It’s not yet April, and the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs have already started! And, as usual, there’s a whole lot more action going on than you can possibly keep up with. If you’re looking for a way to follow the hockey action despite being at work, you’ve come to the right place. From the opening round through to the final, we’ve got you covered. And, better yet, we’ve got all the relevant information you need in one place. So sit back, relax, and prepare to place your wagers. Let’s go!
The Basics
You’ve probably heard of hockey betting. You’ve probably seen it on TV or maybe even overheard conversations around the water cooler. But probably not until now have you realized just how much there is to know about hockey betting. To start with, let’s review the basics. You can find the rulebook at the official NHL website. It’s worth a quick read. All important information can be found there. Some of the more relevant rules are listed below.
2019 OFFICIAL NHL RULES & REGULATIONS
- Home Team Advantage: Teams are awarded one bonus point for each ‘regulation loss’ inflicted upon an opponent.
- Oddsmaking: Point spreads are determined by the number of bets made on the game.
- Handicapping: The public may make bets at any time leading up to a game, however, only a legal entity may collect or pay off winnings.
- Straight Up: All wagers are accepted at the same odds.
More Than Meets The Eye
Even if you’re a seasoned sports bettor, there are still plenty of things you may not know or have forgotten about betting on hockey. That’s OK, we’re sure that there’s plenty more than meets the eye in the world of hockey betting, so let’s dive right in. Take a look below at some of the more important things you need to know.
Hockey Is Always Wager- Free
“Hockey is always wager-free,” the bookmakers’ ads will say. And yes, that’s true. In general, there are no wagers allowed during an NHL game. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to make money from hockey. For example, you can make money from setting lineups, picking winning teams, and handicapping games. When it comes to setting lineups, you will frequently see ads where people claim to make a lot of money setting lineups for hockey games. So, while it’s true that you can’t make any money from wagering on hockey, you can make money from other activities associated with the sport. It’s all about knowing where to look. If you’re looking for an explanation as to why hockey is wager-free, the answer is fairly simple. The NHL doesn’t allow bookmakers or other similar entities to advertise during the game. That’s why you won’t see any ads on TV or hear any ads on the radio. The only places you’re going to see advertising are in the newspapers or online. And even then, it’s usually associated with some sort of online betting shop. So, in short, you can’t win money from wagering on hockey, but you can win money from other activities involving the sport.
NHL Game Stays Are Increasing
If you’re already aware of the benefits of fixed odds betting, then you’ll be interested in this piece of news. Apparently, game times have increased by three to four minutes over the past two seasons. So, on average, your local hockey game has gone from ending at 9:00 pm to 10:03 pm. This change has occurred because teams have tried to make up for lost revenue by extending game times. But, even though the games have been extended, they haven’t necessarily been made more exciting or competitive. In some cases, the opposite has happened. As a result of this change, bookmakers have adjusted their spreads accordingly. And, in most cases, those adjustments have favored the home team. So if you’re looking for an advantage, you may want to consider putting your money on the home team. As for whether or not this is a good thing, well, that’s up to you. On one hand, you have the argument that longer game times make for more exciting games. On the other hand, you have the argument that more people have less time to spend on leisure activities as a result of there being more hours in the day. Who knows? Maybe we’ll see a return to more traditional hockey game times. But for now, just know that longer game times make for better betting opportunities.
Handicapping
If you’ve been watching any amount of hockey, then you probably know that there are many different ways to make money from hockey. One of the most popular ones is handicapping. The general idea behind handicapping is trying to predict the future results of events that have not yet taken place. For example, say you’ve got a hockey game in your area tonight and you want to know what the over/under is for the game. You can either go to an online sportsbook and do some research or, even better, you can just walk up to a nearby bookmaker and place a wager. When it comes to betting on hockey, you will commonly see ads where people claim to be able to beat the spread by a significant amount. So, if you’re looking for an easy way to make money from hockey, then handicapping may be the option for you. Just remember that you will need to place bets frequently to ensure that you’re making a profit. Also, in some places, you may need to register as a non-profit organization with the state to be able to legally bet. And, of course, be aware that you’re cheating the system if you’re using information that isn’t available to the general public. It’s not yet April, and the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs have already started! And, as usual, there’s a whole lot more action going on than you can possibly keep up with. If you’re looking for a way to follow the hockey action despite being at work, you’ve come to the right place. From the opening round through to the final, we’ve got you covered. And, better yet, we’ve got all the relevant information you need in one place. So sit back, relax, and prepare to place your wagers. Let’s go!