook, the more options there should be when it comes to betting on the NHL.
Canadian Junior: In Canada is the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). It is home to the biggest pipeline of junior hockey prospects, spread across three leagues. The cool thing about hockey betting sites is that some offer coverage of the action found in the junior leagues.
Depending on which province you live in, junior hockey may be even more popular than the NHL product. So, if you are looking for hockey betting options, being able to find offerings from Canadian major junior can be a nice addition.
Europe: For the hardcore fans of the game, betting on European hockey is another option. There are leagues in places like Sweden (SHL), Finland (Liiga), and Russia (KHL) that house both professionals and amateurs. Even more importantly, it is another chance to place a hockey bet. Whether you are a fan of the league or just like to get in on as much hockey action as humanly possible, make sure that you are choosing betting apps that give you more of a selection.
Bonuses and promotions
An important part of any of the best NHL betting apps is their bonus and promotional offerings. These are a way for sportsbooks trying to entice players to bet at their site. The cool thing is that these online betting bonus offers can change depending on the time of year and the sportsbook making the offer. Read on to find out more in the next section.
Banking options
Win or lose, you need to be able to move money in and out of your account. For that reason, the banking option on these hockey betting sites is crucial. As a good rule of thumb, you will find that most sites offer more options for making a deposit than making a withdrawal.
You can expect all of the classics when it comes to banking options: Visa, MasterCard, PaySafeCard, MuchBetter, ecoPayz, and more. Likewise, many of those same options are available for making withdrawals, though the caveat is that it could take a few business days before you ultimately see your money. Still, many of the top options for hockey betting in Canada will offer a quick and convenient turnaround for getting your money.
Security
Regardless of all the other features, NHL betting in Canada is only fun if you know that you can do so safely. The hallmark of any good sportsbook will be the security measures it has in place to keep customer information and data safe.
The top sportsbooks use state-of-the-art encryption in order to keep customer data private. Anything less and you will have to question whether or not you are protected. If a sportsbook looks sketchy, stay away because who knows what the security measures are like.
Customer Support
There is also customer support to consider. Things will go wrong from time to time and the best places for hockey betting will come ready to resolve those issues. Standard customer service features things like an FAQ area, email support, a phone line, and 24/7 live chat support as well.
The latter is particularly important, allowing players to get their issues resolved with a real person no matter the time of day. Don’t overlook the importance of a quality customer service site whether you are looking into football betting sites, NCAA basketball betting, or soccer betting sites.
Mobile and Apps
The final thing worth considering is whether you are choosing from the best NHL betting sites or the best NHL betting apps. For the best of the best, you can choose from either, whichever is most convenient for you at the time.
Being able to play while on the go is a crucial feature. With a great sports betting app, you can keep track of the action no matter where you are, adjust and track bets, and even place new wagers with just a few taps of your finger.
Best of all, you should be able to gain access to many of the top features available through the app. Whether it be promotions, bonuses, or specific betting boosts, you will have access to all of that through the betting app.
NHL betting sites promotions
A crucial factor in choosing the right place for betting on the NHL is the promotions that they offer. After all, many of the top sportsbooks will have similar betting markets, bet types, and features. So, what sets them apart from one another?
Free bet offers and great betting offers in Canada, that’s what. The promotion can be what makes or breaks your decision on a particular sportsbook. Even better, there are different types of bonus offers that sportsbooks will offer to new players.
Deposit match: One of the common betting offers you will find is the deposit match. When you make a deposit with a sportsbook, they will oftentimes match your deposit amount up to certain parameters. So, you may find that a sportsbook offers a 100% match up to $500, for example. These can change from sportsbook to sportsbook but offer a great way to pad your bankroll before you even make your first bet.
Risk-free bet: Many sportsbooks understand the hardships of losing a first bet. When you look to make NHL bets, some sportsbooks will offer a risk-free first bet. This means that should your first bet lose, you will get your wager back in bonus bets up to a certain amount. The most common first bet offers are usually between $1,000 and $1,500.
