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How to Bet on Hockey Online in Ontario
With hockey being Canada’s no.1 sport for viewers, all the top National Hockey League (NHL) Ontario Sportsbooks will be fighting for business. Moneyline bets, totals and puck lines will be hit harder than George St. Pierre's UFC opponents.
You can wager on hockey in Ontario NHL sportsbooks online or by using a provincial sports betting service such as Proline+ within the Ontario Lottery And Gaming Corporation but the best option is to sign up to the online betting sites. Placing a hockey bet in Ontario is now 100% legal at Ontario licensed betting sites, such as PointsBet Ontario.
Hockey Betting Rules
Rule #1: Outright series NHL and hockey in general is non-runner no-bet and may be subject to a rule 4 deduction. Where applicable the podium presentation will determine the settlement of bets for the Stanley Cup season.
Rule #2: Postponed matches are void unless re-arranged and played within 5 days of the original scheduled game time.
Rule #3: When a handicap/totals tie occurs (known as a "push"), bets will be made void unless a handicap draw selection is offered.
Rule #4: Period Specific markets do not include Over Time or Shootout.
Rule #5: On puck line markets where the draw isn't offered if scores are tied after spread is applied, bets will be made void.
Rule #6: A game must be completed in full for bets to stand, unless settlement of bets is determined through live betting or other.
Important Hockey Betting Terms
If you like a bet on the NHL slate there are several betting terms you should familiarize yourself with before you get stuck into the action:
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Handicapper The handicapper is a person who sets or analyses the odds, essentially anyone researching, predicting and quantifying the results of a sporting match. Calculating the difference in strength between each team is also known as handicapping, which originators at NHL friendly sports betting sites in Ontario will be doing. Many handicappers also supply hockey betting tips. -
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Chalk Player A chalk player would usually side with the NHL odds re the lines of the bookmaker and bet on the favorites to win the game and or cover the spreads or puck line. It’s a lower variance style of betting. -
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Round Robin Round Robin betting is a creative type of parlay betting that requires making multiples in the form of a series of bets from your parlay card. The name comes from Round Robin tournaments where each team in the groups play against each other at least once. Every single perm will be applied. For example: if we pick 5 teams our Round Robin will consist of 26 bets ( 10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 four-folds, and 1 five- fold ) - a bet also known as a Canadian! -
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Hedging Hedging is when you place a bet pre-game (or in game) and then if the price moves in your favor, you can back the other side to protect your bet. -
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Permutation Betting What is a permutation bet? Permutation betting is the placing of a series of wagers which cover multiple selections in various combinations. For example: you could pick 3 teams and you want to perm some doubles in. There are 3 different combos of doubles you can make up from 3 selections (AB, AC, BC). You would now be making 3 separate doubles parlays. -
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Bankroll Your bankroll is your betting bank. This should always be money you can afford to lose and that is set aside from your life roll. This is the tank you have to wager and there are various strategy articles out there to inform you on optimal staking to try and grow your bankroll. Please gamble responsibly.
Ontario Hockey Betting Odds, Lines & Bets
Single game wagers are being legalized all over the land and Canada NHL gambling is rife. To bet on the NHL in Ontario, you'll want to familiarize yourself with the types of available odds and bets. The following is a list of betting options across the betting sites:
Live Betting
Live betting is available on a variety of the best NHL betting sites in Canada. You can place in-game wagers on sites such as Bet365 Ontario. Live betting odds will update in play using a method known as time decay, related to an algorithm. Various straight bets are available, but we can also bet on markets such as the “next goal”. Your Ontario betting app will become your best friend if you're planning on making live bets on the NHL in Ontario. Be sure you have 1, or more, ready to go!
Period Betting
Ontario NHL hockey odds include betting on the 3 individual 20-minute periods in the games. Bets you make on these periods count during this period only. For example, if you back over 1.5 goals in the 2nd period it is irrelevant how many goals were scored in the 1st period or how many will be scored in the last period.
