Of course, most ice hockey fans are immediately drawn to the NHL, given its global appeal and the fact that it’s the biggest ice hockey competition in the world. But should you decide to bet on ice hockey, you will learn that there are lots of leagues and competitions to bet on throughout the season.

You can get started on betting on your favourite teams and ice hockey games at Stake.com by effortlessly depositing funds into your account, and you will also benefit from instant withdrawals when it’s time to access your winnings.

Discover everything you need to know about ice hockey betting and discover the different betting types and odds available for this popular sport online at Stake.com sportsbook.

Major Ice Hockey Leagues and Tournaments

Naturally, most sports bettors and ice hockey fans turn their attention to the National Hockey League when it comes to ice hockey betting, as it’s the biggest ice hockey tournament in the world.

But it’s not the only ice hockey competition you can bet on at Stake.com. The most significant leagues and tournaments in ice hockey you can place bets on include:

NHL: North America’s signature hockey league, you can bet on teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers as they compete for the Stanley Cup – the biggest prize in the sport.
ECHL: The East Coast Hockey League might not attract the same level of attention as the NHL, but the action out on the ice is pulsating and frenetic. You can bet on Toledo Walleye, Florida Everblades, and Atlanta Gladiators as they compete for the end-of-season Kelly Cup.
Elite League: The Elite Ice Hockey League is the UK’s professional hockey league and is one of Europe’s most popular leagues. It’s an excellent chance for UK-based bettors to back their favourite domestic teams on the ice.
World Championships: The annual ice hockey World Championships – organised by the International Ice Hockey Federation – is the sport’s highest-profile international tournament and is the perfect opportunity to bet on nations as opposed to franchises during the hockey season.

Other major ice hockey leagues and tournaments that you can bet on throughout the ice hockey season include SHL, VHL, Eliteserien, and Liiga.

Types of Ice Hockey Bets

Betting on ice hockey at Stake.com couldn’t be easier, with all major leagues covered and several betting options available. Some of the most popular ice hockey bets that you can place at Stake.com include:

Moneyline

A moneyline bet is the most straightforward wager on ice hockey. Your only concern is which team will win on the ice; the winning margin doesn’t matter. You will see one team as the favourite and one as the underdog, and your job is simply picking a winner.

Read our moneyline betting guide to learn more.

Puck line

In ice hockey betting, a puck line wager is a form of handicap betting. The underdog is given a head start, while the favourite is given a handicap (often 1.5 points). With the handicap in consideration, your job is to pick the winner, as is the case in a moneyline bet, but if you pick the favourite, they will need to overcome the points deficit for your bet to win.

Conversely, if you back the underdog, provided that they don’t lose by more than the head start they are given, you will win your bet.

Over/Under (Total goals)

A total goals bet is an excellent option if you’re unsure of the team that will win a particular encounter on the ice. The sportsbook determines the total goals line, and your job is to decide whether more or fewer (over/under) goals will be scored in the fixture. It doesn’t matter which teams or players score the goals – the only thing that matters is how many goals are scored in the match.

Period betting

Period betting in ice hockey is a great way to add value to your betting slip. Instead of betting on the match as a whole, you can break your bets down into periods, betting on things like how many goals will be scored in each period and whether both teams will score in a specific period, for instance.

Player props

Player prop bets are extremely popular with ice hockey fans, and they’re wagers that aren’t tied to the match’s outcome. For instance, popular ice hockey betting player props that you can place at Stake.com include the number of goals or assists a player will score, the number of powerplay points scored, or whether a specific player will score a hat-trick on the ice.

Live Betting Options for Ice Hockey

In anticipation of the kick-off, it’s a good idea to do some research into the form and injuries of the team you’re backing to ensure that you’re confident in your selections. But thanks to a huge number of in-play betting odds, you can place a range of live bets on ice hockey events.

Fundamentally, most pre-match markets are available as live bets, with the crucial distinction that they’re subject to change as the action takes place. Since ice hockey is played fast, you need to pay attention when watching the action and placing live bets, so you don’t get left behind!

Popular live bets you can place on ice hockey include the next team to score, the next player to score, and whether either goalkeeper can keep a clean sheet for the duration of the current period.

Learn more about the differences between live betting vs. pre-match betting and how to devise the best betting strategy to win at Stake.

Betting Odds & Payouts for Ice Hockey Bets

To bet on ice hockey, or participating in any online sports betting, you must understand what the odds tell you. Odds can be given as fractional (3/1), decimal (3.0), or American (+300). Decimal odds are perhaps the easiest to understand, as they indicate how much you stand to win from a 1.00 bet. You can decide how to see the odds by adjusting the settings in your betting account.

In terms of payouts, Stake.com offers instant withdrawals, meaning that you don’t need to wait to access your winnings. You can process a withdrawal from your account dashboard.

Learn more about deposit and withdrawal methods for betting, with our online payment methods guide at Stake.com.

Ice Hockey Betting Tips & Winning Strategies

As is the case with betting on all sports, developing a strategy for ice hockey betting makes sense, so consider the following tips before placing your bets:

Do your ice hockey research: Always research form and performance before placing a bet on ice hockey so that you can back teams on a good run. As ice hockey has regular seasons, you can research past matches and keep an eye on our online betting tips.
Keep up to date with player injuries: Injuries play a significant role in the outcome of ice hockey matches, so be sure to review your favourite ice hockey team to assess the squad's injury list before placing a bet.
Stay clued in on upcoming games: Don’t restrict yourself to the NHL – place ice hockey bets on various leagues and competitions throughout the season to improve your chances of winning.
Place same game multi bets: Use our 'Bet Builder' function to place same game multi bets and place multiple selections on the single betting slip. This is an easy way to boost your odds on a specific fixture! Learn more with our same game multi betting guide.

Discover our hockey betting guide or our ultimate guide to sports betting and get all the knowledge you need to place your bets!

Interesting Fact About Ice Hockey Betting

Did you know? When the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in the 2005-2006 season, their pre-season odds were +6,000! They’re the longest long shots to win the biggest prize in ice hockey.

Why Bet on Ice Hockey on Stake.com?

Ice hockey betting on Stake.com couldn’t be easier. You can effortlessly create an account and deposit units into your account right away, enabling you to get started without delay. Browse the various markets, odds, and options before placing your bets.

We pride ourselves on offering the tools and information to help you be Stake Smart. Learn more tips when betting online with our responsible gambling guide. You can also store your local currency or crypto funds safely and securely using our Stake vault feature.