Stanley Cup: Betting Sites and Offers for the 2023 Finals

The US Sun

16 May 2023

ATTENTION hockey fans, it’s almost that time!

That’s right, it’s time for the Stanley Cup, one of the most unpredictable, and exciting series in all of sports. From rooting for the underdog, cinderella story to cheering for your home team, there is no shortage of drama during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

For fans who want to take their love of the game to the next level, the Stanley Cup also offers one of the most dynamic sports betting environments in all of sports. As this year's race tightens up, things are already getting interesting with last year's winners the, Colorado Avalanche, already out of contention. Favorites to win are flip-flopping on a weekly basis, and right now, this is anybody’s cup.

We’re going to break down everything you need to know about the 2023 Stanley Cup, including how the Stanley Cup works, who’s the favorite to win it all, and more.

Let’s get into it!

Top sites with NHL Stanley Cup betting offers

Thanks to modern technology, there are several online betting platforms that are offering some serious promotions for those who are betting for the first time. Beyond offering solid betting platforms, each site also provides betting odds, analysis, and other helpful tools for bettors.

Hosted by MGM Resorts International, BET MGM is currently offering a killer First Bet Offer. If you lose your first bet, BetMGM will kick you back up to $1,000 in Bonus Bets for future wagers.

New customers to the legendary upstart online platform will receive up to 20% in bonus bets, up to $1,000.

An offshoot of the Rivers Casino in Pennsylvania, BetRivers is currently offering up to $500 in credits for second-chance bets, after a confirmed loss.

Steve Wynn’s WynnBet is a simple-to-use, online betting platform that offers a matched bet of up to $100 for new customers.

To help quell worries about initial betting, Unibet is offering a protected bet for up to $500. This means that even if you lose, you will receive up to $500 in account credits to give it another go.

Exclusive to Arizona, new betters will receive a matched deposit credit of up to $250, which is a solid promotion.

Designed and built by Sports Illustrated, the SI Sportsbook is offering up to $200 in bonus credits when your first bet of $20 wins.

What is the NHL Stanley Cup?

For NHL fans, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are the zenith of drama and excitement.

Not only is the Stanley Cup the oldest trophy awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, but it is one of the only trophies to have the names of select players and staff engraved on the silver exterior.

Taking place from mid-April to Mid-June, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are an elimination tournament and one of the most challenging playoff battles in all of sports due to its grueling schedule, and large bracket system.

What is the format of the NHL playoffs?

The NHL playoffs are an elimination tournament where the top eight teams from each of the NHL’s two conferences (East and West) duke it out for Stanley Cup glory. Each series is a best-of-seven style showdown, with a pre-set structure for who plays at home.

First, second, and third-placed teams (based on points) in each of the four divisions (Pacific, Central, Metropolitan, and Atlantic) automatically qualify for the playoffs. Two additional teams from each conference also move into the playoffs, based solely on their point totals. These four teams are the Wild Cards. Keep in mind, these final four teams are not division dependent, so there could be three teams from one conference and one from another.

Two separate brackets are formed by division and the division winner plays the Wild Card with the lesser record, while the other wild card plays against the other division winner. Each winner advances to the second round and the re-seeding process starts all over again through rounds two and three. Round four is the Stanley Cup final.

Who are the favorites to win the Stanley Cup?

If you asked any NHL or hockey pundit who was the favorite rolling into the Cup, it would have undoubtedly been the record-setting Boston Bruins. After all, after winning 65 games this season, there was no doubt they would steamroll through the Stanley Cup Playoff matrix. Yet, in a shocking twist, the eighth-seeded Florida Panthers took out the Bruins in the first round of the playoffs.

As it stands, the Florida Panthers, Edmonton Oilers, and the Carolina Hurricanes are all top choices for the overall Stanley Cup win.

Which teams have the best Stanley Cup record?

Undoubtedly, the story of the year was the barnstorming performance of the Boston Bruins who went on to win a record 65 games in the 2022-2023 NHL season. Yet, in traditional Stanley Cup drama, they were knocked out in game 7 of the first round but the Seattle Kraken. Just like that, a record-winning season is gone, leaving wild cards to duke it out for glory.

When it comes to overall Stanley Cup wins, the Montreal Canadians are the outright champions with a staggering 23 Stanley Cup wins. Even though they haven’t won since 1993, the Canadians are still a preeminent team in the Atlantic Division. The Toronto Maple Leafs have the second-most wins, while the Detroit Red Wings come in third.

In recent years, upstart teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning have shown their worth by claiming back-to-back wins.

In which states is it legal to do NHL Stanley Cup betting online?

Not every state allows NHL Stanley Cup betting online, but the number is growing on a yearly basis. As of 2023, here are the states where you can bet on the NHL Stanley Cup online.

What are the most popular Stanley Cup betting offers?

One of the best things about becoming a new bettor on an online betting platform is promotions and offers that help boost winnings or cover some of the risks involved in making a bet.

Here are some of the most popular promotions you’ll find if you want to start betting on Stanley Cup Games.

Deposit bonus

One of the most straightforward promotions is deposit bonuses. Once you deposit money for betting, a deposit bonus will offer either a flat dollar amount or a percentage on top of your initial deposit. For example, if you deposit $100 and the deposit promotion offers a 100% match, then you will receive an additional $100 dollars to bet.

Risk-free bets

If you’re worried about making a mistake on your first bet, risk-free bets can help reduce some anxiety. Risk-free bets cover your first bet if you lose, up to a certain amount of money and give you account credits to give it another shot. For example, if you lose $100 on your first bet, you’ll receive $100 in account credits to place another bet.

