Why NHL Betting is so Popular in Canada

The National Hockey League is one of the US’ four major leagues. Though it has recently been overtaken in popularity by soccer, hockey still remains one of the US’ top five favorite sports. In Canada, however, it is number one. The Canadian Hockey League is a massive organization, encompassing 60 teams from both the Great White North and their southern neighbors. But, if the CHL is so huge, then why does the NHL still get a much more attention on Canadian betting sites?

NHL is More Popular

The main reason is that the National Hockey League is just more popular. Whether we like to admit it or not, most of the NHL betting Canada sites cover the American league because it has more global recognition. The American sports industry is much bigger than Canada’s, so it is understandable that a lot of non-North Americans are much more familiar with the NHL than the CHL.

That familiarity prompts online sportsbooks to cover the National Hockey League, hoping that they would get a lot more punters. Usually, they are successful. Hockey is one of the biggest betting sports online, and the NHL is one of the most popular hockey leagues to bet on.

The NHL Features Canadian Teams

Though the National Hockey League is usually identified with the United States of America, the truth is, it was initially founded in Quebec. Over one hundred years ago, in Montreal, the NHL was first founded, with the inaugural season being played in 1917. The Montreal Canadiens won the season, making them the first to ever win the National Hockey League trophy.

Even today, the NHL is comprised of 32 teams, seven of which are Canadian. Not only that, but the most successful NHL team is the Montreal Canadiens, who won that first trophy. They’ve won 25 titles in the 100+ years that they’ve been competing. Furthermore, the Canadiens are not the only wildly successful Canadian NHL team.

In terms of success, the Toronto Maple Leafs have amassed 13 Stanley Cups, and were the second team to ever win the NHL trophy in 1918. So, while the NHL may be associated with the United States, Canada is just as integral to the league’s history as their southern neighbors.

Canadians Love Hockey

Finally, there is no denying that Canadians love hockey. Whether it is the Canada Hockey League, the National Hockey League, or international hockey competitions, Canadians are there to watch. There are even a lot of Canadians who pay close attention to and follow European hockey leagues, such as the Swedish Hockey League or the Finnish Liiga.

And speaking of international hockey, it is also worth noting that Canada is, by far, the most successful country in the realm of international hockey. They’ve amassed 28 gold medals and 16 silver medals at the World Championship of Ice Hockey, which is six more than the Soviet Union’s achievements, and 1 more than the total medals of Russia, if we consider the medals they won as the Soviet Union.