Alternate Lines
Alternate lines are exactly what they say on the tin. If you think you might have an angle where you would like an extra goal, for example, on four of your teams on the puck line, certain sportsbooks will cater for this. NHL betting odds will be adjusted accordingly.
Parlay
A parlay is a bet where you like 2 or more teams or totals lines etc on the game slate and you’d like to combine them together into 1 bet in an attempt to hit a bigger pay-out. Standard pay-outs for markets such as the moneyline in betting parlays are around 2.6 to 1 on the double and 6 to 1 on the treble. Parlay bets aren't necessarily -EV.
Exotic Wager
Exotic wagers are prop bets gone mad so to speak. They are usually centered around a major event such as the boxing match between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather, or in terms of hockey betting or ON NHL betting odds, the final of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. We could have markets priced up such as ‘what color shorts will Conor McGregor wear’ as exotic wagers, usually to get a more casual audience involved and stimulate action.
Moneylines
Moneyline bets are a bet on either side to win straight out. They are a great way to get involved for extra entertainment if your favorite team is playing that day. For example: If you fancy your Toronto Maple Leafs to beat their opposition and place a $150 wager on them using the Canada NHL betting lines at -150 and they win, you get a profit of $100 with your $150 stake returned.
Puck Lines
The Puck line is basically the spread (as in MLB, NFL etc.) for supremacy of 1 team over the other to make it a fair game in terms of hockey betting lines . If the Maple Leafs are -1.5 on the puck line that means they’ll have to beat their opposition by two or more for you to win your bet.
Totals Over/Under
The third most popular of the betting lines is the totals. This is simply a line set at a fair estimation around the median key number in terms of expected goals. The key numbers in hockey are 1,2,3… and so on. You can back the unders or the overs depending on whether you think the game will be high or low scoring. The over under line is usually set around 5.5 or 6.5.
Futures
Futures betting in hockey is a more long-term bet drawn out over the course of the season. We can bet before the start of the season on the Maple Leafs winning the Presidents trophy, for example, and be redeemed at good odds many months later if they accrue the most points in the regular season.
Prop Bets
Prop bets are miscellaneous bets within a game that don’t relate directly to the match results. Markets like ‘most valuable player’ or ‘to score the most goals’ are examples of prop bets in NHL. Prop bets are a good way to find an angle or an edge in hockey betting in Ontario.
Grand Salami
Grand Salami betting lets you wager on the total scores of all games being played in the NHL in any given slate. It’s a bet on the (cumulative) totals or over / under lines for all the teams combined.
The Bookmakers Fee for Betting on Hockey in Ontario
The juice at sportsbooks is commonly referred to as the vig and is the bookmaker’s commission. It will be something to watch for across the Ontario hockey betting sites. Juice is similar to the hold which is the combined margin of the market.
We can use a simple formula to calculate the juice: Vig formula is 1-(1/book %) x 100.
For example, the market adds up to 105% and we then have: 1-(1/105) x 100 = .047 x 100 (turn it into a %) = 4.7 % bookmaker commission. The vig might be different depending on which Canadian NHL sportsbook you choose.
Hockey Odds Movement
The hockey season in the National Hockey League is long and each team plays 82 games before the playoffs for the Stanley Cup. That means there’s a quick turnaround and odds compilers at the sportsbooks generally have the Ontario hockey betting lines up 1 day in advance.
We want to sign up for one of these top books which also gives us time to handicap the games we are looking to bet.
The better Ontario sports betting products will also price up props and less obscure markets. Posting the odds a day in advance means we can see significant line movements before the off which leads to potential hedging opportunities.
How to Bet the NHL Playoffs in Ontario
The playoffs are action-packed and high variance. This means there’s plenty of high EV bets available siding with the underdogs in NHL betting.
With loads of action, we can attack the overs and disciplinary props markets. In 2011-12 the LA Kings won the Stanley Cup as the 8th seed. In knockout competition, it’s often best to target teams with a strong defense and goaltender.
