Hockey betting Canada: best sites in Ontario
Hockey has a rich history in Canada and the good news for sports bettors is that it’s available at all online sportsbooks in Ontario. Because of this, the choice of sites for hockey betting online can be overwhelming.
As well as delving into the world of hockey betting online with information on markets and odds, our Time2play betting experts have also rated hockey betting sites on factors such as usability, range of leagues, safety, and mobile.
| Sportsbook logo | Rating | Bonus | Go-to-sportsbook button | Show more | T&Cs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
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95/100
Sports and markets rating
by
Elena I.
95%
Playscore
based on
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Most reliable operator
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Play |
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bet365 operates pursuant to an agreement with iGaming Ontario. #ad |
2
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95/100
Sports and markets rating
by
Elena I.
88%
Playscore
based on
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Best for novelty betting
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Play |
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3
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95/100
Sports and markets rating
by
Elena I.
88%
Playscore
based on
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Best range of sports
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Play |
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4
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91/100
Sports and markets rating
by
Elena I.
86%
Playscore
based on
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Great for hockey and basketball
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Play |
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5
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90/100
Sports and markets rating
by
T2P contributor
90%
Playscore
based on
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Great range of sports
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Play |
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19+. Terms and conditions apply. Play responsibly. Connexontario.ca |
6
|
90/100
Sports and markets rating
by
T2P contributor
89%
Playscore
based on
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Excellent betting odds
|
Play |
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Popular leagues for hockey betting online
Now that you know which are the best sites for betting on hockey in general, it’s time to see which ones are top based on the leagues they have available. Some might have the best hockey betting app in Canada for a big league, but another would be better for the smaller ones.
| Category | Winners |
|---|---|
| NHL | BetRivers sportsbook |
| Champions Hockey League | bet365 sportsbook |
| SEL | LeoVegas sportsbook |
| Stanley Cup Futures | PartySports |
How to choose online hockey betting sites
There are a number of things to consider when it comes to finding hockey best betting sites. These include factors such as which leagues are available, their mobile app, site usability, and so on. We’ll cover this and more below.
Leagues and events
Any good ice hockey betting sportsbook will have NHL bets among the available choices. It’s basically guaranteed. What you want to look out for are any other leagues and events they have on offer. This is important for diversity in your options and for improving your betting strategies. Additionally, when there are multiple leagues available, there’ll always be a hockey game to bet on at any time of year. If the NHL is off-season, there are other leagues happening that you could consider. For example, because Australia is in the southern hemisphere, the Ice Hockey League is between April and Aug, when the NHL is on summer break.
Hockey betting lines and odds
Next, you should check the odds on the games featured on the hockey betting site. This is a good way to see which site will pay you the most if you win. So, when you’re preparing to bet on a big game such as the Stanley Cup finals, do your research to find the site with the best betting odds. As an example, a site offering -150 moneyline odds for the Toronto Maple Leafs is better than the one offering -155 because the payout on a $100 bet will be higher. That’s why it’s crucial to decide which online betting site to pick based on the odds available.
Bet types and markets
When you visit an online sportsbook, it is standard that you’ll see moneyline bets on hockey games. These are the simplest, most common betting types, along with spreads and totals. However, there are many other types of bets you can place on local and international hockey games. Experienced hockey bettors will be on the lookout for highly profitable, but more complex betting markets such as parlays and props. These require the bettor to have very intimate knowledge of the teams and player because the predictions need to be more precise and correct in order for them to win.
Live betting
To take betting to the next level, the best NHL sportsbooks offer live options. Also known as in-play betting, it means you’re able to place bets even after the game has started, and you can even cash out winnings before the game is over. This is starting to become a standard betting type for legal hockey betting sites. The most recommended hockey betting sites will also have other live betting features to help bettors make the best decisions possible when placing bets. These include in-game statistics such as which team has had the most shots on goal, assists, and breakaways. This gives a good indication of how the game is going and who to back up with a live bet during the game.
Betting app
A good betting app is crucial for any sportsbook to declare itself the bet. This is because people expect online betting sites to also have an app that allows customers to wager on hockey games. In other words, bettors expect a smooth experience when they use the mobile betting app. All, if not, most of the functionalities and features on the main site should be available and adjusted for the mobile experience. So, hockey bettors should not feel like they are lacking anything by choosing to bet via their phones. Some sportsbooks even go as far as providing app-exclusive bonuses to encourage downloads and usage.
