Hockey betting Guide: How does hockey betting work?

Most of us might think hockey betting is all about the NHL.
The NHL may be the most popular hockye league in the world but hockey on ice is played all over the world.

For the betting community, that means there are games in play all year round. You don’t have to wait for a market, there will always be something listed on our sports betting site.

If you’re new to ice hockey betting or you just want to know some more, we’re here to help. So let’s start at the beginning:

What are hockey odds and how do they work?

Great question for the Face-Off:
Odds answer two things:

• What is the probability of an outcome happening?
• How much will I be paid if my bet wins?

Here’s a typical set of odds which answers both questions:

We’ve made the trip east to Sweden where Djurgardens play Malmo.
See those odds of -1.65 next to Malmo; that minus sign indicates the favorites.
The + symbol next to Djurgardens highlights the underdog.

That’s the probability part dealt with: Our odds setters have confirmed that the Redhawks have a greater chance of winning.

So what about payouts?
Those numbers also show what to expect if your bet is a winner.

If you agree with the market and want to back Malmo, the -1.65 figure says that you need to bet $165 to win 100 bucks.

What if you want to back the underdog?
A $100 stake on Djurgardens wins $140 if the bet lands.

To sum up, a minus prefix means you have to bet that amount to collect $100.
Odds with a plus sign in front mean that you stand to win that figure if you stake 100 bucks.

The Public’s Part in Setting Odds

As experts in ice hockey betting, Unibet are here to bust jargon.
If you’ve yet to come across the phrase ‘betting with the public’ you will soon.

The public will look at that game in Sweden and start to consider their bets.
With more money staked on Malmo, they are the favorites.
When you bet with the public, you are betting on the favorites to win.

You’re free to make up your own mind.
Bet on Malmo and you get a smaller return. According to the public and Unibet odds setters, the chances of winning are higher.

If you bet against the public, the chances of winning are statistically less.
However, the returns are bigger.

The underdog will come through on occasions: If they didn’t, sport would be boring.
It’s up to you to pick that winner.

The Different Types of Hockey Bets

#1 Hockey Moneylines

The most popular bet is listed above.
The Moneyline market in ice hockey covers the result and it includes the possibility of Overtime and Shootouts.

It’s not always easy to call the winner but it’s a simple bet and one which most of us start out with.
Pick your team and place your bet.

There is a second market on the match result.
This time, we’ll make the short hop to Finland to check it out.

For this bet we have a third market.
The Regular Time Line refers to the result at the end of the third period.
There are three options now with a win for either side and the tie.

If the game goes into overtime, the tie wins the bet.
For either team to deliver you a profit, they would have to win in regular time.

#2 Hockey Puck lines

If you’ve staked on other sports such as basketball, you may know about the points spread.
This is a bet on the winning margin in a game.
In ice hockey, the spread exists but it’s called a puck line.

Let’s cross back over the Atlantic for an example:

In this NHL game between the Islanders and the Capitals, the Capitals are favorites to win by at least two goals.
The -1.5 figure here tells us this.
If Washington win by two goals or more, the bet pays out at +150.

If the victory is by just one goal or, if the Capitals are defeated, the bet is lost.

If you bet on the Islanders in this puck line market, you win if New York win, tie, or lose by just one goal.

The puck line will usually be set at 1.5 but you can change it up.
The green circle in this image is a slider.
Move it from left to right and the options change.

#3 Hockey Total Goals

Goals win games and you can also stake on the amount of goals scored in a hockey match. Let’s stick with the Islanders and the Capitals.

The line’s been set at 5.5 and the odds are in play.
If you bet Over the line, you collect at -113 if there are six or more goals.
Bet Under, and the odds shorten to -108 for five goals or fewer.

Want some higher odds?
No problem, just click on that slider to change it up.

As our customer you have the power to set your own lines.
We’ve done this one for you and it’s in place at 6.
If New York and Washington hit at least seven goals between them, a winning bet pays at +138.

But what if it’s a 4-2 win to the Islanders?
What happens if the total goals hit the line?
If there were six goals in this match we’d refund your stake.
The bet is a ‘push’ and there are no winners and losers.

#4 Hockey Props

A prop is a ‘proposition bet’ and there are many options for betting on hockey.
Think of it as something that could happen within a game that doesn’t necessarily determine the match result.

Props fit into two categories.
These are Game Props and Player Props:

Game Props Include

• Highest scoring period
• Team to win each period
• Correct Score
• Both Teams to Score – Yes or No

Player Props Include

• First Goal Scorer
• Player to score at least one goal

Just scroll beyond the main markets and you’ll find all the available props.

#4 Hockey Parlays

A parlay is a combination bet with two or more selections: Parlays can be staked on a single ice hockey game or they can be spread across two matches or more.

Here’s an example of a parlay staked in one game.
It’s known as a single leg parlay:

Here we’ve gone for Malmo to win and Over 5.5 goals.
Now it’s time for a 3-leg parlay across three NHL games:

The 3 selections in the moneyline markets are the Ducks, the Stars and the Capitals all to win.
This time we’ve shown the odds and your potential return for a winning bet.
If you’re happy, click on the big yellow button to place the bet.

Keep in mind that with a parlay, all picks have to win. If one or more legs lets you down, the best is lost.

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You can choose to cash out your bets anytime during a hockey parlay if you feel like you won't win the parlay.