Best NHL betting sites: Top online hockey sportsbooks ranked

The Philadelphia Inquirer is here to help guide you where the best NHL betting sites are for those looking to wager on games for the 2023-24 regular season.

bet365 Sportsbook is the NHL betting site of the week for the Inquirer, with them offering a very good sports betting experience for their players.

Their welcome offers are among the easiest to redeem, as bonus code INQUIRER scores you one of two welcome offers-- a first-bet safety net of up to $1,000 OR bet $5+, get $150 in bonus bets.

bet365’s futures bets are the main thing you’ll wager on currently, as the offseason is underway. That said, bet365 has multiple types of futures bets you can place beyond just looking at the Stanley Cup futures odds.

By the time the NHL season finishes, bet365 could be available in more states, with their promotions, same game parlays, and prop bets all giving players plenty to wager on throughout this season.

There’s a staggering number of NHL betting sites to choose from when looking for the best hockey betting sites.

Caesars, BetMGM, and FanDuel may be the most popular and recognizable names due to their increased amount of advertising. But there are many other options out there as well that shouldn’t be ruled out just because they’re in the process of rising the ranks.

Any of the hockey betting sites in the table included above are reliable and trustworthy, as are the ones listed in more depth below. Ultimately, its up to you to find which one suits your tailored desires the best.

Fanatics Sportsbook is quickly becoming a popular destination for players looking to bet on hockey as the NHL season rolls along.

It’s easy to see why this was when looking at their welcome offers, which compete as being some of the best and most convenient ones to score guaranteed bonus bets with.

The Fanatics Sportsbook promo code unlocks $100 in bonus bets matched every day you bet $100 on a market with -200 or longer odds for the first ten days in certain states by clicking here. $50 on the house in bonus bets alongside ten profit boosts is the other promo available in other states by clicking here.

Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO/IL/KS/KY/MD/OH/MI/NC/PA/TN/VA/VT/WV), (800)-327-5050 or http://gamblinghelplinema.org (MA), Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), (888) 789-7777 or http://ccpg.org (CT), or 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), or 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), or www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), or morethanagame.nc.gov (NC), or 1800gambler.net (WV)

BetMGM is ahead of the game when it comes to wagering options for NHL bettors. BetMGM has a wide breadth of wagers both before and during NHL games.

Their future bets options might be slightly lacking compared to other hockey betting sites, but the sheer amount of plays at your disposal is jaw-dropping.

You can bet on specific bets such as which team will score the fifth goal of the game, and how many goals one team will score in between a five minute interval of any period.

Another cool feature BetMGM has is its live animation tab. This allows users to watch pass for pass, shot for shot, and possession by possession of their NHL game in animated form, with stats easily accessible.

You can redeem the very generous welcome bonus that allows you to get up to $1,600 in sports bonus through a 20% deposit match offer using BetMGM’s bonus code PHILLY1600.

After you’ve claimed your deposit matched funds, 10x that amount will have to be wagered through within 30 days to be able to withdraw your winnings.

Your other option is using bonus code INQUIRERMGM to Get up to $1,500 Back in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn’t Win!

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, LA, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA). 21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI). Participant must complete the Wagering Requirements and satisfy the (10x) playthrough requirement. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions.

BetMGM offers not live in NY, NV & DC

With bet365 Sportsbook coming along just in time for the 2022-23 NHL season, players got a taste of why they were incredibly successful in the U.K.

Their success has translated to the U.S. and they’re an incredibly popular sportsbook in the nine states they’re in, including the most recent to launch in Indiana.

Few sportsbooks rival bet365 when it comes to promotions, same game parlays, and in-depth prop bet for NHL action.

Their futures bets are also solid, with a wide variety of futures markets to choose from at competitive rates.

To cap it off, bet365 Sportsbook’s welcome offer for NHL fans is incredibly enticing, as bet365′s bonus code INQUIRER scores one of two great welcome offers-- a first-bet safety net of up to $1,000 OR bet $5+, get $150 in bonus bets. Use this link in North Carolina to register.