Usability
The ability to navigate around the hockey betting site and quickly find what you’re looking for is crucial for a good customer experience. That’s why the best sportsbooks take the time to study how best to present game odds, allow for quick deposits and make placing best simple. Right from the moment you create an account through to making a withdrawal, the navigation, speed of the site and everything else should make sense for users. If you’re struggling to find basics such as the help centre or how to contact customer support, then the useability is not very good.
Overall offering
Outside of actually placing bets on hockey games, the best sites also offer great customer support for customers. This can be in the form of a comprehensive help centre page with an FAQs section, multiple ways to contact the site or a customer service team with quick response times. In addition, remember to check the payment methods available. A good site will have a wide variety of commonly used online betting payment methods such as credit and debit cards, e-wallets and bank transfers. Some have also begun to expand into crypto payments, which is great for high-roller bettors.
Hockey leagues
Different hockey leagues bring something different to the table. It’s important to know more about them. Learn how to find the best hockey betting sites in Canada below.
NHL (National Hockey League):
This is the most popular, highest ranked ice hockey league in the world. It’s made up of 32 teams from the United States and Canada. The league was founded back in 1917, in Canada and has grown to have millions of followers from all over the world.
Stanley Cup Playoffs
Teams playing in the NHL all compete to eventually become the Stanley Cup winner at the end of the season. This trophy is given to the champion of the NHL playoffs, after the last two teams standing compete in the Stanley Cup finals. The Stanely Cup is considered the most important championship trophy in the world by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).
KHL (Kontinental Hockey League)
Made up of 22 clubs from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Chine, this professional league was founded in 2008. It’s the second-strongest league in the world after the NHL. In 2017, the KHL had the highest fan attendance in Europe with 5.32 million people coming to support their teams during the regular season.
SM-Liiga
Also known as the Finnish Elite League in English, SM-Liiga is Finland’s top professional hockey league. It was established in 1975, and was a founding member of the Champions Hockey League in 2014. 15 teams play in the SM-Liiga.
SEL (Swedish Elite League)
This league is made up of 14 teams and is the highest division in Sweden. It was founded in 1974, and teams vie to win the Le Mat Trophy in the SHL playoffs every year.
The Olympics
Having been part of the Summer Olympics in 1920, then being permanently moved to the Winter Olympics in 1924, Ice Hockey has proven to be one of the most popular among the big sporting events. Women’s ice hockey was introduced in the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Others
There are many other hockey leagues worth mentioning, mostly around Europe such as Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), Switzerland’s National League A (NLA) and Czech Extraliga. Each of these is very competitive and has a large local following.
Online hockey betting for beginners
The great news about hockey betting is that it’s very simple. This is especially true if you pick moneyline bets or totals. Below, we’ll give you a step-by-step guide on how to start betting.
Create your account and make a deposit
Adding funds to your new sportsbook account is a crucial step because it shows you’re serious about online betting. Remember to take note of the minimum wagering requirement so that you have enough money to make a bet.
Find hockey games
Scroll to the hockey section. This sport might be one of the highlighted ones on the site, or you may have to search for it.
Select a league, and then the game you want to bet on
A league such as the NHL is great because most people understand the teams and players in it very well.
Study the moneyline odds
Check which team is the favourite and which is the underdog. Use some of your own research to decide which team you’ll bet on.
Select the team you're betting on
The sportsbook will present you with a bet slip. On it, you can enter the stake amount and see how much you can potentially win from the bet.
Confirm bet
Now you can sit back and enjoy the game while keeping an eye on your active bet slip.
Popular hockey bet types
Hockey is an exciting and fast-paced game. And as such, punters are always on the hunt for bets that’ll add to the thrill of watching the game. Below, we’ll focus on some of the most popular betting types for leagues such as the NHL, SM-Liiga, KHL and more.
Moneyline
This is one of the simplest, most popular betting types. All Ontario sportsbooks will have it on hockey games when you visit the site. Bettors will see moneyline odds which basically state which team is favoured to win and which one is the underdog (or weaker team). All you have to do is pick one and place your bet, then wait for the outcome of the game.
Totals
Another easy bet type is totals or over/under bets. This wager basically predicts the final score of the game. You don’t have to predict the exact score or number of goals for the match. What’s required is a prediction of whether or not the final score of both teams will be higher or lower than the number provided by the betting site. You can also try grand salami bets, combining your totals for the day.
Point spread
Also known as a handicap, the point spread is used to show the favourite team to win. It is expressed as the number of goals the favourite is expected to win by. Betting against the spread means you believe the underdog will win. This is a chance to bet on the loser but still win the bet.
