Are you a hockey fan? Do you live in Pennsylvania? Do you like to bet?
If you answered yes to all those questions then you've really hit the proverbial jackpot!
Pennsylvania, home to both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Flyers, is second only to New Jersey for online sports betting.
However, before you place a wager online here are three things you must do.
1. Find the best PA sportsbook for your betting needs
This might sound simple, but it is far from it.
Pennsylvania, with around 13 million inhabitants and seven major league teams, is an incredibly attractive market for sportsbooks. This means that they have flooded the market with promotions and bonuses for new customers. Sounds great right?
Yes and no. More competition means you can bag yourself some incredible welcome bonuses but it also means it is more important than ever to compare what each sportsbooks offer. For example, one sportsbook could offer a special promotion, but it may restrict you to a particular sport/sports. There may also be terms and conditions that are important to check, for example, some sportsbooks require you to turnover a bonus a certain number of times before you can count the money as yours.
Some terms you should know
Special offers/promos for new players
When you sign-up to a sportsbook you will be offered a special promotion to welcome you onboard.
This can vary not just in terms of the amount offered but also the terms and conditions.
Free bets
This simply means the bets are free. So, you can place a bet for the defined number of free bets.
You will then need to win that bet before that money is real money.
Sometimes there will be a turnover requirement, which means you need to win bets with the original free bet a certain number of times before it is converted to real cash.
There will also be an odds requirement for each bonus.
Turnover Requirement
This means that you need to win with a bonus amount a certain number of times before you can count it as real cash.
Let's look at an example:
If a sportsbook offers a $50 free bet with a 2x turnover requirement.
This means you can place a $50 bet. If you then win that bet, you will need to place another bet and win that one, before that money can be converted into cash.
You should also factor in how you like to bet. If you prefer to place in-play bets then you should look for a sportsbook that has a wide range of NHL betting options that are offered as in-play bets.
Here are two factors to consider when picking your PA NHL sportsbook:
- Does the sportsbook have a good selection of NHL bets?
- Does the sportsbook have the best welcome bonus for your betting needs?
2. Find out if a sportsbook sponsors your favorite NHL team
One way sportsbooks can endear themselves to local customers is to sponsor their local team.
In PA, there are two sponsors of the two NHL teams. SugarHouse, originally a local retail casino partners with the Philladelphia Flyers. BetRivers has partnered with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
If a sportsbook sponsors you favorite team then it can be an advantage to you in the following ways:
- Better odds for your team's games
- Special promotions for your team's games
- Use of retail facilities at the game
3. Stay within PA state lines when betting on the NHL
This might sound obvious, but it can't be emphasised enough. You cannot place a wager with a PA sportsbook when you are outside of state lines. It is possible however to sign-up in another state.
If you live in Harrisburg, for example, you won't have an issue with this. However, say you live in Philadelphia, then you could have a real issue if you cross the Delaware River.
If you are based in the Pennsylvanian side of the Delaware River then we recommend you still sign up to a New Jersey sportsbook for when you find yourself on the other side of town.
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