Missouri sports betting officially launched on Dec. 1, allowing citizens of the Show-Me State to place bets on just about any sport of their choosing.
One sport that is growing in popularity among bettors is hockey. Although action on the NHL still pales in comparison to the NFL and college football, it is a favorite among seasoned bettors because the market is softer compared to more popular sports.
The more action a sport attracts, the sharper the market is, making it harder to beat.
If you’re new to betting on hockey, we’ve put together a guide to help you get started in a responsible fashion.
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How to bet on the NHL at a Missouri sportsbook
Moneyline
The main difference between the NHL and the NFL is that hockey is a moneyline sport. Unlike football or basketball, which use the point spread to level the playing field, the majority of the money wagered on hockey comes on the moneyline.
This makes the learning curve in betting on hockey less steep compared to some other sports, because the moneyline is the simplest way to wager on a sporting event.
You are picking the winner of the game based on the odds assigned by the sportsbook.
The favorite has a minus sign next to its price, and the underdog has a plus sign. The odds also tell you the payout.
For example, the Blues are -150 favorites, and the Devils are +130 underdogs.
If you wanted to win $100 from the sportsbook with your bet on the Blues, you would need to wager $150. Conversely, if you wagered $100 on the Devils at +150 odds, you would profit $150.
The puckline
Although hockey doesn’t use point spreads, it does use the puckline, which is just a simplified version of a point spread.
The puckline is almost exclusively set at 1.5 goals, with the favorite listed at -1.5 and the underdog at +1.5.
Sticking with the Blues and Devils as our example. If St. Louis is -1.5 on the puckline and wins by two or more goals, you win your bet. If the Blues win by 1 goal or lose, you lose.
If you bet the Devils at +1.5 and they lose by one goal, or win the game outright, you win your bet. If they lose by 2 or more goals, you lose.
Over/Under
Also referred to as the total, this is the number of goals that sportsbooks project both teams will combine to score in the game.
Let’s say the Devils and Blues have a total of 6.5 goals. If the two teams score 7 or more goals, then the Over would cash. If the final score features 6 goals or fewer, then those who bet the Under would win.
Player Props
This refers to any bet based on a single player’s performance and stat line.
The most popular forms of player props in the NHL are anytime goal scorers (aka will a player score a goal in a given game?) or shot totals.
For the latter, the books set an Over/Under for shots on goal. Example: Brayden Schenn has a shot prop of 2.5 for a game against the Devils and you bet the Over. If he records 3 or more, you win. If he tallies 2 or fewer, you lose.
Parlays
This is when you add multiple picks to your slip as one bet. To cash a parlay, all of your bets must win.
Most sportsbooks will let you combine bets from a single sporting event (also known as a same-game parlay) using a variety of available bets.
Futures
A bet on an event that settles in the future, such as the championship winner in a particular sport or picking the winner of a division.
For example, the Blues are +20000 (or 200/1) to win the Stanley Cup. If you bet $1 on the Blues to lift the Cup and they win, you’d profit $200.
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