Props
A lot can happen during a hockey game. Prop bets are a chance to predict if certain events will take place during a match. So, you can place a bet on the number of goals to be scored or the number of breakaways by a specific team.
Futures
For bettors focused on the long-term results of a hockey league or tournament, there’s futures bets. You’re able to bet on who will win the league championship, the MVP player or even which team will be in the playoffs final. Futures have long odds at the beginning of the season, but as the season progresses, the odds become shorter. In other words, the sooner you place a futures bet, the more you’ll win if your prediction is right.
Special hockey bets
Some sportsbooks may have specific bets for hockey that you won’t find for other sports. For example, you might be able to bet based on what’ll happen during each period or on whether the total game score will be even or odd.
Should you bet on hockey online?
Betting on hockey online is one of the most enjoyable ways of following the sport. Even better is doing it online. It has become a lot easier with many Ontario sportsbooks able to provide this service. Below, we’ll cover the pros of betting on hockey online, as well as some cons of doing so too.
- Convenient way to bet
- Suitable for any budget
- Access to international leagues
- Special hockey bets
- Withdrawals take longer
- Banks may limit betting transactions
Strategy and tips
Now that you know how to place a bet, let’s take a look at what to keep in mind for a successful and enjoyable experience. Below we’ll give you top tips on how to bet on a hockey game.
Find the best odds
You want to maximise how much you can win from your wagers. Do your research to find out which sportsbooks have the best hockey odds for the leagues you’re interested in.
Don't discard the underdogs
It’s tempting to always pick the favourites because that increases your chances of a winning bet. However, the underdogs might be having a good streak and so, might be worth betting on. By placing careful bets within your budget, you could win a lot more.
Listen to the experts
Subscribe to hockey news sites, watch expert commentary shows and follow hockey-related content on social media. This will give you insights and other nuggets of wisdom you wouldn’t get otherwise. Information such as this can go a long way to special bets such as props.
Focus on specific players
Instead of looking at the team as a whole, focus on individual players. You can study the goalie to see how they play, or focus on the forward that’s had the most assists in the league, and place prop bets on him.
Explore smaller leagues
The NHL might be popular, but smaller leagues are worth exploring. The odds are better than in the bigger leagues because fewer people bet on them.
Keep an eye on the news
Player injuries, suspensions and other news can affect how a team will affect during an upcoming game. Make sure you’re aware of all hockey-related news for the game you have your eye on and adjust your betting strategies accordingly.
Hockey betting alternatives
If ever you want to take a break from hockey or want to explore other sports, there are a number of alternatives you can consider. Some sports are very similar to ice hockey, while others work the same with goalkeepers, strikers and defenders.
- Field hockey: Similar to ice hockey; played on a field.
- Soccer: Ball needs to go past the goalie into the net.
- Handball: Teams score and play using only their hands.
FAQs
Which are the best hockey betting sites in Canada?
There are a number of very good online sports betting sites you can place bets on hockey games. These are registered to operate in Ontario and are regulated to ensure fairness. To find the best sportsbook for you, check that they meet your requirements in regard to the betting markets and hockey leagues you’re most interested in.
How do I bet on hockey in Ontario?
To start, you need to create a sports betting account online. Once done, make a deposit, then look for a hockey game to bet on. You can choose an outright bet, where you simply choose which player will win when the game is played later on. Or you can choose to bet on any live games if they are any happening at that time.
What does +1.5 mean at ice hockey betting sites?
When you see a +1.5 puck line next to a team’s name, it means that they are the underdogs (the favourites will have a minus sign such as -1.5). The +1.5 is a goal advantage given the underdogs to balance the bet between the two teams in a spread bet. So, when you bet on the underdogs with +1.5 odds, they must win by two or more goals for you to win the bet.
What is the puck line on a hockey betting site?
The puck line is the name for spread betting in hockey. This puck line is presented as -1.5 goals for the favourite and + 1.5 goals for the underdog. Hockey is a low-scoring game and that’s why the spreads are low too. If the favourites have a -1.5 puck line, it means that they need to score 2 or more goals for the bet to win.
What is hockey moneyline in online sports betting?
Instead of a puck line, you can use moneyline odds to place your bets. With it, instead of betting on how many goals will be scored, you simply pick which team will win. As always, when you bet on the underdogs, and they win, you’ll get a much higher payout than if you bet on the favourites, and they win.
