How to Bet on NHL: Hockey Betting North Carolina Explained
First, you need to be 21 or older and physically located within North Carolina to bet on the NHL.
After that, follow these steps to get started:
- ✅ Choose a sportsbook.
- ✅ Create a new player account.
- ✅ Deposit funds using one of the sportsbook's approved methods.
- ✅ Navigate to the NHL section, where you'll find tabs of upcoming games in the North Carolina market.
- ✅ Choose the type of bet you want to place.
- ✅ Enter the amount you want to wager into your betslip and confirm your bet.
- ✅ Monitor the game and collect any winnings you earn!
How to Read NHL Odds: How NHL Moneylines Work
NHL odds are almost always presented in the American odds or moneyline format. You'll see either a plus sign or a minus sign in front of a number. The number following a plus sign (+) is the amount you can win on a $100 bet. The number following a minus sign (-) is the amount you would need to bet to win $100.
These odds demonstrate a team's perceived chances of winning or losing. Negative odds indicate the favored hockey team; positive odds indicate the underdog hockey team. All you have to decide is which team will win.
The American odds format is used to indicate not just moneyline markets, but totals, futures, and prop bets, as well. So, if you understand how these moneyline odds work, you're on your way to becoming an NHL expert.
Popular Types of NHL Odds
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Three-Way Moneyline 3 way moneyline options are very popular for hockey betting. Sportsbooks will list odds for either team to win or regulation to end in a tie. In 2022-23, nearly 23% of pro hockey games went to overtime and 32% of OT games went to shootouts. -
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Puck Line This is hockey's point spread. It indicates the margin of victory expected in an individual game. For example, if the Hurricanes' puck line is -1.5, they must win by at least 2 goals for a bet to pay out. -
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Grand Salami This is one of the best bets in hockey. You bet on the total number of goals scored in all games on a specific day. On an average regular-season day, there could be anywhere from 3-12 games. -
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Futures Bet on a future outcome of the season. I recommend comparing odds across various betting sites for futures. The same outcome could have different prices across the three sportsbooks, and picking the longest odds listed for a market you feel confident in benefits you the most. -
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Player Props You can wager on individual outcomes that have nothing to do with the final score of a game. Individual player or game props are great for dedicated hockey bettors who know a lot about the little parts of the game. You don't have to worry about the game's end result; since hockey has more outcomes than other sports, betting on markets outside of the final score might be the better option. -
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Parlays Combine two or more individual bets onto one ticket. If you've done your research, this is a great way to maximize your winnings without relying completely on one team or hockey player. Parlays allow you to diversify your investment and give you a higher payout without betting a huge stake. -
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Totals Sportsbooks will set the total number of points both teams are projected to score in a game. Since hockey games are relatively low-scoring, I recommend stacking totals bets into a parlay when possible. You can find markets with a greater edge across multiple games. -
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Live Betting With all of these markets, you can either place a pregame bet or bet live once the game has already started. Once a game is underway, what's going to happen is as much a mystery to you as it is to the sportsbooks. So, you can edit and make new bets as the odds change with the game action. Some sportsbooks offer live streaming, too, so you can watch and bet in real time. -
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Promo Codes & Bonuses Some sportsbooks will offer NHL-specific North Carolina sportsbook promos and bonuses. I recommend checking each sportsbooks' promotions section to see what other bonuses you can find. -
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Season Specials Look for these unique wagers sportsbooks pre-select. Depending on the odds, they can give you some great value you otherwise wouldn't have found.
NHL Betting Tips & Strategies for NC Bettors
- 💡 Learn hockey-specific terms so you know what you're betting on, include types of bets, game stats and awards.
- 💡 Stay up to date on the latest news, such as injury reports, transactions, game locations, player stats, and matchup history.
- 💡 Click through all the tabs under "NHL" at betting sites. You might find some timely and interesting markets available.
- 💡 Read terms & conditions for bet types and promotions to understand how each sportsbook defines stats like overtime goals and shootouts.
- 💡 Shop for the best odds! The same bet could have different odds across multiple sportsbooks.
Best NC Hockey Betting Sites: Where To Wager NHL Best Bets
You can bet on pro hockey at any of the approved online operators as well as three in person retail sportsbooks in the state: Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort, Harrah's Cherokee Valley River and Catawba Two Kings Casino.
