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For those of you who want to bet on the NHL in Ontario, this article should serve as the ultimate guide. From the basics to the more complex corners - we’ve covered it all in this article.
This article will explain how to place a bet on the NHL in Ontario, and we’ll also run through the most popular types of wagers. Additionally, our experts have also explained a few trade secrets to finding the best odds for each game.
Single-game sports wagering is now 100% legal and regulated in the province of Ontario. That means that those aged 19 and over can legally place a bet on MLS in Ontario, the NHL, and all other major sports leagues. Until August 2021, you had to rely on overseas sportsbooks, which were only technically legal through a loophole, known as the “gray market.” August 2021 saw the launch of retail sportsbooks for in-person sports betting, as well as a government-run app and betting site called Proline+.
In early 2022, private online sportsbooks were given licenses by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to be able to launch in April 2022. This means that sports bettors, like you, in Ontario aged 19 and over have a range of online betting sites and apps to choose from when it comes to betting on NHL in Ontario.
When it comes to placing a bet on hockey or any sport online in Ontario, there is now an abundance of choices. The AGCO hasn’t exactly been shy about giving out licenses, and Ontario is a lucrative market thanks to its population and number of sports teams. As a result, many of the biggest betting brands in North America and the rest of the world have launched their online sportsbooks in Ontario.
So what’s the best sportsbook for NHL betting? Because hockey is the most popular sport in Ontario, the majority of sportsbooks generally try to focus on promoting their NHL options. With so much quality on offer, making the right choice can be difficult. It’s also important for you to choose a sportsbook that’s right for you.
Here at Strafe.com, we have created reviews of all of the available sportsbooks for betting on the NHL in Canada’s most populous province, including TheScore Bet Ontario. Our experts create fair and honest reviews that are designed to help you find the sportsbook that’s right for you.
Often, selecting the right sportsbook as an individual involves considering more aspects than just your NHL betting needs. For example, you might also be looking for other sports betting options as well, or require a platform that also hosts an online casino. Those who like to bet on the move will need a platform that has a mobile app.
Whether you are a first-time NHL bettor in Ontario or an experienced player looking for a new site, the sportsbook reviews here at Strafe.com have been designed to help you find your ideal site. If you need it, our Ontario betting site reviews can be accessed right here, right now.
In theory, the basics of placing a bet in Ontario are extremely simple, no matter what sport or league you are looking to bet on. The steps below can be followed for other forms of sports wagering, including placing a bet on CFL in Ontario and more.
The first thing that you need to do is find the right betting site by using the sportsbook reviews here at Strafe.com. The next step is to create an account and have it verified, which should be done in a matter of minutes in most cases.
Once that’s done, the first real money deposit will need to be made using one of the available payment methods. We always recommend using an e-wallet or e-payment service like Interac, as such methods don’t share your financial information with the merchant. We also recommend creating an initial bankroll budget to deposit, which should be no more than you can realistically afford to lose.
Once your account has been opened, verified, and funded, it’s then time to place that first NHL bet. If you are a first-time bettor who knows your hockey, understanding the different types of NHL betting lines is essential. Fortunately, we have created a handy guide directly below that explains the most popular types of NHL bets in detail.
In the above guide, we explained the basic process that you need to follow when it comes to placing a bet on NHL in Ontario. However, it’s not only about placing bets, it’s about knowing what bets to place, and ultimately trying to ensure that every bet is a winner. Below, we have run through the most common betting lines for the NHL.
The moneyline is the most rudimentary betting line that displays the odds and implied probability of the two basic outcomes of the game. The team with the highest probability of winning is known as the favorite, while the team with the least chance is known commonly as the underdog.
Let’s take a look at an example using a Maple Leafs game:
In the above example, we can see that the Maple Leafs are favorites at shorter odds of 1.70, while Avalanche are the underdogs at longer odds of 2.15. Betting on the Maple Leafs as the favorites here wouldn’t hold much value, which is why you may need to look to other markets to lengthen the odds and increase the value of your bets.
