Ice Hockey Bet Types
Ice Hockey has long been a sport loved by North Americans. Europeans are beginning to explode the world's top league, as NHL sides are frequently visiting the continent to play pre-season matches before the season and the TV networks covering hockey reach every corner of the globe. The number of games in the NHL and in other competitions means that there is an abundance of chances to bet on ice hockey.
The ice hockey betting markets are stacked with choices, so it is important to read up on what the most popular markets require in order for a win. Our ice hockey betting guide is intended for the complete hockey beginner, Here are some of the most popular ice hockey bet types that you can expect to find online.
Match Odds
Much like every other sport that you can expect to bet on, the most popular ice hockey betting market is the match odds betting. Here the punter would simply choose which side will win the match, and place a bet on that team. It is also called the 1X2 market, with the ‘1’ highlighting the home side, and the ‘2’ being the away team. The ‘X’ is the tie, and is a winning bet should the match go into overtime. The match odds are for regulation time, which means should the fixture go to overtime then the winning selection would be a tie. It is important to remember with ice hockey that fixtures sometimes read like this: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Ottawa Senators. This means the unlike in European sports, the team that is mentioned first is away from home. The simplicity of this ice hockey bet type makes it very popular, and selections can also be included in a longer formed accumulator.
2-Way Match Betting
The most common way to bet on ice hockey is the 2-way market. The tie here is taken out of the equation, and should the fixture go into overtime then the bet is settled as void. The punter would simply select which of the two sides will win, and place their money on that team. For example, if a punter places a bet on the Washington Capitals to beat the Vegas Knights then if the Caps win then the bet is a winner. If it is a tie, then it is void, and if the Knights win, the bet is lost.
Handicap Betting
Like in many sports, the handicap market can be used to maximise returns on the favored side winning. The handicap market ensures that the favorite starts with a disadvantage that they will need to overcome. While it can also be used to put an advantage on the unfavored side. Depending on the fixture in hockey, it could see a side start with a -1.5 handicap. This means that the favored side in this fixture would need to win by at least two clear goals inside regulation time for the bet to be a winner. For example, if you put a bet on the New York Rangers to beat the Montreal Canadiens with a -1.5 handicap, then they will need to win by two goals for the bet to be a winner. These bets can also be included in accumulators.
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Double Chance Betting
Sometimes as a punter, you have a feeling that a particular game can go either way. Luckily, this is where the double chance market can be utilised. Here, you can have two possible outcomes from the game to ensure profit. For example, in a fixture between the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins, you could bet on the Bruins to win or the match to end in a tie. As long as the Cannucks don’t win, then the bet is a winner.
Total Goals Scored Betting
One of the most enjoyable betting markets to wager on is the total goals scored. In this market, you wouldn’t be relying on one team to win, and instead would be hoping for a certain amount of goals to be scored. The online bookmaker would set a benchmark and then you can place a bet on whether there will be more or fewer goals. For instance, in a fixture between the Chicago Blackhawks and the St Louis Blues the benchmark could be 4.5. If you think there will be more goals, then you will put your wager on over, while if you think it will be lower, then you can put the wager on under. For the over bet to be a winner, there has to be at least five goals in total, while there will need to be four goals or under for the other selection to win.
60 Minute Winning Margin
This market is one of the most lucrative on the ice hockey betting sportsbooks. Here, you can place a bet on the winning team as well as by how many they will win by. After selecting the winning team, you can choose to bet whether they will win by one, two or three. You can also instead opt to bet on the tie after regulation time.
Outright Betting
Everybody likes to bet to ensure they can remain entertained in a competition throughout the season, and that is the case with ice hockey. You can place bets on the team that will win the Stanley Cup as well as European, College and Junior leagues. For the NHL, you can also place bets on the team that will win the regional conferences and how many points each team in the league will get. The latter of the markets sets a benchmark, and then the punter can bet whether the team will finish with more or fewer points.
