Online Ice Hockey Betting Guide
Introduction to Ice Hockey Betting - Ice hockey, along with field hockey, is one of the two main types of hockey played in the world today. It makes for a fantastic spectator sport as it is fast-paced and very physical. Ice hockey is very popular in many countries all over the world, and indeed it is the national winter sport of Canada.
Traditionally, ice hockey was played in areas of the world where the temperature is cold enough to expect dependable ice cover. Indoor ice rinks, however, meant the game spread to other regions and it also became a sport for the whole year rather than just winter.
Where To Bet On Ice Hockey Online
In North America, where the game is arguably the most popular, the world famous National Hockey League represents the pinnacle of the sport for professional players. The NHL, which consists of 30 clubs, attracts the best players from all over the world. Historically, Canadians accounted for a large percentage of NHL players, but the mix of American and European players has steadily increased.
Online bookmakers offer a range of betting markets for the NHL and other ice hockey games. Betting on ice hockey is common among fans of the game and sports bettors in general.
Forms of Ice Hockey
The National Hockey League, consisting of American and Canadian teams, is clearly the highest profile ice hockey league in the world. However, other regions across the globe also have leagues. The Kontinental Hockey League contains teams from post-Soviet states for example, while the Elite Hockey League is the professional league in the United Kingdom.
Women’s ice hockey is also increasing rapidly in popularity – indeed it is one of the fastest growing female sports in the world. There are many organised ice hockey leagues for women around the world.
International ice hockey, played between competing nations, is not as commonplace as it is some sports, but there is the annual Ice Hockey World Championships. However, because these championships often take place at the same time as the Stanley Cup playoffs – the culmination of the NHL season – very often the best players in the world do not take part. Ice hockey is also an event at the Olympic Games.
Types of Ice Hockey Bets
Betting on ice hockey opens up a range of different wagers. Most online bookmakers cover the NHL extensively as well as offering markets on games from other leagues. There are a few different types of ice hockey bets, of which we’ve listed a few below.
Moneyline Bet. The moneyline bet is probably the most common in ice hockey. This particular wager involves selecting the winning team of an individual match. Should you win, your wager will return an amount based on the moneyline set by an online bookmaker. An example moneyline might see Team A at +200 with Team B at -300. Based on this, a successful wager of $30.00 on Team A would return $90.00 including the stake, while the same wager on Team B would return $40.00 if they won.
Match Betting (Fixed Odds). This is basically the same as a moneyline bet in that you back one of two teams to win a match. However, the odds are presented either in fractional format (such as 2/1 where you win two times your stake and get your original stake back) or decimal format (such as 3.0 which would return three times your wager including the original stake)
Futures/Outright Bets. In ice hockey, a bet of this type involves picking the outright winner of a particular competition, such as the Stanley Cup.
Prop Bets/Specials. Online bookmakers very often offer a variety of slightly unique betting markets which are commonly referred to as prop bets or specials. An example in ice hockey might be a wager on the player who will be top scorer throughout the NHL season.
Online Ice Hockey Betting Strategy
The strategy for online betting on ice hockey is similar to that of most team sports. Gaining an in-depth understanding of the game itself is not entirely necessary, but it does help to follow the form of both the teams and players. The internet is a great source of information for results of games and more detailed reports. It is also possible to keep track of various statistics such as scoring rates.
Compiling this kind of information and using it to search for value bets that offer a good chance of winning is a great way to be profitable betting on ice hockey. As there are a number of ice hockey leagues across the world, it is a good idea to focus on one to start with and get to know the teams and players. As the NHL gets the most media coverage, it is probably best to start out there.
There is a lot of ice hockey games played throughout the year but you shouldn’t feel obliged to bet on them all. Being selective and when and how you place your wagers is just as important as anything else. Another part of your strategy should be to always use a reputable online bookmaker when betting, and also to manage your betting bankroll well.