How to Bet on NHL: A Beginner's Complete Guide

How to bet on hockey starts with understanding 3 core wager types: the moneyline, the puck line, and the over/under on total goals. It’s also important to understand how the odds format determines a winning wager’s payout. NHL games move fast and scoring is usually low, which makes goaltending, line movement, and situational spots matter more in hockey than in other sports.

Caesars Sportsbook covers every NHL matchup from the regular season through the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with each bet type laid out clearly on the bet slip.

This guide covers how NHL odds are presented, the main and advanced bet types available on a hockey bet slip, the step-by-step process for placing a wager, and the research habits bettors can use to evaluate a matchup.

Hockey betting means placing a wager on the outcome of an NHL game or a season-long event, most commonly by picking a game’s winner, betting on a goal-based spread, or wagering on the total combined goals scored. For example, a bettor could pick Team A to defeat Team B on the moneyline or wager on whether the 2 teams combine for more or fewer than 6 goals.

Hockey’s lower-scoring environment means a single goal can change the result of a moneyline, puck line, or totals wager. Teams may use different starting goaltenders throughout the season, so bettors often review confirmed lineups and goaltending news alongside team records.

NHL odds are most commonly displayed in American odds format, using a plus (+) or minus (-) sign in front of a number to show how much a bet pays and which side is favored. A positive number shows how much a $100 bet would win. A negative number shows how much money a bettor must risk to win $100. 

Some hockey betting menus include a 3-way regulation market with separate prices for the home team, away team, and tie after regulation. That market differs from a standard NHL moneyline that includes overtime and shootouts, so bettors should verify the selected market before confirming a wager. Implied probability converts American odds into an estimated percentage: -150 represents approximately 60%, while +130 represents approximately 43%. The difference between the 2 sides reflects the sportsbook’s built-in margin, often called the vig or juice.

Hockey bet slips are usually built around 3 core markets: the moneyline, puck line, and total. Each represents a different way to wager on how a game may play out.

Moneyline

A standard NHL moneyline is a wager on which team wins the game, including overtime and shootouts, with no goal spread involved. A favorite might carry negative odds, like -165, meaning a bettor risks $165 to win $100. An underdog might carry positive odds, like +145, meaning a successful $100 wager earns $145 in profit. The moneyline is a straightforward option because it focuses on which team wins.

Puck Line

The puck line is hockey’s version of a point spread and is commonly fixed at a 1.5-goal margin. The pickling usually won’t change from game to game the way football or basketball spreads do. A favorite listed at -1.5 on the puck line must win by 2 or more goals to cover. An underdog listed at +1.5 covers by winning outright or losing by 1 goal. Because the margin often remains at 1.5, the odds attached to each side may change instead.

→ See the full point spread betting guide for how spread betting works across other sports.

Totals (Over/Under)

A totals bet, or over/under, is a wager on the combined number of goals scored by both teams, regardless of which team wins. If the total is set at 6, an over wager requires 7 or more combined goals, while an under wager requires 5 or fewer. Exactly 6 goals results in a push. Totals are a popular hockey bet because they remove the need to pick a winner entirely.

Player Props

A player prop is a bet on an individual player's statistical performance, such as total shots on goal, points, or whether a specific player scores at all, independent of the final score. Hockey props let bettors build a wager around a specific matchup or player trend, like a top-line winger facing a backup goaltender. 

Beyond the core moneyline, puck line, and total, hockey betting menus may include several additional wager types built on the same fundamentals.

Parlays and Same Game Parlays

A parlay combines 2 or more eligible bets, called legs, into one wager. Every leg needs to win for the ticket to pay out. A Same Game Parlay combines eligible selections from a single hockey game. Both formats increase the potential payout as more legs are added, while also lowering the overall probability of the ticket hitting.

→ See the full Same Game Parlay guide for how correlated odds are calculated.

Futures

Futures are long-term wagers on season-long outcomes, like which team will win the championship or which player will receive a major season award. The odds may be posted before the season begins and can change as it progresses. A futures wager settles once the selected outcome is determined.

→ See the full Stanley Cup and NHL awards futures odds page for current numbers.

Grand Salami

The Grand Salami is a wager on the combined number of goals scored across the NHL games included in that day’s market rather than one specific matchup. It applies the totals concept to multiple games, and the included schedule should be reviewed before placing the wager.

Live/In-Game Betting

Live betting, also called in-game betting, allows a bettor to wager after a hockey game has started. Odds and markets on Caesars Sportsbook update in real time based on the score, time remaining, and game situation. Events like a power play or a pulled goaltender late in a close game can quickly shift win probability and the available odds.

Placing a hockey bet is straightforward once an account is funded. Review the selected matchup, market, odds, wager amount, and potential payout on the bet slip before confirming the wager.