FanDuel Sportsbook is one of the leaders in the industry in popularity and trustworthiness. FanDuel’s app and website have received fantastic reviews from users. Its interphase is well made, with a live streaming section to accompany it, allowing users an advantage in live betting.

When it comes to futures markets, FanDuel has a generous number of them to bet on. Their odds boosts wagers are updated regularly, and their parlay system is revered by fans of both same game parlays or multiple game parlays.

If you’re looking for welcome offers and promotions, FanDuel always has an option for you. FanDuel’s promo code is a good one, with you being able to claim $150 in bonus bets if your first bet of at least $5 settles wins.

Should you be in Ohio or Massachusetts, you can get $300 in bonus bets if your first bet wins. In North Carolina, this is the link you can click and $200 bonus bets are automatically credited to you as soon as you settle a $5 minimum bet.

Other promotions you’ll see on FanDuel include parlay insurance bets, and refer-a-friend promotions. They’re always adding more promotions, so keep an eye out for them during the NHL season.

NHL fans can click this link to start the process of redeeming the DraftKings promo code since there’s no promo code needing to be typed in when registering. Because you’re registering as a new user, a bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets offer will be yours.

As for how this offer works, it couldn’t be more self-explanatory. Submit your first betslip consisting of a $5+ wager. As soon as that’s submitted, $200 in bonus bets (split into eight $25 wagers) are now yours!

Not only that, but NBA fans can take advantage of a daily no sweat same game parlay that can be applied to the NBA playoffs throughout the duration of the postseason.

While you find ways to use these bets over the next seven days, you’ll find every quality that makes up a good sportsbook including competitive odds, a fabulous movil app, and more than enough promotions to keep you coming back for more.

Caesars Sportsbook have been around for a long time and offer up one of the most complete experiences for NHL bettors.

It starts with the Caesars Sportsbook promo code, which gives new users $1,000 back in bonus bets if their first bet doesn’t win when they use promo code INQUIRER1000.

Players will find competitive wagers on NHL odds, futures bets regarding the Stanley Cup winner, as well as the winner of each respective conference.

Caesars’ regular promotions are also enticing to users. They have refer-a-friend-bonus promotions, parlay tokens to help build your own unique parlay, and casino promotions aplenty if that’s your cup of tea.

The ESPN BET promo code mentioned above is arguably the most generous promo code that sports bettors can claim, as you can get it with promo code INQUIRER.

This code lets you simply bet on any market up to $1,000 and get rewarded back bonus bets should your wager result in a loss.

With launch coming when it did one month into the NHL season, you can sign-up for this new sportsbook now and make the rest of your season more enjoyable.

Hockey fans will notice the app has been reviewed well by players and that it’s a fun one to navigate. The best part about ESPN BET is their promotions for returning customers, as this sets them apart from competitors.

On first glance, it could be overwhelming as to just how many NHL betting sites there are to choose from. But there’s no reason to be overwhelmed. All NHL betting sites will have their own differences and similarities.

But if you’re completely new to the sports betting scene, here’s a general guide on a handful of things to consider.

One of the primary factors that differentiates betting sites is how competitive their odds are.

No two sportsbooks will have the same odds across the board. But when you’re placing any type of wager, you want to have the highest chances at maximizing your potential payout.

Some platforms will cheapen their odds to be relatively soft. Therefore, even if you correctly predict any given wager, you won’t make as much money as you could on another platform due to them not wanting to give away as much money.

These companies are always performing a balancing act with odds-making. They can’t afford to give away all their money, but they also need to make sure their odds can pay out enough money that they build up a loyal player-base.

Therefore, if you’re looking to bet on one specific game, it doesn’t hurt check out a couple different platforms to compare odds.

Not every betting site has their own live streaming service yet. But the sites that do have live streaming offer users a competitive edge in the live betting markets.

If your sportsbook has live streaming, it’ll be more convenient than ever to watch an NHL game live while finding live bets to wager on. This is especially useful if you don’t have cable TV or any other method of watching live games.

This may not be a feature that every bettor desires. But it’s undoubtedly a useful feature that makes the overall experience of sports betting more connected and complete.

If you’re spending any time on a betting site, you want a clean interphase that doesn’t make you jump through hoops to get to where you want to go.

