Legally Betting On The NHL Playoffs

- The NHL Playoffs Begin Late April
- NHL Playoff Betting Is Available Across The Entire USA
- NHL Stanley Cup Futures Are Active Now
The ice heats up when it comes to the hockey postseason, and so does legally betting on the NHL Playoffs. In fact, at most books, there's more action laid on each year's playoffs than there is on the entire regular season of betting on the NHL combined!
Are you concerned with whether betting on the NHL playoffs is legal in the US? If so, you’ve come to the right place. This NHL Playoff betting guide will provide you with the information you need to successfully bet on the NHL playoffs online.
We’ll take you on a tour of what legal sports gambling options US bettors have available to them and provide a list of our top online sportsbooks to place legal wagers with on NHL Playoff betting odds. We’ll also reveal the meaning behind all those NHL Playoff odds, the different types of wagers that will be available, and how to get an edge on the oddsmakers.
Is It Legal To Bet On The NHL Playoffs?
Yes, betting on the NHL Playoffs is legal, and there are two ways that bettors can make this happen. If you are located within a state that has regulated its own sports gaming laws and allows for physical or online sportsbook locations, you can visit one and place a bet there. Otherwise, you can visit any of our recommended online sportsbooks operating legally offshore and place a bet on the NHL Playoffs at any time of day via an internet-ready device.
**The state of Washington passed laws that prohibit online gaming in all its forms, though we’ve yet to hear of anyone being prosecuted for doing so.
Best Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Sites
Site Name | Current Bonus | Age | U.S. | Visit Site | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ![]() | 50% Max $1,000 | 18+ | ![]() | Visit Site Review |
2 | ![]() | 125% Max $3,125 | 18+ | ![]() | Visit Site Review |
3 | ![]() | 50% Max $1,000 | 21+ | ![]() | Visit Site Review |
4 | ![]() | 50% Max $500 | 21+ | ![]() | Visit Site Review |
5 | ![]() | 50% Max $1,000 | 18+ | ![]() | Visit Site Review |
6 | ![]() | 50% Max $1,000 | 18+ | ![]() | Visit Site Review |

How Do NHL Playoffs Work?
The NHL is broken down into two conferences, the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. Each conference is further broken down into divisions. The Eastern Conference contains the Metropolitan and Atlantic divisions, while the Western Conference features the Central and Pacific divisions.
Each conference sends eight teams to the playoffs, creating a 16-team NHL playoff picture bracket. The top three teams from each division will advance to the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. The next two best-ranked teams in each conference, regardless of division, will advance to the playoffs as wild card teams.
Each matchup is a seven-game series, with the home team hosting the first, second, fifth, and seventh games.
2023 NHL Playoffs Format
The 2023 NHL Playoff format returns to its standard bracket for the postseason, with the top 8 teams from each conference qualifying.

NHL Betting Apps For The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Our preferred sportsbooks offer web apps that feature an app-like experience and can be accessed from any internet-ready mobile device. The graphical interface is designed to operate on the most popular mobile browsers and allows for convenient betting on the go, 24 hours a day. Sportsbooks have opted to use web apps through mobile browsers to ensure the highest level of cybersecurity available.
Some in-state-regulated mobile sportsbooks do exist However, bettors must be located within those books' states of operation in order to place a wager. The Federal Wire Act prevents the receipt of wagers across state lines for the purposes of gambling, making domestic cross-state mobile betting against the law. Offshore sportsbooks are not restricted in this way and allow for betting from anywhere inside the USA.
How To Watch NHL Playoffs
NHL Playoff games air on NBC, USA, CNBC, and the NHL Network. You can typically stream the entire Stanley Cup Playoffs by purchasing a playoff streaming package from the NHL’s website for $19.99.