The following North Carolina sports betting apps have market access and can be used for NHL betting as of March 11:
| Sportsbook | Standout NHL Betting Features |
|---|---|
| 🏒 DraftKings North Carolina | Player Profiles, Matchup Stats, Props & Same-Game Parlays |
| 🏒 bet365 North Carolina | Early Payouts, Bet Boosts, Live Streaming, Bet Editing & Same-Game Parlays |
| 🏒 FanDuel North Carolina: | Specials, Futures, Props & Same-Game Parlays |
| 🏒 Caesars Sportsbook North Carolina | Futures, Featured Bets, Bet Boosts & Live Betting |
| 🏒 ESPN BET North Carolina | Shootout Protection, Alternate Lines, Specials & Odds Boosts |
| 🏒 BetMGM North Carolina | Alternate Lines, Props & Same-Game Parlays |
| 🏒 Fanatics Sportsbook North Carolina | Props & Same-Game Parlays |
| 🏒 Underdog Sports North Carolina | Daily Fantasy |
| ✅ Last Updated: | April 26, 2024 |
NHL Betting This Week in NC: Today's Best Lines
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are one of the North Carolina professional sports teams that has partnered with a sportsbook. Fanatics is the Hurricanes' official sports betting partner, which is great news for all sports fans, but especially those who love pro hockey.
The Hurricanes have been North Carolina's sole hockey team since 1997. They have made five straight playoff appearances since 2018 and rank as one of the top teams this season.
Stanley Cup Playoffs
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are a postseason elimination tournament to determine the overall winner of the league. Eight teams from each conference qualify based on their total regular-season points.
The playoffs consist of four rounds of best-of-seven series, with teams alternating home-ice advantage throughout each round. The first-, second-, and third-place team from each division earns an automatic playoff berth, and the two teams with the highest point total outside of the Top 3 finishers earn wild-card seeds.
The Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup playoff chances are looking promising this season.
👉 More: Carolina Hurricanes Playoff History
End-of-Season Awards
End-of-season NHL futures are unique in that they are labeled with the trophy name, rather than by the accolade:
Stanley Cup Finals
The Stanley Cup Finals is the NHL's annual championship series. The two teams left standing after the playoffs compete for the Stanley Cup, North America's oldest pro sports team trophy, dating back to 1893. The trophy is named for Lord Stanley of Preston, who donated it when he was the Governor General of Canada.
The Carolina Hurricanes have one title win in team history when they beat the Edmonton Oilers in 2006.
North Carolina NHL Betting FAQs
Yes, you can bet on hockey in North Carolina. You'll be allowed to bet on North American pro hockey, as well as international hockey, in-state teams and out-of-state teams. You can bet in-person at retail sportsbooks as well as with online sportsbooks.
Yes, betting on NHL game online is now legal in North Carolina. Online sports betting launched on March 11 and is available across the eight approved and licensed operators.
Choose a sportsbook, create an account, and deposit funds. Navigate to the NHL section of the sportsbook and choose the type of bet you want to place. Enter the amount you want to wager and confirm your bet. Monitor the game to collect your winnings!
The best-rated betting sites for NHL in North Carolina include FanDuel, DraftKings, bet365, ESPN BET, Fanatics, and Caesars Sportsbook. The Hurricanes have partnered with Fanatics Sportsbook, so that could prove to be a popular in-state option.
The puck line is hockey's point spread. It's one of the first odds you'll see listed for any hockey game. Sportsbooks assign a projected margin of victory for the favored team. A -1.5 puck line means the favored team needs to win by at least 2 goals to pay out.
There is only one NHL hockey team in North Carolina, and that is the Carolina Hurricanes. There are 32 teams in total in the NHL. While most states only host one team, there are several that have multiple teams, including California, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania.
No, Charlotte, North Carolina, doesn't have a dedicated hockey team. The Hurricanes represent the entire state of North Carolina, rather than just one city. Even so, the Hurricanes play at the PNC Arena, which is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Charlotte is home to the minor league hockey team, Charlotte Checkers.
Author
Shannon Lane is a commercial editor and fact-checker for BetCarolina. She's spent the last decade working in sports media, including at NFL Media and as a reporter/fact-checker at Sports Illustrated. She covers everything NFL football to give North Carolina sports betters the best information on the Panthers and other NFL teams.
