HomeNHL betting in Ohio

NHL Betting in Ohio

NHL betting in Ohio has seen growth since the state went live with sports betting on January 1, 2023. With now more than 19 online sportsbooks in Ohio, we expect the growth to continue for years to come as the state embraces sports betting. Let’s dive into everything about NHL betting in Ohio.

Johnny Covers By: Johnny Covers
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Table of contents

Best NHL sportsbook promos in Ohio

Fan Favorite
1 Bet365
Bet365 review
Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets
GET BONUS
(+5)
21+ and present in Ohio. Play responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-589-9966 or visit www.mha.ohio.gov
Popular Choice
2 Caesars
Caesars review
Second Chance Bet Up To $1000
GET BONUS
(+7)
21+ and present in Ohio. Play responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-589-9966 or visit www.mha.ohio.gov
Top-Rated Promo
3 DraftKings
DraftKings review
Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets
GET BONUS
(+7)
21+ and present in Ohio. Play responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-589-9966 or visit www.mha.ohio.gov
Hot & Trending
4 BetRivers
BetRivers review
Second Chance Bet Up To $100
GET BONUS
(+5)
21+ and present in Ohio. Play responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-589-9966 or visit www.mha.ohio.gov
5 FanDuel
FanDuel review
Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets
Get Bonus
(+5)
21+ and present in Ohio. Play responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-589-9966 or visit www.mha.ohio.gov
6 BetMGM
BetMGM review
Second Chance Bet Up To $1500
GET BONUS
(+7)
21+ and present in Ohio. Play responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-589-9966 or visit www.mha.ohio.gov
7 Betway
Betway review
No Welcome Offer
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(+2)
21+ and present in Ohio. Play responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-589-9966 or visit www.mha.ohio.gov

Best OH betting apps for NHL betting

Thanks to the Buckeye State’s legalization of sports betting, there is now no shortage of mobile apps for sports betting. Let’s take a closer look at a few of the best Ohio betting apps for NHL betting.

DraftKings Ohio

DraftKings Ohio

First cutting their teeth in the Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) in Ohio and throughout the country, DraftKings Sportsbook was one of the first to launch in the U.S. following the overturning of The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018. When Ohio legalized sports betting at the start of 2023, DraftKings Ohio was one of the first operators in the state, quickly becoming uber-popular with its best-in-class mobile app, generous promotional offers, and a plethora of ways for customers to transact funds.

Caesars Ohio

Caesars Ohio

With one of the best welcome offers in the industry, Caesars Ohio was a hit for sports bettors in the states as soon as it went live in 2023. Offering some of the most competitive NHL betting odds in the industry, sports bettors looking to get down on action on the ice have flocked to Caesars Ohio to bet on their beloved Columbus Blue Jackets and the rest of the league. Also offering an intuitive mobile betting app, Caesars is additionally known for its world-class rewards program, and responsive customer support team that keeps bettors always coming back for more. Caesars Ohio also offers bettors a retail sportsbook location at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Scioto Downs.

Betfred Ohio Logo

Betfred Ohio

As an official partner of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, Betfred Ohio launched in 2023 and quickly became a trusted source for sports betting in the state. It’s not just the NFL that Betfred Ohio does well, as their daily odds boosts extend to NHL betting in the Buckeye State as well. An international operator long before expanding to the U.S. in 2019, Betfred has also become known for their generous welcome offer which is amongst the best offered in Ohio.

FanDuel Ohio

FanDuel Ohio

Also a major player in the DFS industry before coming over to sports betting, starting DFS in the U.S. in 2009, FanDuel Sportsbook was right there with DraftKings as the first to market in early 2019. FanDuel Ohio launched at the start of 2023, quickly becoming a fan favorite for NHL betting in Ohio with its wide range of markets, robust live betting menu, and constantly revolving promotional offers. Like Caesars, FanDuel Ohio also has a retail sportsbook in the state at Belterra Park Cincinnati. With its intuitive mobile betting app, FanDuel Sportsbook continues to be one of the most downloaded sportsbook apps for both Android and iOS devices throughout the country.

Which NHL betting promos do Ohio sportsbooks offer?

