How to bet on hockey?

Question

Hockey is the national game of America. Many hockey fans place bets on this game. I want to know the basics to bet on a hockey game. Please specify.

Answer 1

Before a person can start to bet the NHL, it's important they have a solid understanding of the money line. If the money line is a new concept for you, read  Understanding Money Lines.

The money line is the most common method of betting the NHL, although there is also a puck line, which we will discuss a bit later, as well as totals. A number of sports books also offer the "Grand Salami," which is the combined total of all the games that are played on a particular day, and we'll discuss that a bit later, as well.

Nearly every sports book uses a 20-cent line on the National Hockey League. The 20-cents refers to the difference in the odds on the favorite and the odds on the underdog. But as with other sports, such as baseball, the odds on an extremely large favorite will often be greater than the 20 cents.

The odds on a typical National Hockey League game may look like:

Calgary +110
Vancouver -130

What that means is that Vancouver bettors are asked to risk $130 to win $100, while Calgary bettors risk $100 to win $110.

But the odds on a game with a larger favorite are more inclined to look like:

Toronto +250
Detroit -300

The larger difference in odds is typical in all sports, not just hockey, so it isn't as if hockey bettors are being singled out.