BetMGM Announces the Most Bet NBA and NHL Teams and Players in 2025 Season

For Canadian sports enthusiasts, there's seldom been a moment quite like the present, with two notable Canadian-born athletes guiding their teams to the NBA and NHL finals. 

The Edmonton Oilers, captained by Connor McDavid from Richmond Hill, Ont., face off against the Florida Panthers at Rogers Place (8 pm EST) this Wednesday evening in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals, a repeat of last year's championship match. The Panthers claimed the Stanley Cup in 2024, after a seven-game series. 

On Thursday, the Oklahoma City Thunder, featuring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was born in Toronto but raised in nearby Hamilton, Ont., will take on the Indiana Pacers (start time 8:30 pm EST) in the NBA Finals. In May, Gilgeous-Alexander was awarded the NBA MVP title. The odds for Gilgeous-Alexander to win finals MVP have shifted from +900 to -625 at BetMGM. 

“The Thunder are big favorites to win the NBA Championship and a great result for the sportsbook on the futures market. We are cheering against the Pacers lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy,” said BegMGM Trading Manager Christian Cipollini.

 

Ovechkin Most Wagered NHL Player 

Even though these are exciting times for Canadian sports enthusiasts, the achievements on the court and ice did not translate into betting figures, as per BetMGM’s wagering data. 

The operator has just published betting insights regarding the most wagered NBA/NHL teams and players for the 2025 regular season. 

In the NBA, just one of the five most wagered players made it to the finals, and that was Gilgeous-Alexander, who had the fifth-highest player prop tickets at 1.55%. No other participants with a ticket share exceeding 1.5% or handle share over 1.3% competed in the NBA conference finals. 

The Los Angeles Lakers recorded the largest handle share (6.19%) and ticket share (5.84%) in the regular season, with the Boston Celtics trailing close behind (5.80% tickets, 5.60% handle) and the Cleveland Cavaliers next (5.58% tickets, 4.88% handle). 

 

Lakers Top NBA Team for Bets 

Nikola Jokic of Denver accounted for 1.9% of all bets and 1.78% of the total handle on players — both being the highest in the league — making him the most-bet NBA player throughout the regular season. 

Gilgeous-Alexander ranked fifth in both ticket sales and handle, with 1.55% and 1.36%, respectively. 

In terms of hockey, the Oilers were far from a favored choice. The most wagered team in tickets (5.70%) and handle (5.97%) was the Vegas Golden Knights, with the Winnipeg Jets next (5.40% tickets, 5.24% handle) and the Toronto Maple Leafs following (5.00% tickets, 4.56% handle). 

Alex Ovechkin from the Washington Capitals was the most wagered NHL player – 1.91% of tickets, 2.22% of the handle – whereas McDavid ranked ninth (1.37% of tickets, 1.64% of the handle). It's likely not surprising with Ovechkin, given the media coverage he received this past season while pursuing and ultimately surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record of 894 goals.