How to Bet the Stanley Cup in Canada
You can bet on the Stanley Cup futures market and during the regular season leading into the playoffs. Different Ontario hockey sportsbooks will offer different lines so it’s a good idea to shop around. Some decent NHL betting tips on the Stanley Cup include paying close attention to variables such as team energy.
There is plenty of travel involved for the away game and not too much recovery time in between games. Look for injuries to key players especially the goaltender or the center that play important roles.
Popular Hockey Teams to Bet on in Ontario
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Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are the team for Ontario, probably the most supported by the masses. This means they might not be the best betting option as their support bias will mean less value in their prices set by the bookmakers in Ontario hockey sportsbooks. They compete in the NHL as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. Captained by Jon Tavares and coached by Sheldon Keefe, playing out of the Scotiabank Arena. -
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Montréal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens, officially le Club de hockey Canadien and nicknamed the Habs, are based in Montreal. They compete in the NHL as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Coached by Dominique Ducharme and owned by the Molson family. The Canadiens play out of the Bell Centre. -
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Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators, officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club are nicknamed the Sens and are based in Ottawa. The Sens play out of the Canadian Tire Centre arena – a state of the art facility. Coached by DJ Smith, and the general manager is Pierre Dorion. -
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Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are based in Detroit, go figure. The Red Wings are one of the original six teams of the NHL. Founded in 1926, the team was known as the Detroit Cougars until 1930. Coached by Jeff Blashill, playing out of Little Caesars Arena, captained by Dylan Larkin. The general manager of the Red Wings is Steve Yzerman.
How to Find the Best Ontario Hockey Betting Sites
Follow these tips to ensure you find the best hockey betting site in Ontario for you:
✅ Make sure your ON NHL sportsbook is legal. All the online hockey betting sites in Ontario are now licensed and regulated by the Ontario government. Be sure to sign up with one of these to avoid bet settlement issues, withdrawal problems and so forth.
✅ Do they offer competitive odds? We want to make sure we research sportsbooks for competitive odds. The vigorish which we discussed earlier can differ from book to book and we want to aim for the best value on hockey.
✅ Make sure they offer a wide array of markets. The product should provide a choice of markets including the totals, puck line, moneyline, prop, futures, and more for you to maximize your enjoyment and profitability.
Best NHL Ontario Betting Site for Odds - BetMGM
BetMGM is one of the more well-known establishments in the sports betting space. Known as the kings of betting they own a physical retail casino in Detroit, near Ontario. Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky is a brand ambassador. The operator sets odds for all regular season matches and offers all the main markets including props. They also offer up-to-the-minute live betting odds with bigger potential pay-outs.
Learn more about BetMGM Ontario Sportsbook.
Best NHL Ontario Betting Site - FanDuel
FanDuel Ontario has accompanied DraftKings into Ontario. It has one of, if not the best sports betting platforms available. Excellent live betting options get you involved in a match and you can see the stats on the action in a live stream. This is a sportsbook that you should definitely check out if you want to bet on hockey in Ontario.
Learn more about FanDuel Ontario Sportsbook.
Best NHL Ontario Betting Site for Live Betting - PointsBet
PointsBet Ontario are a premier global sportsbook operator, and the National Hockey League recently announced a new multiyear strategic partnership, naming this operator as an Official Sports Betting Partner of the National Hockey League. Their sports betting product is the fastest sports betting app in the market and it offers the most markets in the world for each NHL game. The deal provides the ability to integrate the sportsbook operator's content into live NHL game broadcasts on the likes of NBC sports. It will include the incorporation of odds, data, and insight to complement the pregame, in-game, and postgame broadcasts.
Learn more about PointsBet Ontario Sportsbook.
Best NHL Ontario Betting Site for Mobile Betting - DraftKings
DraftKings Ontario is looking to make its mark in Canada and has hit the Ontario market. It is advisable to download the sportsbook on mobile for the best gaming experience, which is available on iOS and Android. With a simple-to-use interface and neat layout, placing a bet on the go couldn’t be any easier. The app also has night mode skins that are easier on the eye.
