NHL Betting in Michigan

The National Hockey League (NHL) has been around for more than 100 years and has grown into the biggest and most competitive professional organization in the sport. Playing host to one of the league’s original 6 franchises, Detroit and the state of Michigan have a rich hockey tradition. Not only is professional hockey on regularly, but many of the universities in Michigan excel on the ice.

Now that online gaming in Michigan is legal, here is a go-to guide for starting to bet on hockey.

Situated in the vibrant state of Michigan, NHL betting takes center stage, drawing the attention of sports enthusiasts and passionate bettors alike. The Great Lakes State unfolds as a compelling arena for hockey wagering, offering a rich and diverse landscape that appeals to a broad audience. Whether you're a seasoned hockey aficionado with an in-depth knowledge of the sport or a newcomer eager to experience the excitement of NHL betting, Michigan sets the stage for a thrilling and immersive journey. The Wolverine State provides a dynamic backdrop, inviting enthusiasts of all levels to indulge in the exhilarating world of hockey wagering. 

1. BetMGM Sportsbook Michigan

NHL betting in MI: BetMGM regularly features promotions for hockey fans in the state of Michigan. Fans looking to combine hockey with other sports in a parlay can also get a boost token that provides as much as a 33% higher payout. Simply create a parlay with an NHL bet and another sport, like the NFL or NBA, and see a possible exponential increase in your winnings.

Welcome bonus in MI: BetMGM offers a lucrative welcome bonus that is among the largest in the online gambling industry. If your first bet with BetMGM Sportsbook in MI loses, the operator will refund your losses in the form of a bonus bet, up to a $1,500 maximum.

Available states: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming

2. FanDuel Sportsbook

NHL betting in MI: FanDuel offers MI sports bettors pre-selected Same Game Parlays on daily matchups, as well as some of the more competitive hockey odds in the state. Parlay Builder also offers users the chance to quickly build custom parlays.

Welcome bonus: New customers can get up to $150 in bonus bets if they place an initial wager of at least $5 and it hits. Simply make a deposit and then put down a moneyline bet of at least $5, and if it wins, the user will get $150 in bonus bets.

Available states: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming

3. DraftKings Sportsbook

NHL betting in MI: DraftKings has a wide variety of pre-selected Same Game Parlays on its platform, along with an easy navigation tool to peruse spread, moneyline, total, and prop NHL bets. DK also offers lines on other hockey leagues outside of the NHL, something a few other operators in Michigan do not do.

Welcome bonus: DraftKings has an excellent bonus available for new customers. Simply place a minimum $5 wager after creating your account and DraftKings will put 8 $25 bonus bets into your wallet for use on the platform. The $200 in bonus bets does have an expiration date and must be used within 7 days of appearing in your account.

Available states: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming

4. BetRivers Sportsbook

NHL betting in MI: BetRivers offers nightly specials from NHL games, such as whether superstar Connor McDavid will score a goal in a particular game. MI sports bettors can also get pre-selected Same Game Parlays for most NHL games. The newsfeed feature also showcases online casinos, and other activities across the platform.

Welcome bonus: Enter the promo code SPORTS directly from the BetRivers website to ensure access to the $500-second chance bet promotion. The bonus bets expire 30 days after they appear in your account, so make sure to use them before they are no longer valid.

Available states: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia

5. Caesars Sportsbook

NHL betting in MI: Caesars has Same Game Parlays with juiced odds that are connected to the nationally televised or most high-profile games on a given night. In addition, Caesars Sportsbook MI has NHL odds boosts and the ability to quickly navigate to future bets.

Welcome bonus: If your first NHL bet with Caesars loses, you will get a refund in the form of a bonus bet on that initial wager, up to $1,000 maximum. The bonus bet will come in one installment and should appear in your account no more than 2 days after your bet is lost.

Available states: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming

6. PointsBet Sportsbook

NHL betting in MI: PointsBet has a Power Hour when exclusive odds boosts and promotions are available on NHL games. PointsBet also shows bettors in the app exactly how much time they have to place a bet before the game starts on its main page.