With nearly two dozen online sportsbooks now available, there is plenty of competition in terms of sports betting promos in Ohio. Let’s dive into a few of the most popular NHL betting promos Ohio sportsbooks offer, which can be accessed by clicking the “Get Bonus” buttons at the top of this page.

  • Pro Hockey Choke Bonus (Betfred Ohio): Specific to NHL betting in Ohio, BetFred offers residents in the state up to $100 in bonus bets (based on original stake) if the team they bet on blows a lead of 3+ goals. This offer is available to both new and existing customers and must be a pregame money line wager on any NHL game. Bonus bets will be credited within 48 hours of bet settlement, and the odds must be at least -200 or shorter (i.e. -150, +100, etc.)
  • $1,000 First Bet (Caesars Ohio): Caesars offers one of the best NHL betting promos in Ohio, giving bettors back up to $1,000 in bonus bets should their first NHL bet be a loser. This can be used on everything from Puck Lines, Money Lines, Totals, and more, and is valid for new customers only.
  • Place a bet of $5+ and get $200 in Bonus Bets (DraftKings Ohio): Also only available for new customers, DraftKings will give NHL bettors $200 in bonus bets for simply depositing and placing a first wager of $5 or more. Like Caesars' offer, this generous welcome offer is valid for many NHL betting markets and once the initial bet is placed, your account will be credited with $200 in bonus bets instantly.
  • Bet $5, get $200 (FanDuel Ohio): Following the same theme as its biggest rival DraftKings, FanDuel Ohio offers new NHL bettors $200 in bonus bets for making a deposit of $10 or more and placing any $5 bet. With $200 in bonus bets credited to your account within minutes after placing the bet, they can be used to bet into one of the dozens of NHL betting markets available every day during the season. This offer is also only available to new users at FanDuel sportsbook and can be claimed by clicking “Get Bonus” above.

How do I begin wagering on the NHL in Ohio?

With the major operators of sports betting in Ohio, such as DraftKings, Caesars, Betfred, or FanDuel, beginning to wager on NHL betting in Ohio is a breeze. Using one of the most popular sportsbooks for NHL betting in Ohio, DraftKings Sportsbook, here is how to sign up and start betting in the NHL today.

  1. Accept a welcome offer: Head to the top of this page and click “Get Bonus” to automatically accept and be redirected to the DraftKings sign-up page. From here, the generous Place a bet of $5+ and get $200 in Bonus Bets welcome offer will be automatically applied to your account.
  2. Sign up for a new account: Now on the landing sign-up page, enter your new desired login credentials beginning with your email address, username, password, and mobile phone number.
  3. Verify personal information: The next screen will ask for your legal information such as first and last name, date of birth, home address, and the last four digits of your social security number. Lastly, click on “verify identity” which will confirm your account.
  4. Deposit money: Now that your account has been created, the promo offer accepted, and your identity verified, let’s get some funds in your account. Choose one of the dozens of payment options that DraftKings offers and deposit (minimum $10) into your account. All that’s left is to find the NHL betting market and bet type you are looking for and place your first NHL bet in Ohio.

Common bet types in ice hockey

Those new to NHL betting in Ohio might be wondering what they’re looking at when first pulling up the NHL menu in their new sportsbook account. Here are a few of the most common bet types in ice hockey, and how it works when betting into them.

  • Puck Line FT (Incl OT): Short for “puck line full-time, including overtime”, bet type operates the same as the point spread in sports like hockey or basketball. The difference is, that the puck line in ice hockey is always set at -1.5 (favorite) or +1.5 (underdog), meaning the favorite must win by at least two goals to be a winner. There will also be odds next to the puck line to indicate how much you must risk to win. As the name of the bet type implies, this bet extends into overtime should the game reach it. More on that in the NHL betting odds section below.
  • Total FT (Incl OT): Short for “total full-time, including overtime”, this bet type functions the same as an over/under in other sports. The score of both teams is summed up, and if that total is more than the posted “Total FT (Incl OT)”, the “over” is a winner, with the converse being true for the “under.” While the total can vary depending on the game, we mostly see totals between 5.5 and 6.5 in NHL betting.
  • Moneyline FT (Incl OT): Short for “moneyline full-time, including overtime”, this is the most straightforward way to bet on the NHL, as you are simply betting on which team will win. The team/number with a negative (-) next to their name is the favorite (expected winner), while the NHL team with a positive (+) next to their name is the underdog (expected loser). See the “NHL betting odds” section below for some specific examples of moneyline betting.

