Ice Hockey Betting sites

The history of Ice Hockey

Ice hockey’s origins can be found in Britain, most notably Scotland. The games of shinty and field hockey, amongst other similar games, hugely influenced the foundation of ice hockey. The modern form of the game was born in Canada, with the first indoor game played in Montreal in 1875.

Towards the end of the 19th Century, there were hundreds of ice hockey teams across Canada. The Stanley Cup, then known as the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup, was first played in 1893.

As the sport progressed, teams from across the globe were formed, particularly in Europe. The Swiss National League A is one of the oldest leagues, founded in 1916, followed by leagues and competitions in the Czech Republic, Finland, and Sweden.

Our top Ice Hockey betting sites

#1 22Bet

Ice hockey odds and markets are offered in abundance at 22Bet. In addition to NHL odds, 22Bet customers can also bet on a variety of European leagues, like Russia’s VHL, as well as tournaments taking place in the Winter Games.

In addition, 22Bet offer a great range of deposit and withdrawal options. There’s a mobile app that works extremely well, as well as live betting and streaming options.

#2 Megapari

There are few operators who offer betting on as many leagues as Megapari does. All major and many minor tournaments can be bet on here, including NHL, Euro Tour and other European competitions. Many second tier leagues from across the globe are available to bet on, too.

Live betting and streaming are available at Megapari, and there’s a range of existing customer promotions that can be used on ice hockey fixtures. There is also an NHL Mega Season promo that can give customers free bets for betting on North America’s top division.

#3 20Bet

Another site that offers odds and markets on a wide array of ice hockey competitions is 20Bet. Bets can be placed on a myriad of tournaments taking place in North America and Europe, as well as international matches.

Odds Boosts are available at 20Bet, especially on NHL fixtures. The welcome bonus is an attractive one, and their general odds are extremely competitive.

#4 1xbet

1xbet offer a good range of ice hockey markets, particularly on lesser known competitions. Junior competitions are well catered for, including the 3HL and Kazakhstan U20 Championships.

As well as their odds on ice hockey, 1xbet offer a great range of daily specials on other sports. There’s a huge range of payment options available, along with a comprehensive in-play betting service and mobile app platform.

#5 Rabona

Rabona offers odds on an incredible range of ice hockey competitions in 17 countries, along with international betting markets. In-play betting is especially good, featuring live match statistics on almost all ice hockey events.

In addition to men’s ice hockey, Rabona covers plenty of women’s competitions too, including USA’s PWHL and women’s NHL.

Is Ice Hockey betting legal?

It’s legal to bet on ice hockey as long as you meet the legal age restrictions of your country of residence. You also need to ensure that your betting site of choice is fully regulated by the relevant gambling authorities and therefore hold the correct licences to offer betting services. All sites we feature in our guides are ruled and regulated by the correct authorities, meaning it’s legal and secure to bet at these online bookmakers.

What are the most popular types of Ice Hockey bets

There are a variety of bet types available on ice hockey. Some operators, though not all, offer System Bets, which allow you to place wagers such as Yankee, Heinz, and Lucky 15 bets. Bet Builder bets can sometimes be available, this bet type allows you to create your own bet by adding a variety of markets to your bet slip as one complete bet. For ice hockey, though, these aren’t particularly common. Most bettors either place Single or Accumulator bets when they place their wagers on ice hockey games.

Single and Accumulators are available at almost every ice hockey betting site. We’ll take you through what each bet type consists of now.

• Single. The simplest way to place an ice hockey bet is to place a Single bet. With this bet type, you’re betting on one outcome only. This could be an Outright bet, such as betting on a team to win the Stanley Cup. For individual matches, you can place a bet on a team to win, or a Handicap bet for example. One selection = one Single bet.
• Accumulator. Also known as a Multiple or Multibet, accumulator betting is also very popular. With this bet type, you can bet on more than one event. For instance, you might want to bet on Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning to all win their NHL fixtures. By combining these outcomes, you can increase the odds you’d receive, rather than placing four Single bets. However, this bet type comes with much more risk, as if only one team fails to win, you’ll lose the entire bet.

Ice Hockey Bonuses and Promotions

There are advantages to using online betting sites rather than their land-based counterparts. There can be a greater choice online and it can be much easier to place bets. Another big advantage is that online bookmakers tend to offer a much more varied range of promotions and offers, for both new and existing customers.

