Hockey Betting Explained: How to Bet on Ice Hockey & Field Hockey – NHL Betting Guide & Tips

Ice and field hockey are widely played, watched, and supported. Ice hockey is particularly popular in North America, while field hockey is preferred in parts of Europe and Asia.

In this article, we explain everything you need to know about betting on hockey and introduce the range of hockey betting markets and types of bets available at the Stake online sportsbook .

We also introduce some helpful tips that you can use to get started as you bet on your favourite hockey teams and players throughout the season.

What is Hockey?

There are two main types of hockey – field hockey and ice hockey . Generally speaking, field hockey is more popular in Europe and Asia, while ice hockey is more popular in North America and Canada. Both sports are competed by players with sticks.

In ice hockey, the objective is to hit the puck past the goalie to score a point. In field hockey, the aim is to hit the ball past the goalie for a point.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the differences between the two main types of hockey below.

Differences Between Ice Hockey & Field Hockey

The table below indicates some of the key differences between ice hockey and field hockey:

Of course, there are many other differences between the two main types of hockey, but the above table is a helpful starting point if you’re planning to bet on either sport for the first time.

Ice Hockey Rules & Gameplay

In ice hockey, the game is contested by two teams of six players – one goalie and five players on the ice. The game begins with a face-off, and three periods totalling 60 minutes of game time are played in most leagues, while an additional period of overtime is played in some competitions.

The objective of the game is to score goals past the opposition by hitting the puck into the net. Goals can be scored from anywhere on the ice, but players must remain onside for the points to count.

Field Hockey Rules & Gameplay

In field hockey, the game is contested by two teams of eleven players – one goalie and ten outfield players. The game’s objective is to score more goals than the opposition, and points can only be scored from inside the attacking D.

Field hockey has no offsides, and outfield players can only use the flat side of their sticks to score points. Three penalties can be awarded in field hockey – a free hit, a penalty corner, or a penalty stroke. The team that finishes the match with the most goals scored wins.

Major Hockey Tournaments & Games to Bet On

You have lots of options when it comes to betting on ice hockey and field hockey games at Stake.com, with markets and hockey betting lines for the following competitions and events:

• NHL: The most prominent league in ice hockey is the National Hockey League in America and Canada. Each franchise has national teams that compete for the annual Stanley Cup, the biggest prize in ice hockey.

• ECHL: The East Coast Hockey League is perhaps the second biggest league in North America, regarded as one of the minor leagues alongside the AHL.

• Elite League : The UK’s leading ice hockey league is the Elite League, contested annually by teams in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

• Other European leagues: You can also bet on other major ice hockey leagues around Europe at Stake.com, including Sweden , Norway , Finland , and Russia .

• Hoofdklasse: The leading field hockey league in the Netherlands and one of the highest-profile leagues in Europe.

• Pro League : The IHF Pro League is one of field hockey’s leading international competitions, contested by the leading hockey nations in the world.

• World Cup : Held every four years, the Hockey World Cup is one of the most significant events in international field hockey, on par with the Olympic Games.

How Do You Bet on Ice Hockey and field hockey?

Betting on hockey at Stake.com couldn’t be easier. The first step is to decide which tournament and team you would like to bet on, using the list of competitions above to guide you. Then, choose how much you would like to bet, read the odds, and place your bets. It’s as simple as that!

If you’re unsure where to begin, check out the upcoming ice hockey and field hockey fixtures you can bet on at Stake.com.

Most Popular Hockey Betting Markets & Types of NHL Bets

Once you’ve decided which teams and tournaments to bet on, you also need to consider the different betting options available in hockey. Some of the most popular ice and field hockey betting types include:

• Outright : An outright bet on hockey is a bet on a team to win a competition. You might, for instance, back the Toronto Maple Leafs to win the 2024 Stanley Cup.

• Moneyline : A simple bet, a moneyline wager, is a bet on the team you think will win a particular field or ice hockey fixture. All that matters is which team wins the hockey game!

• Handicap : Like in a moneyline bet, a handicap bet is a wager on the team you think will win, but the team has a handicap applied to their score that they need to overcome.

