Since “The Great One” arrived back in the ’90s, hockey has grown so much in California that NHL betting would be one of the busiest betting markets at online sportsbooks the state ever legalized online betting.
Here’s how to bet on the NHL online in California when sportsbooks arrive. We also run down the best sportsbooks for hockey betting, today’s live NHL lines, Stanley Cup futures and more.
Sports betting in California is not legal at this time. However, one social sportsbook gives hockey fans in California one betting option, Fliff.
Top CA sportsbooks for hockey betting
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook is an “Official Sports Betting and iGaming Partner” of the NHL and has been since 2021. The agreement gives DraftKings Sportsbook a chance for betting content integrations via the NHL’s various media platforms and access to NHL logos. DraftKings also has the right to run NHL-themed promos throughout the season.
DraftKings is also the exclusive sportsbook provider for Turner Sports and Bleacher Report‘s coverage of the NHL. Turner has the broadcast rights for the regular season, NHL Playoffs and Stanley Cup Finals action in the US, and DraftKings provides NHL betting info to the broadcast and Bleacher Report online. The sportsbook itself has every NHL betting option imaginable, live NHL markets employing Simplebet’s micro-betting technology and NHL-specific promos.
Available hockey betting markets at DK include:
- Moneylines/puck lines/totals
- 60 minute line
- Tie no bet
- Alternate totals
- Puck line/totals
- 1st period/End of regulation
- 1st period
- Goal in first 10
- Period winner – Tie no bet
- Team Totals
- 1st period – Alternate Totals
- Both teams to score – 1st period
- Totals – First 10 minutes
- Highest scoring period
- 2nd period – Alternate Totals
- 3rd period – Alternate Totals
- First scorer
- Last scorer
- Anytime goalscorer
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Sportsbook has been an official sports betting partner of the NHL since 2018. The deal gives FanDuel access to official NHL data and advanced real-time data. FanDuel also maintains the right to offer free-to-play NHL contests and promos.
In 2020, FanDuel Sportsbook took the deal further, bringing live streaming NHL games directly to the platform. The sportsbook itself posts a massive variety of NHL bets for every match and value-added content on its NHL Research page.
NHL best bets and available betting markets at FanDuel include:
- Moneylines/Spreads (Puck lines)/Totals
- Moneyline (3-way No Push)
- Moneyline Total Goals Parlay (No OT Push)
- 60 minute correct score
- Goal in first 5/10
- 1st period totals
- First goal scorer
- OT goal scorer
- Any time goal scorer
- Player performance parlays
- Match specials
- Will there be OT?
- Both teams to score
- 60 minute team to score first
- Alternate spread, totals
- 60 minute team totals
BetMGM
MGM Resorts was the NHL’s first official sports betting partner when it inked a deal back in 2018. MGM Resorts’ BetMGM sportsbook gained access to the league’s intellectual property and data as a part of that deal.
In 2021, BetMGM Sportsbook became popular hockey media outlet The Hockey News‘ exclusive sports betting partner and began a content collaboration. Then, it signed NHL legend Wayne Gretzky as a marketing spokesperson, proving the sportsbook’s commitment to the NHL.
NHL betting odds and hockey-specific promotions now abound, and the BetMGM Sports Betting Guide offers good advice in its tutorial on NHL betting.
NHL odds markets at MGM Sportsbook include:
- Moneylines/Spreads (Puck lines)/Totals
- One Game Parlays
- Win/Total
- Period Lines
- 3-way result after regulation time
- Goalscorers
- Winning Margin
- Double Chance
- Team 1st period first goal
- Correct score
- Both teams to score
- Team totals
- Most goals which period
- Time of first goal
- First to 3 goals
- First scorer
- Last scorer
- Anytime scorer
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook is the “Official Casino Partner” of the Las Vegas Golden Knights, the official sportsbook of the New York Rangers, the jersey sponsor for the Washington Capitals and employs New York Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist as an official ambassador.
Although there isn’t a heavily publicized deal between Caesars and the NHL, they are working together. After all, Caesars Sportsbook’s From the Point sponsored content is all over NHL.com, and the NHL logo is all over the sportsbook website.
Caesars also has a solid variety of NHL betting odds and NHL promos. Available hockey betting markets at Caesars include:
- Moneylines
- Puck lines
- Totals
- 1st/2nd/3rd Period
- Alternate Lines
- Goals
- Score & Win
- Prop Bets
- 60 Minutes Betting
PointsBet
PointsBet has been an official sports betting partner of the NHL since 2021, when it inked a deal to give the NHL equity in its company. This sportsbook also enjoys TV and digital integrations with league partners that include NBC Sports, which sees its odds, data and insight content on NHL broadcasts.
PointsBet CA posts a variety of competitive NHL betting markets, and the PointsBetting system can be applied to NHL games, making goal differential a factor in variable odds. Available hockey betting markets at PointsBet include:
- Moneylines
- Puck lines
- Totals
- Period markets
- Alternate lines
- First goalscorer
- Last goalscorer
- Anytime goalscorer
- Shots
Best NHL odds boosts and promos September 2024
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM Sports’ Bonus Token promo offers up a $25 Bonus Token to anyone that places a $10 or more futures bet on any team to win the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals, every time that team advances to the next round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The token can be used in any sport and offers you some great value if the team you bet on goes deep in the playoffs this year.