We’re going to examine the different types of promotions regularly available shortly. Firstly, there are a couple of important points to share. You’re likely to come across similar sounding offers from different sites, particularly for new customer offers. While the headline of an offer might sound the same, the terms and conditions can vary drastically, depending on who you’re betting with. Make sure you read the terms and conditions of the particular offer you’re looking to take. In a similar vein, assess the quality of an offer. While the headlines might sound appealing, such as a 100% deposit match, read the terms and conditions to find out exactly what’s required for you to achieve the bonus amount.

What are the best Ice Hockey Welcome Offers?

As we’ve touched upon, there are a variety of welcome bonuses you’ll come across. Many sites offer deposit match bonuses, others specialise in free bets. The most common new customer offers include the following.

• Deposit Match. A very common offer, a deposit match bonus can match the amount of your qualifying deposit and award this to you in bonus funds. A popular offer is the 100% deposit match bonus, though some operators offer a 50% match.
• Money Back. A Money Back, or Refund, offer will return your stake as a bonus or in withdrawable cash if a particular event occurs. For example, you might come across an offer such as Money Back if Malmo beat Brynas in the SHL. Eligible markets often apply to these types of offers.
• Free Bet. Another common offer, many betting sites offer free bets when you sign up and place a bet on a qualifying event. These are particularly common on the biggest events, such as the Stanley Cup. For instance, you might find an offer awarding you free bets if you sign up and place a bet on the Stanley Cup Winner market.
• Enhanced Odds. An Enhanced Odds offer can drastically increase the odds on a particular event occurring. Again, this type of offer is generally associated with the biggest ice hockey events. As an example, you might find an offer such as 30.0 on the Czech Republic to win the Ice Hockey World Championships, where the usual odds might only be 5.0. Usually on winning enhanced bets, you’re paid out in cash at the standard odds, with the enhanced part paid in free bets.

What are the best Ice Hockey existing user bonuses?

While having the opportunity to claim a welcome bonus is enticing it’s equally important, if not more so, that your betting site of choice offers a range of promotions once you’ve signed up. The best online bookmakers offer an array of existing customer bonuses available to use on many different sports.

Ice Hockey-specific promotions aren’t particularly common, though some operators do make bonuses available on the biggest competitions, like Megapari’s NLH Mega Season promo we mentioned earlier.

The most common promotions for existing users include the following.

• Odds Boosts. These are readily available at many betting sites. An Odds Boost can increase the odds of a particular market or event. The Boost isn’t usually drastic, but are still worth looking out for as they can add much greater value to your ice hockey bets.
• Acca Insurance. This offer tends to be available on a variety of sports, including ice hockey. The actual terms of this offer can vary from operator to operator, but the gist is similar. Place an accumulator bet and if one selection fails to win, you’ll receive your stake back. As we say, the terms can vary, such as minimum number of selections or minimum odds requirements.
• Acca Boost. Another promo for accumulator bettors, an Acca Boost offer can increase the overall odds or winnings made on or from an eligible accumulator bet.
• Free Bets. A very common way of rewarding loyal customers is the awarding of free bets. These can be given in a variety of situations, such as placing a bet on a specific event, winning a bet, or you can even get a free bet if you’re on a losing streak at some betting sites!

What are the major Ice Hockey events or tournaments for betting on?

World Cup of Hockey

Ice Hockey World Championships

Stanley Cup

Ice Hockey Betting Strategies

• Protect your Funds. The most important aspect of any betting is to do so safely. This includes looking after your bankroll. Keep a record of all of your deposits and withdrawals. Never bet more than you can afford to lose. Have a set amount for betting with and never go beyond this amount.
• Do your Research. The more you know about ice hockey, the more chance you have of placing successful bets. Anything can happen in sport, but a wider knowledge base gives you a better chance of making better choices.
• Don’t Chase Losses. Continuing on from our first strategy, always have a set amount you’re willing to bet with and don’t go beyond this. It can be tempting to place bets you wouldn’t usually, especially if you’ve lost a few bets consecutively, in an attempt to recoup your losses. This almost always leads to losing even more money. Create a betting plan and stick to it.
• Find the Best Value. This includes general betting odds, as well as potential odds boosts and promotions. It’s important that your betting site of choice offers you competitive odds on the games and markets you want to bet on.