The NHL Stanley Cup Finals are here, and the bets and the games are heating up. With big games ahead between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers, now is the perfect time to take advantage of BetMGM's exclusive bonus offer for new sports bettors. BetMGM is offering a First Bet Offer up to $1500 when you use our promo code INSIDER.
This bonus gives you a massive advantage and the opportunity to get in on the action and potentially cash in big on the Stanley Cup Finals. Think Edmonton will come back and take game 2? Bet on it. Perhaps Florida will win it all in 6 games? Bet on it. It’s hard to lose when you have a bonus offer of this magnitude.
As with any sportsbook offer, the key to using it is simply understanding it, and the BetMGM bonus is straightforward. It’s a First Bet Offer up to $1500. You can place your first wager, and if it loses, you’ll get up to $1,500 in bonus credits. To claim this bonus, you need to use the promo code INSIDER when signing up. Here’s how it works—
Sign up for a BetMGM account. If you’re new to BetMGM, create an account and enter the promo code INSIDER during the registration process. This usually takes around 3-5 minutes, which includes verifying your identity.
Make your first deposit. Deposit funds into your BetMGM account. You can deposit as much as you’d like, but be sure to deposit enough to cover your first bet.
Place your first bet. Place your first wager. If your bet loses, BetMGM will refund your stake in the form of bonus bets up to $1500. This can take up to 72 hours, but nonetheless, you’ll have the bonus cash in your account to use on other Finals games.
This means that if you bet $1,500 and lose, you will receive $1,500 in bonus bets to use on future wagers. It’s a great way to mitigate risk a bit while giving yourself a chance to win big.
We always recommend maxing out offers like this. If you can afford it, ensure your first bet is $1,500 so you can make the most of it. If you don’t, it’s like leaving money on the table.
With the Florida Panthers leading the series 1-0 after a decisive 3-0 blowout in Game 1, Game 2 is shaping up to be a crucial matchup for both benches.
The Panthers have shown they can handle the pressure, especially with stellar performances from key players like Carter Verhaeghe and Sergei Bobrovsky. We knew they were going to be tough, but even a 3-0 win surprised us.
On the other hand, the Edmonton Oilers, despite their loss, have shown they can bounce back and they have one of the strongest offensive presences we’ve ever had seen. In game 1, they outshot the Panthers 32-18; they simply needed to seal the deal and get pucks in the back of the net.
There’s still lots of hockey to be played, so we’ve put together a few bet ideas for you to consider in Game 2 and beyond.
The moneyline bet is one of the simplest types of bets you can place, and it involves picking the outright winner of the game. For Game 2, BetMGM has the Oilers at +118 and the Panthers at -142. This means a $100 bet on the Oilers would bring in $118 in profit if they win, while a $142 bet on the Panthers would yield $100 in profit. Basically, the bookmaker is saying that the Oilers are the underdogs, which is easy to see why after a 3-0 loss to the Panthers.
Given the current series situation and the Panthers' strong performance in Game 1, betting on Florida might seem like the safer option. After all, they were the favorites coming into the series. However, if you’re feeling confident about an Oilers comeback and think Connor McDavid will get the job done, the higher odds on Edmonton offer a potentially larger payout.
The puck line is the hockey equivalent of the point spread. For Game 2, the puck line is set at Oilers +1.5 (-230) and Panthers -1.5 (+188). Betting on the Oilers +1.5 means they can lose by one goal or win the game for your bet to cash, but you have to lay down more money (-230). Betting on the Panthers -1.5 means they need to win by at least two goals, offering a higher payout (+188).
Considering the tight nature of playoff hockey and the Oilers' ability to generate a high volume of shots, taking the Oilers +1.5 might be a strategic bet, albeit with lower returns.
Overall, the puck line is a tough bet to consider this late in the season. It’s not out of the realm of possibilities, but we’re talking the best of the best duking it out on the ice. Frankly, I think the 3-0 win by the Panthers was a fluke.
The Over/Under for Game 2 is set at 5.5 goals, with both the Over and Under priced at -110. This bet involves predicting whether the total number of goals scored by both teams will be over or under 5.5.
In Game 1, the total was under, with the Panthers winning 3-0. If you would’ve bet the under on Game 1, you would’ve won.
If you expect another strong defensive showing and solid goaltending from both teams, betting the under might be a good idea.
However, considering the Oilers' high shot count and offensive potential, the Over could also be a viable option if you believe the game will open up. Anything can happen in the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, so the over/under bets are a bit harder to nail down than regular season games.
Alright, with a huge bonus at your disposal, it’s probably a good time to start thinking about bets that are outside of your comfort zone.
One way to maximize the potential of your BetMGM bonus is by placing parlay bets. We know, we know; we always recommend against players as they’re designed so the house wins. However, if you’ve got the house money on your side, now would be the time to use it.
A parlay combines multiple bets into one, increasing the potential payout. For example, you could parlay a moneyline bet on the Panthers with an Under 5.5 bet. This would’ve been a smart parlay in Game 1. If both outcomes occur, your payout will be significantly higher than betting on each individually. However, both have to occur, or you win nothing — unless you have that bonus by your side (see why now is a good time to try a parlay?).
Player prop bets allow you to bet on individual player performances, such as the number of goals, assists, or saves a player will have. You’re not betting on any single team but instead, how a player will fare throughout the game.
Given Carter Verhaeghe's recent performance and the Oilers' offensive capabilities, looking at prop bets for these players could be a fun and potentially profitable way to use your bonus.
Ah, yes, one of our favorite bet types, and we think you’ll love them too. Live betting, or in-game betting, allows you to place bets while the game is ongoing.
This can be an excellent way to use your BetMGM bonus, especially if you have a good sense of how the game is unfolding. For example, if the Oilers start strong and look like they’re controlling the game, you could place a live bet on them to win. Of course, the odds continue to shift throughout the game, so if you bet on the Oilers to win and they’re up 2-0 going into the third, obviously, the payout would be much smaller.
But nonetheless, it’s a lot of fun watching the game and betting at the same time.
The Finals are turning out to be some of the best hockey we’ve seen in years. With only 1 game in the books, anything can happen. We’re thinking Edmonton will pull this off, but they’re going to have to come from behind and catch up with the fast-paced Panthers.
While it’s going to be an exciting series, there’s still an opportunity for you to amp up your excitement by using this bonus offer.
With Game 2 tonight at 8:00 PM EST, if you want to use the exclusive BetMGM bonus offer, you have to hurry. There’s still plenty of time to get your bets before these two titans hit the ice.