Sports betting has absolutely boomed in recent years thanks to the advent of daily fantasy sports and reduced regulations surrounding sports betting in America and the world at large. Almost every online casino offers sports betting in addition to the traditional slots and table games you’d expect to find. If you’re looking to add a little more excitement to the NHL and bet on some matches, here are four quick tips to help make smarter decisions—and hopefully a winning bet.
Analyzing Team Performance
One of the most important factors to consider when betting on NHL matches is the history of a team’s performance, specifically their performance against their current opponent. Always take the time to research how teams have been performing in recent games. Look at their win-loss record, goal differentials, and performance against different types of opponents.
Likewise, their performance against their current opponent can tell you just about everything you need to know. While you’re not always going to get a clear answer from head-to-head data, it can help paint a bigger picture and offer insights you might not have considered otherwise. Knowing how certain players perform against each other and specific coaching strategies can easily influence your decision when it comes time to place a bet on sites such as these. Here you can play with real money.
Researching Player Injuries and Suspensions
This is something you need to stay on top of if you ever plan on betting on an NHL game or partaking in daily fantasy sports. Injuries and player suspensions can easily change the entire dynamic of an NHL game. If you know ahead of time that a player is injured and will not be returning to the ice for a particular match, you can take that into account when you go to place a bet. If a player returns after an injury earlier than expected, that is also something you need to consider. The easiest way to stay up-to-date on injuries and suspensions is to follow sites that specifically report these updates, like ESPN or the CBS injury report.
Managing Your Bankroll for NHL Betting
Bankroll management is easily one of the most overlooked skills in sports betting and online gambling in general. If you’re going to bet on NHL matches, you need to go in with a strategy. Otherwise, you’re liable to lose all of your funds. The easiest rule to follow is to never wager a large portion of your money on a single bet. Most people say that you should never exceed 5% of your bankroll if you plan on being a successful bettor in the long run. By only betting 5%, you ensure there are always funds left over to place other bets and bounce back from a loss.
Speaking of a loss, never chase losses. This means that if you lose a string of bets, don’t bet more than usual to make up for your lost winnings. The easiest way to throw money away is to chase losses or bet while you’re on tilt. Give yourself time to cool down and come back with a clear head, ready to make sensible decisions that are unaffected by previous losses.
The Role of Luck in NHL Betting
Arguably, one of the most important tips to remember is that there is a significant element of luck involved when it comes to sports betting. Yes, while it’s not as much luck as the draw of a deck in poker or the spin of a roulette wheel, there will always be an element of surprise you cannot account for when making your initial bet. That’s just how the game goes. The sooner you realize this and understand it, the easier it’ll be when one of your “guaranteed” bets goes south or you bink a dollar on an extremely unlikely outcome. Luck is all around us, and the NHL is certainly no exception.