Welcome bonus: New customers can earn up to $1,000 by entering code WELCOME from the PointsBet website and placing a cash bet in each of the first 10 days of your account being open. Simply place at least one bet on each of those days, and if that initial wager loses, PointsBet will refund you with a bonus bet worth up to $100 on each of those 10 days if your first bet of the day loses.

Available states: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia

Now that you’ve gotten the low down on the top platforms for Michigan sports betting, it is time to begin wagering. Every sportsbook in the state has a slightly different registration process, but there are a few standard core tenets. Here are some of the main things to keep in mind as you dive in.

1. Register

Start the process of creating your account on the sportsbook platform of your choice by navigating to the “create account” or “sign-up” tab. Follow the on-screen prompts and enter the requested personal information, which might also include details needed to verify your location and confirm your eligibility. Some sportsbooks offer promo codes for welcome bonuses that must be entered upon registration, so keep an eye out for a box to enter the code.

2. Deposit

Your betting account must be funded before you can place an initial wager. Most sportsbooks have deposit minimums to start, although they tend to be lower, like $5 or $10. Banking options will depend on your chosen sportsbook, but most accept credit/debit cards, online banking, or PayPal transactions.

3. Place bet

Now that money is in your account, the time to place a wager has come. Navigate to your desired NHL market and choose your preferred bet. Most sportsbooks will have a bet slip that shows what the odds are for a particular bet and how much you could win depending on how much is wagered.

4. Withdrawing money

Whenever it comes time to take your money out of your account, sportsbooks will have a few different options to choose from to process a withdrawal. Most often, the sportsbook will default to your deposit banking option to send your money through withdrawal, unless you manually select a different method. There tend to be fewer withdrawal options than deposit options, so keep that in mind when choosing a sportsbook.

Michigan has a plethora of sports betting operators that are accepting wagers, and it can be hard to choose just one to begin the process. Here are a few top-line things to think about when deciding on a sportsbook to wager with.

1. Integrity

Some sportsbooks offer bonuses or promotions with a complicated set of terms and conditions that can be difficult for less experienced bettors to understand. Regardless of your skill level, the best operators do not try to bait and switch their users and deliver information clearly and concisely.

2. Trusted payment methods

Only utilize banking options you are comfortable with and have heard of before. Most major sportsbooks accept popular options like a debit/credit card or PayPal. Beware of any gift card or platform that only accepts cryptocurrency.

3. Most competitive odds

Shop around with a few different sportsbooks before placing a bet, especially if you are planning to put a considerable investment down. Even small margins between odds can be the difference between hundreds and thousands of dollars.

Over the 82-game regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs, NHL odds in MI are constantly shifting and evolving. Injury information also can be more limited in the NHL, so keep that in mind when monitoring odds. We at Gamble Online Michigan will be regularly updating this page with the latest odds and top promotions for hockey betting, so check back here any time you plan to put some money down.

For those bettors who want to go beyond the standard moneyline and point spread bets, NHL fans can focus on props and futures. These types of bets tend to have much more lucrative potential winnings but also come with long odds in many instances. Shopping around is especially important for these bets, as some can have wide gaps in their odds.

2023-24 NHL Stanley Cup champion odds

The Vegas Golden Knights brought home the trophy in 2022-23 by taking down the Florida Panthers after a thrilling Stanley Cup playoff. Vegas is once again among the elite squads in the NHL but has some stiff competition within the Western Conference. Check out the top contenders in the table below.

2023-24 NHL Hart Memorial Trophy odds

Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers won his third Hart Trophy in 2022-23, and continues to be one of the world’s best on the ice. However, several players will push the young phenom for the league’s greatest individual honor this season.

When it comes to NHL games, bettors have a diverse range of wagering options to choose from. While we'll outline some of the fundamental and commonly used betting choices below, it's worth noting that sportsbooks are continually introducing new markets each season, adding excitement to the betting landscape. Stay tuned for updates to this page as we keep you informed about the latest developments in NHL betting markets.