If you have have ever placed a bet on the NFL in Ontario, you will be familiar with the point spread. The puck line is the NHL equivalent and works in almost exactly the same way. The puck line aims to even up the contest by taking points from the favorite and giving them to the underdog.
Let’s take a look at an example:
With this line, the Maple Leafs essentially start with a 1.5 point handicap, meaning that they would need to win by a margin of two goals or more in order for the bet to win. The Avalanche starts with a 1.5 goal advantage. This means that a bet on them would still pay out if they lose, so long as they stay within a goal of the Maple Leafs.
Totals betting involves betting on the total number of goals scored by both teams combined in the game. The betting line will display a proposed amount of total goals scored by both teams combined in the game, and provide the odds for betting over or under that amount. The actual outcome of the game, in terms of who wins and loses, has no bearing on this betting line.
For example, if the totals line is 6.5, then an over bet would payout if both teams scored a combined total of seven goals or more by the end of the game. The under bet would therefore payout if there were six goals or less.
Totals betting is the only one of the three basic NHL betting lines that doesn’t involve picking a winner of the game. This is just one example of a wider type of betting known as props betting, shorthand for “proposition” betting. Props lines are also popular when placing a bet on the NBA in Ontario, and in most sports in general really.
Props betting is very accessible to those of you who have experience in playing fantasy NHL, as it largely involves betting on stats in various forms. Some popular props bets for games include betting on the total number of saves or penalties in a game. Rather than betting on the game as a whole, props betting lines can also be found in the form of totals bets for each team.
Player props essentially involve you betting on the stats of an individual player in each game. These can be totals as well, such as how many goals an individual player will score, or how many fouls they will commit. Additionally, there are also time-related props as well, such as the first player to score or be offside.
If you are looking for a more exciting way to bet on NHL games in Ontario, you might want to try out live betting. However, we must start off by issuing a warning that this definitely isn’t one for beginners. Live betting involves reading the game as it is happening in order to predict what might happen next. Watching the game is therefore essential when it comes to placing an in-play bet. It also pays to have a good knowledge of the sport and the betting lines available.
The key to success in live betting, as well as having a solid knowledge of hockey and good reading for the game is timing. The live odds move extremely quickly for in-play bets, and something could change in the time it takes for you to select the bet in the app. It’s, therefore, best to wait for breaks in play, such as time-outs or the break between each period. Essentially, when play stops, it’s time to pounce.
The most important thing when it comes to betting on the NHL or any sports league is to find the best possible value for your bets by placing each wager at the best possible odds. In order to find the best odds for each and every bet, a comparison tool is essential. Odds comparison tools display the odds for each betting line with all of the available sportsbooks in real-time.
In order to be able to shop around for the best odds, it pays off to have multiple sportsbook accounts. Many bettors believe that the odds don’t differ that much between sportsbooks, but that’s far from the truth. There are multiple factors that influence the betting odds with each online bookmaker, and these factors involve behind-the-scenes influences as well as what’s likely to happen on the ice.
Before we finish up here, we would like to summarize by providing three things to take away from this article. The first step to betting on the NHL in Ontario is to find the right sportsbook to suit your individual needs as a gambler. Secondly, it’s vital to understand the betting markets as much as it is to know the sports of hockey itself. Lastly, it’s always beneficial to shop around for the best odds.
A full outline of the exact sports and hockey betting rules in Canada’s most populated province can be found here at Strafe.com. Our experts have explained everything in full for you.
We have created a rated and ranked list of the best hockey betting sites in Ontario, which you can access right here on our site. Our list is always updated so that you can find the best sportsbook in real-time any time you need it.
Betting on NHL games in Ontario is easy for you if you are aged 19 and over. We have created a full betting guide that will take you through the process step by step. Follow the link to discover more at Strafe.com.
19+ and physically located in Ontario. Gambling Problem? Call 1-866-531-2600 or visit connexontario.ca.