• Create or log in to an eligible Caesars Sportsbook account. New users must verify their identity, confirm they are 21 years of age or older, and be physically located in a state where Caesars Sportsbook operates legally

• Find the NHL game or market. Browse the day's schedule or search for a specific matchup on the NHL tab to see all available bet types for that game

• Select a bet type and odds. Tap the moneyline, puck line, total, or player prop that reflects the wager, adding it to the bet slip

• Review the odds and potential payout on the bet slip. The Caesars Sportsbook bet slip automatically calculates the potential payout based on the displayed odds and stake before the wager is confirmed

• Decide on a stake and confirm the bet. Enter the dollar amount to wager, confirm the displayed payout one final time, and submit the ticket

Must be 21 or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start®. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. MA: Call 1-800-327-5050. NY: Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369).

Hockey betting involves several factors that may affect the available markets and odds. Reviewing current information can help bettors understand a wager, but no statistic, trend, or research method can predict or guarantee an outcome.

• Review confirmed goaltenders: Starting goaltenders may be announced or changed close to puck drop. Injuries, rest, and lineup decisions can affect player availability and may result in changes to the odds or available markets

• Consider home and away performance: A team’s results may differ at home and on the road. These records provide historical context, but they don’t predict how the team will perform in a particular game

• Review the schedule: Travel, rest, and back-to-back games may affect how teams prepare and manage their lineups. These circumstances don’t guarantee a particular performance or result

• Understand line movement: Odds can change as sportsbooks receive new information or wagering activity shifts. A change doesn’t reliably identify who placed wagers, why the line moved, or which side is more likely to win

• Review the complete wager: Confirm the selected market, odds, stake, and potential payout before placing a bet. Odds and market availability may change before the game begins

Hockey betting should be treated as entertainment, not as a way to make money. Every wager carries financial risk, and an 82-game regular season doesn’t create an obligation to bet regularly or wager on every game.

• Set personal limits: Decide in advance how much time and money you’re comfortable spending, and never wager money needed for bills, savings, debt payments, or other essential expenses

• Avoid chasing losses: Don’t increase wager amounts or continue betting in an attempt to recover money lost on previous wagers

• Take breaks when needed: Stepping away can help prevent betting from becoming a routine tied to the league schedule or previous results

• Use responsible gaming tools: Caesars Sportsbook offers responsible gaming options that may include limit-setting, cool-off periods, and self-exclusion. Available tools and requirements vary by jurisdiction

→ See our responsible gaming resources for deposit limits, time-outs, and self-exclusion tools

The NHL season runs from early October through the Stanley Cup Final in June, and Caesars Sportsbook covers every team's full schedule, from opening night through the playoffs.

• NHL odds and lines page

• Same Game Parlay guide

Serious hockey bettors choose Caesars Sportsbook because the bet slip lays out moneylines, puck lines, totals, and props clearly for every NHL game on the schedule.

• Caesars Rewards on Every Single Bet: Eligible real-money wagers can earn Rewards Credits for Caesars Rewards, turning a full October-to-June NHL season into ongoing loyalty value beyond any single ticket's outcome.

• A Bet Slip Built for Every Experience Level: The bet slip on Caesars Sportsbook shows the odds and potential payout clearly before a bettor confirms a wager, with plain-language labels. New bettors aren’t guessing at how the number resolves.

• Odds Boosts and Same Game Parlays: Caesars Sportsbook may offer Same Game Parlay markets and periodic odds boosts on select NHL matchups.

• Available Across the Country: Caesars Sportsbook operates in states across the country where sports betting is legal, subject to each state's laws. and minimum age requirements. You must be physically located in a state where sports betting is legal to place a live wager.

Must be 21 or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start®. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. MA: Call 1-800-327-5050. NY: Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369).

What does puck line mean in hockey betting?

The puck line commonly uses a 1.5-goal margin. For example, a favorite listed at -1.5 must win by 2 or more goals to cover, while an underdog listed at +1.5 covers by winning outright or losing by 1 goal.

Why are NHL totals usually lower than other sports?

Hockey totals are relatively low because hockey games generally produce fewer scoring events than other sports like basketball and football. The exact total varies by matchup, so bettors should review the current number and attached odds before confirming a wager.

Does a hockey moneyline bet include overtime?

Yes. A standard NHL game moneyline generally includes overtime and shootouts, so the selected team must win the game. Regulation-only and 3-way markets are separate wagers, so confirm the market on the bet slip before placing a bet.

What is a Grand Salami bet?

A Grand Salami bet covers the combined number of goals scored across the NHL games included in a specified daily market rather than 1 matchup. Review the listed games and settlement rules before placing the wager.

Can you bet on hockey games while they're being played?

Yes. Caesars Sportsbook offers live, in-game hockey markets for eligible matchups, with available odds updating in real time as the score, time remaining, and game situation change.

How much does a Stanley Cup futures bet pay?

Stanley Cup futures odds vary by team and shift throughout the season, so the exact payout depends on the odds locked in at the time the bet is placed.

Is hockey a good sport for beginners to bet on?

Hockey can be a good sport for beginners to bet on because bettors can start with a simple market like the moneyline or over/under. Starting-goaltender news can affect expectations and available odds, so it’s an important part of researching a hockey wager.