Some sports betting interphases leave a lot to be desired by trying to cram too much information in too little space. The best sports betting sites will make sure things are clean, with tabs being easy to access without taking up too much of your screen.

A good user interphase is subject to everyone’s respective opinion. But it’s certainly one of the more important things a betting site will consider when developing their platform.

If you don’t know which sports betting site to choose for your first wager, a good way to start the process of elimination is to look at reviews from users on the App Store or Google Play Store.

If you’re choosing between two sportsbooks and see one averages 4.8 stars while the other averages 4.2 stars, that can be a giving tell which one has made more users more satisfied.

Even if you’re planning on using a website rather than an app, you can still find valuable pieces of information regarding NHL betting sites in reviews.

You never know when something arises that requires the help from customer service to resolve. It doesn’t matter what time that problem arises, you’ll want a reliable customer service to help you figure out what’s going on. The best NHL betting sportsbooks will be able to do that for you.

This is why it’s a good idea to look up reviews and experiences users have had with your sportsbooks’ customer service. Knowing how to access customer service, whether it’s through email, phone number, or live chat is a good thing to know before you get to placing your first wager.

Reviews aren’t always able to tell you everything, because no two people’s experiences are always identical. But they can guide you in a general direction on how reliable a customer service client is or not.

A majority of hockey betting sites will have welcome offers for new users like the ones mentioned above such as free bets. But an important thing all sportsbooks should offer are promotional offers for already existing members.

The best hockey betting sites will rotate their promotions in and out of their lineup, and include timely ones with what sporting events are going on. For the NHL, this would include having promotions during the opening weeks of the season, the NHL playoffs, and the Stanley Cup Finals.

Some bonuses will require promo codes, while others don’t. But each bonus will have its own respective terms and conditions, so make sure to read them in full.

Online NHL betting via one of the many sportsbooks at your disposal is legal depending on what state you live in. If you don’t live in one of these states, the opportunity for legal online sports betting could be coming down the road.

States that have fully legalized online sports betting include:

Yes, the sportsbooks mentioned above are incredibly safe and secure for NHL betting. They’re encrypted in such a way as to keep your data safe. You’ll also have to re-login to your account regularly as a safety and security feature to protect you from fraudulent activity.

If you’re interested in an NHL betting site we didn’t cover, that’s not to say they’re not safe. Do some quick searches online to see what users have to say about its security. It never hurts to be completely sure.

If your state has legalized online sports betting, you have to be at least 21 years old to go on an NHL betting site. Upon registration with any sportsbook, you’ll have to verify your age.

Lying about your age to place illegal wagers can carry with it significant legal consequences, including fines, driver’s license suspension, probation, and more.

There are many bets you can choose from if you’re looking to bet on the NHL. The traditional bets are moneyline, puck line, and totals. You’ll also find player and team props, such as who will score the first goal, who finishes with the most points, and more.

Other options at your disposal include live betting, as well as futures bets, where you can bet on a prop that won’t be resolved for a considerable amount of time. These bets can include who’ll advance to the Stanley Cup, and which conference will produce the Stanley Cup champion.

If you want to make multiple bets, you can also build a parlay, which can grant you a higher payout, but at the risk of needing more things to go right for you to win.

Yes, you can absolutely win real money if you’re successful betting on the NHL. How much money you win depends on your ability to accurately predict what’ll happen and how much you’re willing to bet.

You’ll have the potential to win more money by betting on more props. But it’s integral that you don’t chase your losses and that you manage your account balance at all times.

Sportsbooks have become flexible with how they’ll take users payment methods. Gone are the days of being restricted to just debit and credit cards to fund your props. Nowadays, most sportsbooks will allow funding via third party websites such as Cash App, Venmo, or PayPal.

Additionally, sportsbooks are happy to take Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency you may have to fund your account.

Granted, different NHL betting sites will always have different rules and regulations than one another. There’s no guarantee what works for one company will work for another. Before you register and start taking a look at NHL odds, be sure to do your research.

The Inquirer is not an online gambling operator, or a gambling site. We provide this information about sports betting for entertainment purposes only.