• Prop : Rather than placing wagers on the outcome of hockey, you can place prop bets on the action as it unfolds. For instance, bet on the first goal scorer in an ice hockey match. This also includes player prop bets, which relates to wagers placed on individual hockey players. For example, a player having a certain amount of shots on goal in a single game.

• Over/Under : A bet on the total number of goals you think will be scored in a hockey match. For instance, you might bet on there to be over seven goals scored in an NHL match between Tampa Bay and Calgary.

• Parlay : Sometimes known as an accumulator, a parlay bet is a wager on multiple teams to win their respective fixtures in a game week. For instance, a four-team NHL parlay could include the Maple Leafs, Kraken, Golden Knights, and Devils to win & +1,450.

• Same Game Multi Betting : Similar to parlay betting, you can use our Bet Builder' function to place same game multi bets and place multiple selections on the single betting slip. This is an easy way to boost your odds on a specific hockey fixture.

• Spread : Spread betting is a way of placing bets in response to current betting action.

Live Hockey Betting – How to Live Stream Hockey & Place In-Play Bets

Another option is to place live bets on hockey . Live betting markets include things like the next player to score a goal or the number of penalties a team will concede in a period or half. Learn more about the differences between pre-match and live betting here.

Stake.com is the perfect platform for hockey live betting , as you can live stream ice hockey and field hockey matches for free. Throughout the season, you will find an impressive selection of field and ice hockey matches available to stream for free at Stake.com - you don’t need to log in to your account.

This is the ideal way to keep up to date with your favourite teams and players as the season plays out.

Hockey Betting Strategies & Tips to Win

To make the most of hockey betting at Stake.com, here are some tips to bear in mind:

• Always research and check a team’s form before backing them. This is true in ice and field hockey, as form plays a big part in the outcome of hockey matches.

• Home-field and home-ice advantage also make a massive difference in how a team plays, so consider this when making your selections.

• Avoid betting with your heart, and bet with your head! If you support a field or ice hockey team, it’s best to avoid backing them altogether, as you may end up placing a bet on them just because you like them.

• Keep up to date with the latest news at Stake.com and expert sports betting tips and predictions to learn of offers and receive top tips to inform your hockey and general sports betting strategy.

• The more you bet on hockey at Stake.com, the more rewards you can earn as part of the Stake VIP Club . Find out more about how Stake offers work here.

Hockey Betting Odds & Payouts Explained

When you bet on hockey at Stake.com, you can adjust the odds in your account to show as decimals, fractions, or in the American format. Pre-match odds are listed ahead of the game week, while live odds are subject to change when the action gets underway.

Should you win your hockey bets, you can immediately process your withdrawal and access your funds instantly. Alternatively, you can keep the funds in your Stake.com account to bet on future hockey matches.

Deposit & Withdrawal Methods for Hockey Betting

Easily deposit local currency and crypto units into your account in order to bet on hockey by following the steps listed below:

1. Step 1 - Retrieve your deposit address, located in Wallet > Deposit.

2. Step 2 - Choose the method that suits your needs. Stake.com supports multiple currencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Dogecoin (Doge), Litecoin (LTC), and others. You can find more information about our local currency options on our community forum.

3. Step 3 - Use your deposit address as the ‘send to’ location for your wallet or exchange.

4. Step 4 (Optional) - If you wish to make a deposit via fiat currency, you can buy crypto for Stake via Moonpay.

Stake.com offers live support to players via our customer support staff for help with issues regarding hockey betting and depositing and withdrawing units .

Moonpay supports multiple payment options, including Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and others, to buy cryptocurrency to place hockey bets. For a full list of supported payment methods, please refer to the Moonpay documentation . Learn more about buying crypto for Stake.com via our guide.

We pride ourselves on offering the tools and information to help you be Stake Smart . Learn more tips when betting online with our responsible gambling guide . You can also store your funds safely and securely using our Stake vault feature .

Why Should You Bet on Hockey at Stake.com?

Stake.com is the perfect place to bet on ice hockey and field hockey throughout the season, with a wide selection of leagues and betting opportunities with great value odds. You can also live stream some of the biggest hockey matches throughout the regular season for free without even signing into your account.

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