If you want to bet on the NHL in Illinois, there are plenty of sportsbooks to choose from. Each of these offers different features and betting options. In this guide, we will dive into all you need to know about wagering on ice hockey.
Hot & Trending Popular Promo Top-Rated App Yes, betting on the NHL is legal in Illinois. Governor Pritzker signed the bill into law in June of 2019 and the first sports bet was taken in March 2020.
Since then, sports betting in the state of Illinois has only grown and is now available online as well as at a more traditional brick-and-mortar sportsbook.
There are a number of different sportsbooks in Illinois offering NHL betting. Each one has something different to offer, which makes it very important to take a look at their specific features on offer. Have a look at the top betting sites here.
Barstool offers an excellent betting platform where you can place a variety of bets on the NHL as well as claim a number of excellent bonuses and promotions as a new player. It's also got a great betting interface where you can bet on both the desktop site and its mobile betting app.
FanDuel is the top earning sportsbook in the nation and their NHL catalog is as good as there is. They offer all the major markets as well as college hockey and the Olympics. FanDuel also offers a good welcome bonus for new users as well as odds boosts and second-chance bets.
BetMGM is a nationally known gambling and resort brand with a strong presence in Illinois. The site is very easy to use, offering an intuitive user platform that's available on both mobile and desktop devices. Additionally, you can find a wealth of NHL betting markets as well as college hockey and the Olympics.
DraftKings is one the top sports betting destinations and offers a solid brand with safe payment options. The DraftKings hockey catalogs are vast and the odds are competitive. DraftKings offers a good welcome bonus and even better rewards program.
If you want to get started with betting on the NHL, then you need to know what the different bet types are. Below are the most common bets placed on ice hockey:
This is a wager on which NHL team wins the contest. The moneyline is the most common NHL wager and would look like this on the oddsmakers board. The odds are presented in such a way as to represent how much you win based on a $100 wager.
For example, a $100 wager on the Blackhawks would earn $245 if the Blackhawks beat the Red Wings. Detroit bettors would need to wager $125 to win $100 if the Red Wings were victorious.
This is a wager on the total amount of goals scored in an NHL contest. The bookie hangs a number on the board and the bettor determines if the final outcome will end Over or Under the number.
For example, the game would need to end with 6+ goals for a Illinois Over bettor to cash their ticket and if the game ends Under five goals, Under bettors win their wager. The bookies usually charge vig on both sides of the line so you must wager $110 to win $100.
The puck line in hockey betting markets is similar to a spread bet in football–the bookie offers a number on the board that an NHL team must either win or lose by.
For example, if the Blackhawks lose by less than two goals, a $170 wager would net the Prairie State bettor $100. Conversely, if the Red Wings win the game by at least two goals, a $100 wager would result in a winning payout of $250.
NHL prop bets are wagers based on an individual player performance or team event. Individual props could be the amount of shots on goal by a player to the 1P total.
For example, if Raddysh attempts 4+ shots on goal, a $105 wager would result in a $100 payout. If Raddysh falls below three shots towards the net, the Illinois better would win $100 for a $125 wager.
Future NHL betting markets involve team milestones such as how many victories in a season to who wins a division, conference or the Stanley Cup Championship. Player props usually are limited to Awards such as the Vezina Trophy, Norris Trophy, Hart Award and Point Total Award.
Please remember NHL Future wagers can’t be cashed until at least the conclusion of the NHL regular season.
While there is only one NHL team in Illinois, there are a number of other ice hockey teams in the surrounding states that can also be bet on. Here are some of the top NHL teams in the area for you to bet on:
Below is a walkthrough of our best tips when betting on the NHL in Illinois:
The National Hockey League is a moneyline sport, and the moneyline is the most common wager Illinois bettors make when betting on hockey. Oddsmakers set a number, and the Illinois sports bettor decides which team will win and bets on that team.
The most important thing to remember when betting the moneyline is to find value.
A bet on Chicago -150 will cost the Illinois sports bettor $150 to win $100. That is 1.5 units in standard 100-unit bankroll management. While winning a few of these bets are terrific, the inevitable losing streak could significantly reduce the bankroll, and that is why we advise not to play favorites of -250 or higher.
Illinois bettors are encouraged to wager on the underdog whenever possible, as a $100 wager on Detroit to win this game pays $130. Prairie State NHL bettors should also remember that favorites generally win and refrain from betting on underdogs over +250.
Goaltending is the most important thing when considering which NHL team to back. Solid goaltending knowledge can make or break an Illinois sports bettor, and we have some tips to help Prairie State punters choose the correct goaltender.
The NHL favorite wins roughly 60% of their contests, which means the favorite loses 40% of the time. Look for favorites on short winning streaks of 1-2 games with their top goaltender in action and try to attack teams with injuries to their blue line.
Illinois sports bettors should remember the higher the favorite, the more risk is involved, and NHL bettors should avoid favorites of -250 or better.
Unlike most sports, NHL home teams have a 54.5% win rate, which means the away team has a realistic chance of winning 45.5% of the time.
This is sometimes an excellent spot to find a profitable away underdog. The Illinois sports bettor should look for an away underdog playing well against a home team with either a backup goaltender or injuries to its defense.
Sports bettors love the home team, but as we’ve seen, home teams don’t win as often in the NHL as in other sports, and sometimes an Illinois sports bettor can get a reasonable price on an away favorite.
Prairie State sports bettors should always consider a rested road team with a winning away record against NHL teams with either mediocre or sub-.500 home records.
Betting on NHL contests is about finding the best price. To get the best moneyline odds, sports bettors should have betting accounts at each of the legal Illinois sportsbooks.
As is to be expected, the most popular NHL team to wager on in Illinois is the state's own Chicago Blackhawks. They have been one of the staples of Illinois sports for years and is one of the sporting prides of the state.
You have to be 21 or older in order to bet on the NHL in IL. If you are younger than this, signing up for an online sportsbook won't work as they require ID to prove you are who you say you are when verifying your account.
You have to pay a flat rate of 4.95% on any NHL wagering winnings in IL. Currently, gambling winnings are seen as personal income in the state. Make sure that you work out your calculations correctly, as any infringements can lead to penalties.