Bonus bets: Another great promotion for betting on the NHL is the bonus bet offer. In most cases, when you sign up for a sportsbook, you have to make a wager of a certain amount (typically under $10). Some require you to win your first bet, others will pay out regardless of the outcome. The reward involves free bets that can be used on any sporting event covered by the sportsbook. Just watch out for the terms and conditions as some of those bonus bets need to be used several times before cashing out.
No deposit bonus: You will see this offer for new betting sites. The no-deposit bonus rewards players for simply signing up, nothing more. You trigger the offer by creating a new account with the sportsbook and don’t even have to deposit any of your own money. A rare offer but a good one to find.
Getting started with NHL betting in Canada
Getting started with these NHL betting sites can feel like a complex process but it really is quite simple. As a matter of fact, choosing from among the different sportsbooks will feel like the most difficult part. Typically, you want to go with the sportsbook that has the best promotion for your needs as well as the most comprehensive sports coverage, but to each their own.
After choosing a sportsbook, you will need to go through the registration process. This requires filling out personal information like name, email, address, and more. For some, a promo code is required to trigger bonus offers, so be aware. For most sportsbooks, a deposit is also part of the sign-up process.
When all of that is finished, it is time to place a bet. Click on your game of choice and make a bet on any of the various sports betting markets. For betting on hockey, you could go with the money line, puck line, player props, and more. Your picks will appear on the bet slip, where you can adjust your wager amounts before finalizing the bet.
The final thing to be aware of is making a withdrawal. Similar to the deposit process, you will be asked to choose a banking method. After confirming all of the information, submit your request and it should be processed in short order. On the long end of things, it takes a few business days to see your funds. Before long you will become more than familiar with your favorite hockey betting option.
Popular Canadian team in the NHL
As Canada’s most popular sport, NHL betting in Canada is quite common. And because the game was founded in Canada, it only makes sense that the country has a few popular offerings at the NHL level.
Montreal Canadiens: The New York Yankees of hockey. With more Stanley Cup Championships than anyone, le bleu, blanc, et rouge is a pillar of the NHL. Montreal is hockey-mad and there may be no bigger celebration than another Habs Cup win.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Toronto may very well be the Los Angeles of Canada. Maple Leafs fans have been clamoring for a winner since 1967, the last time the team won the Cup. The biggest stars and the most attention are paid to the Leafs, though bigger results have yet to be achieved.
Vancouver Canucks: Vancouver is one of the most beautiful and expensive cities on the planet and the Canuck faithful are as diehard as it gets. Twice the team has come within an eyelash of winning a championship only to come up short. As passionate a fanbase as you will find, Vancouver would riot in the event of a historic championship win.
Edmonton Oilers: Home to the NHL’s best player, Connor McDavid. The Oilers have been the home to the greatest player in history – Wayne Gretzy – and have his heir apparent currently in action. One of the most fun teams to watch wants to get back to the mountaintop again as they did during The Great One’s heyday.
Canadian national hockey team
Canada is also quite active in international competition, both for men and women, at all levels. The Olympics remains a touchy subject at the professional level, though there is thought that they will return to the Olympics the next time around.
At other levels, Canada fields a team for the World Championships, Junior World Championships, Men’s world U-18 tournament, and more. That is not even mentioning the various women’s tournaments where the females tangle with their rivals from down south, more often than not with gold on the line.
When a Canadian city hosts an event like the World Championships or World Junior Championships, it not only increases hockey betting but excitement for the game across the country.
Popular NHL betting FAQs
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Is betting on NHL games legal?
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How do you bet on NHL hockey?
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Julian Miller is a Canadian writer and an avid sports fan. He has years of experience in the iGaming industry, having started writing while completing his university studies in Montreal, Quebec. In 2022, he graduated, and has since been working full-time in the iGaming space. He has a particular fondness for the English Premier League — though he also has plenty of experience covering football, basketball, and other sports.
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