Learn more about DraftKings Ontario Sportsbook.
Live Betting on Ontario Hockey Games
If it’s fast and furious you want from a sport then hockey is right up there for betting, with the action often most prominent from puck off. If your outright bets are not going to plan you can reinvest with some live betting props, next scorer or period betting. There’s never a quiet few minutes with the NHL live betting product at your disposal and you can even bet into overtime!
Betting on Hockey from a Mobile
Betting on NHL from a mobile adds to the experience and when it comes to online gambling, Ontario players want hockey betting apps that are easy to download to their device. An efficient NHL sportsbook app in Ontario should offer everything that the desktop website provides to players yet be designed so that all those elements can be easily manipulated from a smartphone. You can easily download the NHL sports betting apps and live bet on the go whether you’re on a train or at a friend’s house. If you’ve only got a few minutes to get your bets on before the game starts, having the app installed on your mobile will eliminate the stress you don’t need before the real stuff starts!
Popular Hockey Betting Mistakes to Avoid
The key to enjoying sports betting is watching and analyzing games. Understanding the rules and variables to try and find angles on the NHL betting lines. Hockey is an action-packed game that may differ from most popular sports in terms of nuance. Here are some of the things to consider when betting on hockey in Ontario:
🚨Shots on Goal -Studying teams’ recent shot count isn’t necessarily a good idea as it can be misleading. Weaker teams often shoot on sight to increase their chances of scoring so be careful not to give too much weight there.
🚨Pay attention to the Goaltender -The goaltender is the most important member of the team to consider before placing NHL bets. Injuries are a big part of the Stanley Cup season and don’t underestimate the impact it might have if the no. 1 puck stopper is AWOL.
🚨Not considering home and away differences -In vocal and boisterous sports home advantage matters, and betting on the NHL is no different. The home side will have a significant advantage. Travel time for the away side will affect energy levels as well giving another edge to the home side. Try to weigh up these factors vs the odds offered to gauge the value in the betting lines and odds.
🚨 Not comparing odds -I’ve already mentioned that the vig at different sportsbooks can be variable and this can be quite severe when it comes to your bottom line at the end of the betting season. Make sure you bet at the best odds available or at least close to them.
Sign Up to an Ontario Sportsbook for Hockey Betting
Location verification will be required to ensure that players accessing the sportsbook site are located within Ontario when betting. Initial registration and login may require ID.
| ✅ Step #1: Pick a username and a password. |
| ✅ Step #2: Follow the sign up steps as necessary. |
| ✅ Step #3: Once these steps are completed, the account is ready to be funded by one of the options available, whether it’s by wire transfer, card, PayPal etc. Ontario NHL betting sites offer numerous banking options for deposits. |
| ✅ Step #4: Now you are ready to make your first NHL hockey bet and taste the action. . |
Ready to Bet on Hockey in Ontario?
It’s time to get those pucks out again, and get your skates on while you’re at it. Slip on into the Ontario hockey online sportsbooks with a nice hot cup of tea to supplement that pie. There are more markets and NHL betting lines than snowflakes in an Ontario winter to choose from while watching your favorite hockey team on TV. There’s nothing like an extra few loonies dancing around your lounge room fat pants to add to the excitement of hockey season.
Ontario Hockey Betting FAQ
You can bet on NHL games 100% legally in Ontario if you have an account at a licensed sportsbook.
Hockey betting is available at a number of online sportsbooks in Ontario. Some of these include BetMGM, FanDuel Ontario and Sports Interaction.
To place a bet on the NHL in Ontario, or any other hockey game, you need to sign up for an Ontario betting app or online sportsbook. Input your details, review the ON sports betting offers and make a deposit. From there you are free to place your bets.
+1 is the advantage given to the perceived weaker team on the puck line. If said team lose by 1 goal this bet is normally a push (overtime / draw rules may apply).
Author
Bryan Nicholson a world-renowned golf betting expert who gladly expands his expertise into covering other top markets like hockey and football,
