The Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights are set to do battle starting Tuesday to become the 2026 Stanley Cup Champion. The Hurricanes have not been to the Stanley Cup Finals since 2006, when they last won the Cup, and have rolled through the Eastern Conference at 12-1 to get back to hockey’s biggest stage. The Golden Knights are back in the Finals for the third time in their nine year history, looking to add a second Cup to the one they won in 2023.
This series pits the two best defensive teams of these playoffs against one another. Carolina rode goaltender Frederik Andersen and a smothering forecheck through sweeps of the Senators and Flyers before knocking off Montreal in 5 games. Vegas pulled off the upset of the postseason, sweeping the President’s Trophy winning Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final behind the play of midseason acquisition Carter Hart in net.
On this page we explain the options Americans have for betting on the Stanley Cup Finals, look at the series and Game 1 odds, and finish with a step by step guide to getting started.
Where Can Americans Bet On The Stanley Cup Finals?
Your options depend on where you live. Here are the main ways to bet on the Stanley Cup Finals in the United States.
Licensed Sportsbooks
Sports betting is legal in more than 35 states plus Washington, D.C., where licensed sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM offer odds on the Stanley Cup Finals. You must be 21 or older in most states and physically located in a state where the sportsbook is licensed.
Prediction Markets
Prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket let you buy and sell contracts on the outcome of the Stanley Cup Finals. Instead of betting against a sportsbook, you trade with other users, and the price of a contract reflects the market’s view of how likely an outcome is. These platforms operate under federal oversight from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) rather than state gambling law, which is why they are available in most states, including states without legal sports betting.
Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) apps such as PrizePicks and Underdog offer player stat contests in most states. Rather than betting on who wins, you pick whether players will go over or under a statistical projection.
Offshore Sportsbooks
Offshore sportsbooks are licensed outside the United States and accept bets from across the country. They are not licensed or regulated by any US state, which means Americans who use them have no state regulator to turn to if there is a dispute over a bet or a withdrawal.
2026 Stanley Cup Finals Winner Odds
Here are the series odds for the Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Stanley Cup Finals. These odds were taken before Game 1 and will change as the series progresses (odds taken June 1st). Carolina opened as the -145 series favorite, with Vegas at +125.
Here are the odds for Game 1 in Raleigh:
Carolina opens as the -150 home favorite for Game 1 with the Golden Knights at +132. The total is set at 5.5 goals, with both clubs leaning on elite goaltending and defensive structure to grind out wins.
I lean towards the Hurricanes in this series. Carolina has been the most complete team of the playoffs at 12-1, holding Montreal to an average of under 18 shots per game in the Eastern Conference Final, and they have home ice advantage through a potential Game 7. Frederik Andersen has been the best goaltender in the postseason and is a frontrunner for the Conn Smythe Trophy (along with Mitch Marner). That said, Vegas can never be counted out. The Golden Knights had to beat the President’s Trophy winners just to get here, and did so in convincing fashion with a sweep.
Looking for more NHL betting context heading into the Finals? Check out our full NHL Playoffs betting guide and our Stanley Cup betting page.
Bet On Stanley Cup Finals in USA – Step By Step
Whichever option you choose, the process of getting started is similar. Here’s a general guide.
Step 1. Choose Your Option
Decide which type of platform fits how you want to bet. Licensed sportsbooks offer the full range of bets where they are available, prediction markets let you trade contracts on the outcome, and DFS apps are built around player stats. Review the options above before signing up.
Step 2. Check The Age and Location Rules
Every platform has its own eligibility requirements. Most prediction markets and DFS apps require you to be at least 18, while licensed sportsbooks require you to be 21 in most states and physically located in the state where they are licensed.
Step 3. Create and Verify Your Account
Sign up with your legal name, date of birth and address. Regulated platforms are required to verify your identity, so you may be asked for the last four digits of your Social Security number or a photo of your ID.
Step 4. Fund Your Account
Deposit using one of the platform’s payment methods, which commonly include debit cards and bank transfers. Check how withdrawals work, and how long they take, before you deposit.
Step 5. Find The Market and Place Your Bet
Navigate to the NHL or hockey section, select the market you’re interested in, and choose your position. Before confirming, check the price or odds and how much you stand to win, using the bet types explained above as a guide.
Step 6. Set Limits
Decide on a budget before the series starts and stick to it. Most regulated platforms let you set deposit and time limits in your account settings. If betting stops being fun, help is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.
Check out our sports betting guide for a few basic articles to help beginners feel comfortable betting online, or our hockey betting section for a broader look at the different bets you can make on NHL games.
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