• Moneyline: The most basic sports bet, a moneyline bet is simply picking which team you believe is going to wind up winning a particular game. Favorites will have negative odds (ex: -110) which demonstrate how much a user would need to bet to win $100. Underdogs will have positive odds (ex: +200) which show how much a customer would win on a $100 bet. For moneyline bets, simply pick a winner, and if that team wins, so do you.
• Puckline: A very common method for betting on hockey, some fans want to pick a winner but aren’t always confident in the margin. Picking the puck line means if the favorite doesn’t win by at least 2 goals, for example, anyone who bet on the underdog would win.
• Over/under (totals): For those looking for something other than the winner to wager on, many hockey fans choose betting on the over/under, or expected total goals between the teams. If the over/under is 5 goals and you take the over, a 6-2 final score would make you a winner, while a 2-1 score would not.
• Player props: If you’re more interested in individual outcomes rather than team, most NHL games will have a litany of props available for many of the players on each team. These bets can come with better odds but also come with inherently more risk. Examples of hockey props include the first player to score a goal, the total individual points for a given player, or how many goals a certain netminder will allow.
• Futures: Bettors who are more patient can put money down on long-term bets, like which team will win the Stanley Cup or which player will take home the coveted Hart Memorial Trophy. Scroll up the page to see the latest NHL futures odds from some of the top sportsbooks in Michigan.
• Parlays: Another way to increase potential winnings, parlays allow bettors to combine multiple bets into a single wager with significantly better odds. The trick, of course, is that every bet within a parlay must hit for it to win overall.

The NHL season is in full swing, with the rest of the league trying to chase the reigning champion Vegas Golden Knights. Several big-time players also changed teams this offseason, including former Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson. After a lengthy tenure with the San Jose Sharks, Karlsson landed with the Pittsburgh Penguins in a three-team trade.

Auston Matthews secured the largest average annual contract value in the NHL from the Toronto Maple Leafs ($13.25M) through a new extension in the offseason. On the Hall of Fame front, decorated former goalie Henrik Lundqvist headlined a class rich with impressive hockey careers in 2023.

2023 NHL Draft

For years, hockey experts have been raving about the arrival of Connor Bedard to the NHL. The Chicago Blackhawks wound up securing the No. 1 overall pick in the draft lottery and were able to select Bedard. Here were the top 10 selections in the ‘23 edition of the draft.

1. Chicago Blackhawks: Connor Bedard
2. Anaheim Ducks: Leo Carlsson 
3. Columbus Blue Jackets: Adam Fantill
4. San Jose Sharks: William Smith
5. Montreal Canadiens: David Reinbacher
6. Arizona Coyotes: Dmitriy Simashev
7. Philadelphia Flyers: Matvei Michkov
8. Washington Capitals: Ryan Leonard
9. Detroit Red Wings: Nate Danielson
10. St. Louis Blues: Dalibor Dvorsky

Key dates in 2023-24 NHL Season

The NHL has evolved into a year-round spectacle, capturing the attention of fans throughout the seasons. Explore the list below for a concise overview of the most significant milestones on the NHL calendar each year.

• Opening night: October 10, 2023: Three games were scheduled to get the season underway, headlined by the defending champion Golden Knights hosting the upstart Seattle Kraken on national TV.
• NHL Winter Classic: January 1, 2024: The league’s annual outdoor game will be held in Seattle this year at T-Mobile Park, home of MLB’s Seattle Mariners. The Seattle Kraken will take on the Vegas Golden Knights.
• NHL All-Star Weekend: February 2-3, 2024: For the first time since 2012, the all-star festivities will return to Canada. Toronto will be the host city for this season’s event, with the game being played at Scotiabank Arena.
• NHL trade deadline: March 8, 2024: The final day for teams to make regular-season trades, contending teams tend to make moves to bolster their lines, and teams out of the playoff mix will offload older players to more successful squads.
• Start of Stanley Cup Playoffs: April 22, 2024: The full playoff schedule doesn’t tend to get released until closer to the end of the season, but the Stanley Cup Playoffs run from late April through the middle of June, offering thrilling games on a near-nightly basis.