NHL betting odds

Now that we’ve covered the most common bet types in hockey, let’s dive into some real-world examples using Ohio’s own Columbus Blue Jackets. The example below can be applied to all NHL teams, and the numbers listed are hypothetical bets with estimated odds.

Puck Line FT (Incl OT)

Columbus Blue Jackets +1.5 (+125) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins -1.5 (-140)

With the scenario noted above, the Pittsburgh Penguins would have to win this game, including overtime, by at least two goals for backers to win their bets. If the Penguins won the game 3-2, Blue Jackets bettors would win their bet as the (betting) score would be Blue Jackets 4.5-3.

For an explanation of what the numbers listed next to the +1.5/-1.5 mean, continue reading to the moneyline example noted below.

Total FT (Incl OT)

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Buffalo Sabres - Over 6.5 (-125) Under 6.5 (+105)

In this total bet type scenario, the bet will be graded based on how many goals both teams score, or the total goals in the game. If the Blue Jackets were to beat the Sabres 4-3 in overtime, the seven (7) goals scored in the game would be enough for the “Over 6.5” to be a winner.

If it were a low-scoring affair, say 2-1 Sabres, “under bettors would be winners. For an explanation of what the numbers listed next to the over/under 6.5s mean, continue reading to the moneyline example noted below.

Moneyline FT (Incl OT)

Columbus Blue Jackets (-160) vs. Washington Capitals (+150)

As mentioned above, a moneyline bet is simply betting on which team will win at the given odds. In the example above, backers of the Blue Jackets -160 (the favorite), would have to bet $160 (risked amount) to win $100, with the same scale applying to any risked amount.

Conversely, a $100 bet on the Capitals would yield a $150 profit should they go on to win the game.

Expert tips for NHL wagering in Ohio

When you start NHL wagering in Ohio, new ice hockey bettors are often looking for advice on how to think about picking a bet. As someone who has bet on hockey for many years, here are a few expert tips for NHL wagering in Ohio.

  • Days of rest: With 82 games in the NHL regular season from October through the late spring, the schedule can be grueling with teams regularly playing on back-to-back nights, or three times in four nights. When teams are set up with scheduling quirks like that, you can expect tired legs, and for the backup goalie to play at least one of those games. Take advantage of that when you can.
  • Injury reports: Unlike other sports where injury reports are required to be timely and detailed, the NHL is often vague with player injuries, and players get scratched right before the game. Do your research on how severe things like “upper body” or “lower body” injuries might be by following teams’ local beat writers for scarce information.
  • Motivations: Especially important late in the season, teams that are eliminated from postseason play are often less motivated to put out strong performances, versus teams who are scrapping for a playoff spot. Be aware of where teams sit in the standings, and how motivated they will be to play their very best.

FAQ

Is it legal to bet on the NHL in Ohio?

Yes, from January 1, 2023, Ohio sports betting, including NHL betting became legal.

Do OH sportsbooks offer NHL betting promos?

Yes, OH sportsbooks offer NHL betting promos, with some available across all sports betting markets and others NHL-specific. See the “Get Bonus” section at the top of this page to claim the best NHL betting promos in Ohio.

Is NHL betting popular in Ohio?

Yes, NHL betting is popular in Ohio, with the state’s own Columbus Blue Jackets leading the way in terms of the most bet teams in the state.

Author Details

Johnny Covers

Johnny Covers

Johnny Covers is a sports betting expert and author at OH Betting. He is a seasoned analyst in sports betting and has been offering handicapping insights for almost a decade. He has shared his expert analyses with various publications over the years, including All-In Magazine, Blitz Predict, FantasyPros, Betting Pros, Sportsbook Review, Golf Monthly, and OddsChecker.