How To Bet On The NHL From Texas

NHL betting handle has continued to grow in the United States over the past several years. This includes in Texas, where the Dallas Stars have built a strong team that made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2020, and lost in the Conference Finals the past three seasons.

On this page I will touch on the state of regulated betting in the state, look at the three most common bets made on NHL games and explain where you can bet.

Where To Bet

Sports betting is not legal in Texas. Legalizing it would require a constitutional amendment approved by lawmakers and voters. Licensed sportsbooks in neighboring states are an option if you travel there, since you must be physically located in a legal state to place a bet.

Other options include prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket, daily fantasy sports apps where they are available, and offshore sportsbooks, which accept US customers but are not licensed or regulated by any state. Our guide to sports betting in the USA breaks down every option.

Sports Betting in Texas

It is not legal to operate a sportsbook within the state of Texas. Regulating sports betting was seriously considered during the 2023 legislation session, but several prominent Texas House politicians quickly put an end to any progress in 2025 stating they would oppose any attempt to expand regulated gambling during the session. It now looks like legalized sports betting will not be coming to Texas until at least 2027, which is the next time the Texas Legislature meets.

At this time, if you live in Texas and want to bet on sports you can still do so by using an offshore betting site that is licensed and regulated outside of the United States.

Popular NHL Bets

There are three NHL bets that take the majority of betting handle on every NHL game. These include the money line, puck line and over/under. Below I will use examples from the Dallas Stars opening game from this season to explain the three most popular NHL wagers.

To Win (Money Line)

The most popular bet on NHL games is simply wagering on which team will win. The oddsmaker sets the odds based on each teams perceived chance of winning the game, with the odds representing the risk vs reward of a bet on either team.

In this example the game is basically a pick’em, with the Dallas Stars as slight -112 favorites vs the Winnipeg Jets. You would have to risk $112 to win $100 betting on Dallas. Winnipeg has odds of -108 so a $108 bet would win $100 betting on the Jets.

Puck Line (Spread)

In the NHL the puck spread is almost always 1.5 goals. The favorite must win by 2 or more goals to win a puck line bet, while the underdog must either win the game or lose by 1.

Unlike the NBA or NFL where the spread has the ability to even the playing field to the point where both sides of the bet payout the same amount (or close to it), the NHL puck line still relies heavily on the odds.

In this example Dallas was a slight favorite to win the game, but they are big underdogs to win the game by 2 or more. A $100 bet on Dallas -1.5 would win $240 (payout $340) if they won the game by 2 or more goals.

On the flip side you would have to risk $290 to win $100 betting on the Jets +1.5, which would payout if they either win the game or lose by 1.

Over/Under (Total)

The over/under bet involves wagering on the total number of goals to be scored in the game. The oddsmaker will set a total and you can bet on whether the number of goals scored by both teams combined will be over or under that total.

In this example the over/under is set at 5.5. If 6 or more goals are scored in the game the over bets would be graded winners, while if 5 or fewer goals are scored the under bets would win.

NHL Betting in Texas – How To Guide

Whichever option fits you, getting set up only takes a few minutes. Here’s how it works.

Step 1. Choose Where To Bet

From Texas, where there are no licensed sportsbooks, prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket and daily fantasy apps are the main options for NHL games. If you travel, licensed sportsbooks in nearby Louisiana and Arkansas take bets while you are inside those states.

Step 2. Create and Verify Your Account

Sign up with your legal name, date of birth and address. Licensed sportsbooks require you to be 21 or older in most states, while most prediction markets and DFS apps accept players from 18. Regulated platforms verify your identity and check your location, so have your ID handy.

Step 3. Place Your NHL Bets

Head to the NHL section, choose the market you want, such as the puck line, money line or total, and enter your stake. Check the potential payout on the bet slip before you confirm. Most regulated platforms let you set deposit and time limits in your account settings. If betting stops being fun, help is available 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER.

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