Hockey and Online Gambling

Hockey is one of the most popular disciplines among online gambling fans from Canada. The sport offers plenty of opportunities for both experienced punters and newcomers. However, picking a reliable bookmaker may be difficult, especially if you prefer playing on offshore websites, which aren’t regulated by the Canadian government. If you’re looking for a trustworthy sportsbook, check out https://casinosranker.com/. The site provides in-depth reviews of both domestic and global gaming operators.

NHL Stars behind the Poker Table

Poker is, undoubtedly, a great leisure activity, but some NHL athletes take it one step further and become world-class poker players. Here’s the list of hockey players who have achieved remarkable results at the poker table:

Greg Mueller. Younger readers may not remember Mueller’s best years in hockey; he used to play for Munich Hedos for 2 consecutive seasons (1992 – 1994). The athlete ended his sports career in 1999, focusing on developing his poker skills. Mueller’s choice turned out to be a huge success; he won 2 WSOP events in 2009 alone. Fast-forward into 2020, Greg has capped around 3 million dollars from live tournaments. It seems like defensive strategies are working well in both hockey and poker!
Scott Hartnell. Unlike Greg Mueller, Hartnell hasn’t finished his career in hockey yet; the left-winger is currently playing for Nashville Predators and scoring around 20 goals every season. Hartnell debuted as a professional poker player at the 2009 NHL Charity Shootout. His first big tournament ended up with a triumph – the 6ft 2in athlete turned out to be a great strategic thinker. Despite the Shootout being a not-for-profit event, it attracted some famous gamblers, including Vanessa Rousso, Greg Raymer, and Chris Moneymaker; so, Hartnell’s victory wasn’t an easy one!
Ken Daneyko. Ken’s career in professional hockey was incredibly successful – the athlete won 3 Stanley Cups and used to play as a defenseman for New Jersey Devils. In 2014, Daneyko was invited to join Team PartyPoker (PartyPoker is the company behind the World Poker Tour). The athlete had already proven his skills before the invitation through winning the Borgata Spring Poker Open. A $230 Deepstack that Daneyko won provided him with a total of $14,723.
Arron Asham. Arron hasn’t played in many professional games yet; the athlete has been actively participating in charitable missions, leaving little time to practice his skills in poker. However, Asham is definitely a talented player; his aggressive style and loose betting strategy were pointed out by Scott Hartnell. The two had plenty of time to play against each other as Scott and Arron traveled countless hours on the team’s buses. According to Scott, Asham can surprise the pros with his bold decisions at the table.

In addition to the above-mentioned athletes, there are plenty of professional hockey players capable of shaking the world of poker. It would be great to see Alexander Ovechkin, Connor McDavid, William Karlsson, or Sidney Crosby competing with each other both on the ice and at the table.

The Best Slot Machines for Hockey Fans

Ice hockey fans can find plenty of slots based on their favorite game; let’s review the best machines currently available in any online casino in Canada:

Ice Hockey. This 5-reel, 15-line game was created by PlayTech – one of the top studios around. The machine doesn’t include a progressive jackpot; the maximum bonus you can obtain from this slot is limited to 10,000 coins. Available wagers range from 0,01 cents to 15 dollars, providing every punter with a wide array of betting options.
Hockey League. Pragmatic Play’s Hockey League is a classic video slot at its best – 5 reels, 20 lines, plenty of scatters, and wilds to substitute for any other symbols. The machine offers a pleasant free play option. Complimentary rounds are activated by landing 3 scatters across the reels.
Break Away. Break Away is Microgaming’s response to Pragmatic Play and PlayTech’s solutions. Similar to other products of Microgaming, Break Away involves pretty impressive payouts: 243 lines are distributed across 5 reels, providing you with a maximum jackpot of 2,000 times your initial bet. There’s also a free spins bonus available.
Hockey Hero. Avoid confusing this slot with RTG’s machine of the same name! This game is developed by Push Gaming. Although it isn’t the most well-known studio in the industry, Push Gaming provides some decent machines. Hockey hero includes 5 reels and 40 lines, as well as a complimentary play feature.

Make sure to gamble in reputable casinos to maximize your chances of winning.

The Rise of NHL Gambling on the Web

NHL has always been an essential part of the Canadian gambling industry. The development of online gaming has helped boost the popularity of the discipline even further; due to the country’s regulation, bookmakers can only legally accept parlays – no single bets are allowed. The recent rise of online NHL betting is directly linked to the emergence of multiple offshore operators. Foreign companies are entering the Canadian market in great numbers. For a quick overview of the situation, just consider the following example: the Kahnawake Gambling Commission has issued around 250 licenses; 1,000 more operators aren’t registered with the local authorities. However, these organizations are offering plenty of NHL bets (including single wagers, systems, and parlays), which attracts millions of Canadians.

The Best Bookmakers Offering NHL Betting

NHL betting is offered by the vast majority of bookies and casino sites; so, distinguishing the best options isn’t a simple task. Remember that decent casinos have high payout rates and provide a wide choice of deposit/withdrawal methods. Industry leaders also offer promotions for newly registered customers; as a rule, you can get a free bet for creating an account with a given company. Reliable brands offer lots of betting options, including handicap wagers, the final score (odd or even), total bets, and many more. If you’re looking for a trusted online casino in Canada, consider checking out Сasinosranker.

Responsible Gambling Policies in NHL Betting

Similar to any other discipline, NHL betting adheres to a number of responsible gambling rules imposed by governments and international organizations. Responsible gambling policies include protection of personal information, the prohibition of underage gaming, provision of fair software, and self-control tools for customers. NHL betting isn’t generally regarded as an industry that faces any issues with problematic gambling. However, if a player feels like they need any assistance, they may always contact customer support. Most companies offer a possibility to impose daily or weekly deposit limits. A player may also set up a cool-down period of up to 24 hours or a lengthy self-exclusion period (from 6 months to several years).

Conclusion

There has never been a better time to begin betting on NHL events. Numerous operators are offering their services to Canadian punters, while the number of bonuses and promotions is at its all-time high. Competition among the brands stimulates companies to introduce new services and games. If you ever get tired of wagering on regular events, consider trying out one of the themed NHL slots described in this article. In addition, you may want to master the game of poker favored by hockey stars. Make sure to pick a reliable operator, and you won’t regret joining the industry.