The Detroit Red Wings are one of the strongest franchises in the NHL and play home games at Little Caesars Arena in the heart of the Motor City. The Red Wings are one of the NHL’s “Original Six” franchises and have won more Stanley Cups than any other U.S. team.

Although the organization has a rich history, it also has not been back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2016. Dylan Larkin got off to a strong start in the 2023-24 campaign and is the face of the team as a captain having just signed an 8-year contract extension.

On the subject of lines, let’s quickly clarify the difference between lines and odds. The lines are what each sportsbook puts on a game, such as Detroit (-1.5) or Red Wings-Sharks O/U 5. The odds are what determine how much a user stands to win, like -115 or +225.

Most sportsbooks will begin with nearly identical lines, but each has a different algorithm and group of people determining how the lines move ahead of a specific game. Here are a few things to remember as you shop lines around for the best opportunity.

Why Lines Move

There are a few key factors that influence a given NHL’s game line, and these small movements sometimes can significantly affect how many users flock to a specific platform.

• Market pressure: Sportsbooks ideally want to see a roughly equal volume of bets on each side of a specific game. If a lot of money is coming in on one team or the other, especially if it comes from someone the sportsbook knows to be successful, that can make a line move the opposite way. Say the Red Wings are playing the Flyers, and a high-volume bettor with a strong track record on hockey puts a large sum on the Red Wings. The moneyline or puck line odds could shift as a result to try and curry more bets on the Flyers’ side.
• Injuries/matchup info: Information is the name of the game in sports betting. Some people just bet with their gut, but anyone who wants to be regularly successful knows they must be as knowledgeable as possible. If the Red Wings are a significant favorite but then Dylan Larkin gets sidelined with a lower-body injury, you could see the line swing toward the opposing team. Most roster or injury news now will have some effect on the line of a game, especially with how stiff the competition is for users in the state of Michigan.

With so much information constantly flying around in the sports betting world, it is hard to know what to focus on when getting started with wagering on the NHL in MI. Here are three easy things to keep in mind when placing your first professional hockey wagers.

• Research the lines: Keep a keen eye out for the best available price on whichever game or market you would like to place a bet on. Every online sportsbook in Michigan will have NHL odds, but some will offer more potential winnings on the same event than others.
• Don’t be swayed by the public: In some cases, a team or league will end up drawing a significantly higher portion of bets for reasons separate from its actual on-ice play, such as a player getting linked to a celebrity. If you see a line being pushed one way or the other when there isn’t a competitive reason, take advantage and go against the grain to set yourself up for sizable winnings.
• Don’t overthink: There are people out there who do hours and hours of research and still end up losing all of their bets. Favorites are the favorites in games for a reason, so don’t be afraid to trust your gut instead of trying to outsmart the experts. More often than not, a favorite is going to emerge victorious.
• Don’t chase losses: When a user has had a run of tough losses, there is a natural inclination to want to try and bet even larger to get back to a profit. Similarly, an NHL team might try to push the tempo if they fall behind early by a few goals, wanting to rally back as quickly as possible while inherently taking more risks. Establish an amount you are comfortable losing, and don’t exceed that number.
• Find your preferred market: No matter your specialty, that is where most of your money should be wagered. Seem to find a lot of success with player props? Focus on those most NHL nights. Find more wins with puck lines vs. moneylines? Don’t put cash down on the Red Wings moneyline unless it is part of a larger parlay. Stick with what you are good at, and more victories will find you.

Check out our below table for the most basic NHL anecdotes you should know before diving into your bets.

Just about every Detroit Red Wings game is televised on Bally Sports Detroit. Check with your cable or streaming provider to ensure you have access. Nationally-televised NHL games can be seen on a variety of networks, including ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT, NHL Network, and ESPN Deportes for Spanish-language broadcasts.

Yes, there are 15 online sportsbooks available in MI. All online sportsbooks will offer a range of NHL bets, so choose your favorite and get started!