Mike Palm Circa exclusive: NBA, NHL Finals to be ‘heavily driven’ by player props

Ahead of the NHL and NBA Finals which are set to begin on June 4 and 5, respectively, Circa Resort & Casino VP of Operations Mike Palm joined Gaming America for an exclusive interview to preview both matchups and how Circa sportsbook is preparing for each series. Palm also shared which way the public is currently leaning for both matchups, as the Edmonton Oilers and Oklahoma City Thunder appear as strong favorites according to the operator. 

“We’ve seen as the playoffs have worn on, more money is actually coming in on the Oilers. After they fell behind two games to none to the Kings, things might not have looked great, but then obviously they rallied in that series and then really dominated the Knights, dominated the Stars by winning both series in five, and the momentum grew from there,” Palm said. 

“Of course you have the biggest superstar in Connor McDavid, but we actually lose to the future market with the Oilers should they win. The Panthers have moved around in the market, they got behind 2-0 to Toronto and the public kind of softened on them a little bit, but they came back strong and were heavily favored once they got through that series against Carolina.”

While the Oklahoma City Thunder are overwhelming favorites over the Indiana Pacers for the NBA Finals, listed at -650 or greater on most sportsbooks, Palm believes wagers such as Oklahoma City to cover a -2.5 series spread could quickly become fruitful for bettors. 

Palm explained: “People really didn’t want to bet on the Thunder because of how short a price they quickly became early on in the year, especially when they saw what a dominant team they were going to be and how they were winning games by a record margin of victory. 

“The series handicap is interesting. Oklahoma City -2.5 games or the Thunder to win in five is the popular bet and currently favored at -135, so you could bet that either way also.”

Good to know: Crica Sports will once again be offering its Circa Survivor and Circa Million VII pro football contests for the 2025-2026 NFL season, including its highest payout to date of $21m, as well as the introduction of Circa Grandissimo, a high-stakes survivor-style contest

The Circa executive also shared how despite a market such as New York or Los Angeles not taking part in either matchup, the shift in player interest for sports betting still provides ample opportunity for increased activity. 

“If you would have asked me five years ago what would be the biggest segment of betting or the biggest growth by a percentage of volume, I would have said in-game wagering, but it’s really props,” Palm said. 

“The NBA is one of those leagues that’s heavily driven by player props. Betting over/under points, assists, rebounds, sometimes depending on the player over/under steals. So no matter the teams that are playing, people will still get involved in wagering on individual players, and that’s what the NBA has become more and more about. Wagering on player stats more than actually placing money on either side.”

Palm believes Edmonton is set to take home its first Stanley Cup victory in over 30 years due to the “narrative” around hockey that all great players, including McDavid, eventually reach the pinnacle of the sport’s success. Even while stating he will not be placing any bets himself on the series, Palm noted how futures wagers like Leon Draisaitl to win the Conn Smythe award at +850 or the Thunder to cover a 9.5-point game one spread could prove intriguing for bettors. 

Kirk Geller

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