Mike DeLuca

NHL & Canadian Sports Betting Writer

Toronto, Ontario
Member since 2024

About Mike

I’ve been betting hockey since before Ontario went legal — back when we all pretended the offshore books didn’t exist. Eight years of sports betting and just as many years watching the Leafs break my heart. I grew up in Scarborough, played rep hockey until I blew out my knee at 16, and never quite let go of the game. Now I ref minor hockey on weekends and work IT during the week.

My approach is pretty simple: track everything, shop lines obsessively, and never bet on the Leafs in the playoffs. I learned that last one the hard way — lost $400 on the 2023 series against Florida. My spreadsheet says I’m up about 3% lifetime, which isn’t getting rich, but it means I’m not losing either. In this game, that puts you ahead of most people.

I write about what I actually know: NHL betting, Ontario sportsbooks, CFL (yes, people bet on the CFL), and the boring stuff that actually works — bankroll management, line shopping, not chasing losses. I’m not here to sell you a system or promise you’ll get rich. I’m here to help you lose less and maybe, if the hockey gods are kind, win a bit more.

Areas of Expertise

NHL Betting
CFL Betting
Ontario Sportsbooks
Line Shopping
Bankroll Management
Canadian Betting
Goalie Analysis
Home Underdogs

What I Don’t Cover

Casino games aren’t my thing — no edge, no interest. Same goes for crypto casinos (I don’t trust what I don’t understand), poker (played in college, wasn’t good enough), and any sport I don’t actually follow. You won’t see me writing about NBA, soccer, or anything outside North America. If it’s not hockey, football, or occasionally baseball, I’ll leave it to someone who actually knows what they’re talking about.

The Personal Stuff

When I’m Not Betting

Reffing minor hockey on weekends
Beer league on Thursday nights
Walking Gordie (golden retriever, named after Howe)
Annual Vegas trip with the boys from my hockey days

Industry Pet Peeves

Same-game parlays pushed to casual bettors
“Guaranteed” picks from Twitter touts
Books that are slow to pay out
People who don’t track their bets but swear they’re “up”

“Look, I’m not going to pretend I’ve cracked some secret code. The edge isn’t a magic system — it’s boring stuff: line shopping, bankroll management, and not betting on your favourite team in the playoffs. Trust me on that last one.”