FanDuel Sportsbook
Place $50 worth of parlay bets on the NHL Playoffs, and FanDuel Sportsbook will give you $20 in Bonus Bets whether you win the parlay or not.
The odds on your parlays must be +400 or longer, but this promo offers real value whether you can beat the book or not.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook’s NHL Playoffs Bonus SGP promo gets you a refund in the form of a bonus bet up to $10 if your same game parlay on a playoff game loses.
This is an excellent value to anyone betting playoff same game parlays in the $10 range and is probably reason enough to try if you aren’t.
How to bet on the NHL online in CA
Here’s how easy it is to download a CA sports betting app, open an account, manage your account and bet:
- Click to claim your sports betting bonus;
- Click the download link for your device on the sportsbook’s website;
- Create a new account by clicking the “Sign Up” tab and filling out the registration form;
- Use your bonus bets or make a deposit using any available deposit method;
- Browse through the NHL lines, click on any bet and fill out a bet slip to place that bet.
Today’s NHL odds
When California online sportsbooks go live, you’ll see tonight’s current NHL odds at legal sportsbooks below. Check our live sportsbooks odds for NFL, NBA or MLB odds.
Related Pages:
NHL puck line, moneyline, over-under betting
| Bet | Explained | Odds | Pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Bet on a team winning with a spread factored into the final score | Lock in the currently posted odds on a game’s favorite (-) or underdog (+) with the puck line factored in | Pays at the odds as posted when you placed your bet |
| Moneyline | Bet on a team winning outright | Lock in the currently posted odds on the favorite (-) or underdog (+) | Pays at the odds as posted when you placed your bet |
| Over/Under | Bet on the total combined score landing over or under a line | Close to the same for over and under with a small vig factored in | Pays at the odds as posted when you placed your bet |
Best NHL props and futures
NHL futures and props might begin with the simplest of picks on who will hoist the Stanley Cup this season. However, these bets extend to the following list of the most popular NHL futures and props:
- Conference Winner: Bet on a team to win its conference in the playoffs and make the Stanley Cup Finals.
- Win Totals: Bet on a team to go over or under a regular-season win total line set by sportsbooks.
- Playoff Series Win: Bet on a team to win a playoff series.
- NHL Award Winners: Bet on a player to win one of the NHL’s annual awards, including:
- Hart Trophy: MVP
- Calder Trophy: Rookie of the Year
- Norris Trophy: Best Defenseman
- Vezina Trophy: Best Goaltender
- Selke Trophy: Best Defensive Forward
- Lady Byng Trophy: Most Gentlemanly Player
NHL alternate lines
Most NHL puck lines are set at a standard of 1.5 goals. However, alternatives are available at different odds. That means if you believe one team is a huge favorite or underdog against another, you can manipulate the odds by betting larger puck lines, setting yourself up for a bigger payday or giving you a better chance to win the bet.
For example, you might bet the San Jose Sharks at -150 over the Los Angeles Kings +225 on the moneyline. Factor in the 1.5-goal puck line, and San Jose might become +150 dogs to win by two. You can also bet the 2.5-goal alternative puck line and get San Jose at +250. You’d win $150 betting $100 on the original puck line but $250 betting $100 on the alternate puck line. It’s just that the Sharks would have to win by three for you to get paid.
How to find the best NHL lines
The easiest way to find value while betting on the NHL is to line shop. That means going from sportsbook to sportsbook to find the best price. If you find bigger odds on an underdog or the chance to lay less on a favorite, you’re saving money on your losses and increasing the profitability of your wins.
NHL betting lines start out the same at most sportsbooks, but heavy betting on one side or the other might force one sportsbook to adjust while the others don’t. Shopping around will allow you to find the value these adjustments can provide and increase your bottom line over the long haul.
NHL live betting
In game (or live) NHL betting is quickly becoming the most popular way to bet on hockey. It truly enhances the NHL viewership experience by allowing you to bet on the games you’re watching in the middle of the action on the ice. Odds change on the fly, and while it’s mostly the same bet types you place before a game at constantly changing odds, an increased number of in game props are also available.
NHL live betting is the most fun and exciting way to bet on hockey, but it’s also the fastest, making it near impossible to get bets down without the use of a sportsbook app. That means there will be no live betting on the NHL in California until legal hockey betting sites and mobile apps come to the Golden State.
Betting live can also quickly take your betting over budget so you might want to consider using (and tracking) your bets according to betting units.
NHL betting rules at online sportsbooks
Live and online sportsbooks publish specific rules that govern the handling of NHL bets. Read these rules before you bet and nothing that happens will surprise you. Most of the time, a sportsbook’s published rules will say:
- Only official NHL results and stats are used to settle bets;
- Overtime goals count toward game over/unders and NHL player prop bets;
- Shootout wins are counted as single goal wins no matter how many shootout goals are scored;
- Player trades, injuries, contract disputes or even a team moving mid-season won’t void a futures bet.