Puckline vs Moneyline: Betting Markets Comparison

Canadian bettors love to place wagers and that’s what the Puck Line and Moneyline provide! Every night, there is a ton of action placed on markets such as the Puck Line and Moneyline. These two bets dominate the Canadian sports betting markets and are a popular pick on live betting sites.  

But what is the difference between puckline and moneyline betting? 

If you’re here, chances are you want to learn about two of the biggest wagers in sports betting! Our guide is here to help you understand these wagers and how you can use them to your advantage on sports betting sites! 

Without further ado, let’s dive into the difference between puckline and moneyline betting! 

Arguably the most famous betting market, the Moneyline is easily understood by bettors everywhere. The simplicity of the Moneyline is a reason for its popularity. Simply choose the right winner of the game and you win your bet! 

Understanding the Moneyline is quite easy, too. The favourite is listed using the minus – symbol, while the underdog will be listed using the plus + symbol. So, the Anaheim Ducks may be listed at +160 while the Toronto Maple Leafs may be listed at –120. This means the Ducks are the underdogs, while the Maple Leafs are favourites. 

The number beside the indicated symbol is important as well. In this scenario, betting $100 on the Ducks would win you $160 and your total payout would be $260. Underdogs on Moneyline bets show how much money you would win if you were to bet $100. 

As for the favourite, the line shows how much money you need to wager to win $100. In our example, you would need to wager $120 to win $100 ($220 in total). These wagers are popular on bookmakers such as Sports Interaction and Bodog. 

Long story short: The favourite (-) shows how much money you need to wager to win $100. The underdog (+) shows how much money you’d win on a $100 bet. And to win the bet, you need to choose the correct team to win straight up. Typically, Overtime and Shootouts are included in Moneyline bets (unless otherwise stated). 

Home Teams Are King: Home teams tend to have better records at home. When betting on the Moneyline, look at teams that dominate at home. 
Beware of Heavy Favourites; When you are looking at the lines, you may want to stay away from any heavy favourites. Teams listed at –800 may look like a lock, but upsets happen. Plus, you’ll need to bet a significant amount to turn a profit, which means it isn’t a valuable pick. 

Shop Around: While betting lines may be the same across sportsbooks, you can look at different betting sites to see which bookies have better odds. The difference between +120 and +115 isn’t huge but it’s all about finding value! This is the same if you’re backing the favourite as well. 

Those that wager on NHL betting sites may be familiar with the Puckline. For those wondering what this market is, it is hockey’s version of the spread. When reading the Puckline on betting sites, you are looking at the spread between two teams. 

Puckline betting gives goals to the underdog and takes them away from the favourite. For example, the Anaheim Ducks (+1.5) against the Toronto Maple Leafs (-1.5) indicates that the Ducks are the underdogs. In this scenario, the Ducks need to win the game outright or LOSE by 1 goal to win the bet. 

For a wager to cash on the Maple Leafs, Toronto would need to win by at least 2 goals. The reason puck line betting is popular on betting sites is because of the NHL’s parity. The most common NHL final score is 3-2, meaning underdogs can easily cover and favourites aren’t locks! 

Anytime you see a puckline wager, you can easily see which team is the favourite and which team is the underdog. The favourite will always have goals taken away, like –1.5. Meanwhile, the underdog will have goals given to them, like this +1.5. The – sign indicates a team is a favourite, while the + sign indicates which team is the underdog.

With the puckline market, there are some pros and cons you should be weary of when placing wagers! This can help you decide if the Puckline is the right market for you. 

When betting the Puckline, there are some strats you should focus on as well! This can help you be successful with every puckline bet made. 

Focus on Schedule: Teams playing on continuous nights or with extended rest could be the difference maker in a victory. Focusing on things like travel, game times and location could be the difference maker in an extra goal or two! 

Home and Away Games: Some teams perform better on the road, while others are dominant at home. Ensure you’re looking at the venue and records at home vs away when betting the Puckline. 

Streaks Matter: Don’t be afraid to ride the hot hand! Hockey is a game of streaks and momentum. If an underdog is rolling, don’t discredit them because they are playing a favourite. Odds on betting sites may not take into account how an underdog is performing, which could give you better odds! 

Puckline and Moneyline betting aren’t the same, but the differences are easy to understand. The table below compares the two markets and their similarities and differences. 

Both the puckline and moneyline are popular ways to wager on betting sites. The puckline is exclusive to hockey but you can find similar action by looking at the spread. There are differences between the puckline and moneyline but both options can provide great entertainment and value.

We hope that you know the differences between the puckline and moneyline and we hope that you take advantage of this! And remember, no matter which bet type you choose, we ask that you gamble responsibly.