No deposit bonuses

Rather than front money, no deposit bonuses don’t require any upfront payment to receive betting cash. Keep in mind, these offers are usually much smaller than matching or risk-free bets.

Do sportsbooks have special Stanley Cup betting offers?

Yes, online sportsbooks will often run specific offers that are specifically tailored to NHL Stanley Cup fans. You may see these offers when the Stanley Cup really heats up in rounds three or four.

How do I claim a Stanley Cup betting offer from US sportsbooks?

First, you’ll want to take a look at the list of betting offers that top online betting platforms are putting out there. Make sure you use the links provided to take advantage of the absolute best promotions.

Next, you’ll need to decide on which NHL bets you want to make and decide how much you want to put down on each bet. Make sure you use the appropriate promotion code before you complete your bet to take advantage of the best possible offers.

Which bets can I make on the Stanley Cup final?

In the world of NHL betting, there are many types of bets that you can make. Here are some of the most popular examples, and a brief explanation of how they work.

Lines & spreads: The most popular type of bet in NHL hockey is known as a moneyline bet, which is essentially picking the winner of a particular match. A “+” symbol will always represent the underdogs and the “-” will always represent the favorite. Winnings are indicated by these numbers, based on predicted outcomes by bookmakers.
For example, if the Hurricanes are at +120 and the Maple Leafs are at -110 for the moneyline, then you would need to bet $110 to win a $100 if you think the Maple Leafs will win. On the other hand, if you bet on the Hurricanes to win, a $100 bet would net you a $120 dollar prize. Underdogs always pay more.
Puck line bets: Similar to a run line in baseball, puck line bets are goal spreads in increments of 1.5. Let’s use the example of Carolina and Toronto here again.
Bettors can either bet on 1.5 goals with the favorite or take 1.5 goals with the underdog. So if Carolina is at +1.5 goals at odds of +120, Carolina bettors will win their wager if Carolina wins the game or loses by one goal. However, Toronto bettors will only win their puck line bets if Toronto wins by than one goal. In this scenario, a $120 bet on either side would win $100.
Over/under bets: Also known as “betting totals”, over-under bets represent the total number of points oddsmakers expect will be scored during a match. The bet here is determining whether the total points scored will be more or less than a particular number. For example, if the over/under is 5.5 for the Maple Leafs vs. Hurricanes playoff match, then the over would need 6 or more goals to win, and the under would need less than five goals to win. If there is a tie, the bet is refunded.
Futures: Quite simply, betting on NHL futures means that you’re betting on a team to win it all. Betting is allowed well before the season starts and payouts can be huge!
Live betting: Bet on a game as it's happening, with live odds and updates in real time. Since this is dynamic, the process happens extremely fast and can be very exciting.

Can I bet on other outcomes in the NHL playoffs?

There are dozens of things to bet on in the NHL playoffs! Popular bets include the first goalscorer, opening faceoff winner, shots on goal, and many more.

Which US sportsbook has the best Stanley Cup betting offers?

One of the kings of sports betting is offering an incredible incentive to bet on upcoming Stanley Cup Games. Let’s say you lose your first bet because you thought the Bruins would go all the way (sorry Boston fans), then BetMGM would kick you back up to $1,000 in Bonus Bets for future wagers so you can continue to enjoy the action of NHL hockey throughout the rest of the playoffs.

Who doesn’t like free money? DraftKings is currently offering deposit bonuses of up to 20%. That means if you drop $100 on the upcoming Las Vegas Golden Knights game, DraftKings will give you an additional $20 to wager, up to $1000 in total. This is one of the most generous offers for Stanley Cup betting.

Let’s say you want to bet $100 on the Maple Leafs to win it all. Well, Steve Wynn’s WynnBet is currently offering a matched bet of up to $100 for new customers. So, that $100 bet grows to a $200 bet, simply by signing up and using the promotion code.

Our top 5 tips for betting on the Stanley Cup

Hockey is all about the moneyline: Due to the low-scoring nature of NHL games, moneyline bets are the most popular type of bet. Unlike football or basketball where betting the spread is popular, hockey is all about the favorites. All you need to do is pick a side, and you can win a pre-determined amount of money, based on odds. Remember, the underdog is represented by a plus symbol, while the favorite is represented by a negative symbol.
Well-rested teams beat the spread: Well-rested, underdog teams consistently surprise during matches. Thanks to the grueling schedule of the NHL, teams that come off a short break consistently produce better results, even as underdogs.
Home ice matters, especially during playoffs: The Stanley Cup is already volatile, but the addition of home ice really plays havoc on the odds. Playoff teams at home win 55.4% of the time, which is one percent more than the regular season. In some years, the difference can be as high as 69% (2013) and in some years it can be as low as 45% (2012). Depending on the team, and the reputation of the venue, the outcome of a game can swing wildly.
Pay attention to injuries & hot streaks: Since NHL hockey is so grueling, it’s important to recognize the effect of injuries on players and the outcomes of games. In addition to injuries, goalie hot streaks may also play into whether a team is slated to lose or slated to win.
The Grand Salami: One of the most unique bets in sports is “The Grand Salami”. Rather than bet on the outcome of one game, the NHL Grand Salami bet allows bettors to bet on the total number of points scored on a given day, across the entire league. This means you don’t need to root for one side or the other, instead, you have a vested interest in every game. This is not only super unique but a super fun way to start your NHL betting journey.