Welcome to this ultimate guide to basketball betting. Perfect for anyone looking for a superior way to bet on the NBA, college basketball or any other global basketball league.
You’ll get to see the basics of basketball betting and we’ll point out some of the best online bookmakers too. Not only that, but you’ll learn how to pick up some awesome promo codes to get extra credit to bet with, and we’ll even give you some tips that you can use for NBA betting and a whole lot more.
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For many people betting on basketball is similar to any other kind of sports betting. This means that you could make a prediction on who would win a game in something like college basketball or the NBA playoffs and you’d back this prediction with a real money bet on the odds offered at sports betting sites. If your prediction was correct, you’d win back your stake along with extra returns that are determined by the odds. If your prediction was wrong, you’d simply lose your stake. Here’s a rundown of how it works:
While spread betting is the most popular way to wager on basketball, this isn’t a rule written in stone. Basketball betting sites offer plenty of betting types for you to choose from, with some prime examples being:
| Basketball betting type | Key details to remember |
|---|---|
| Spread betting | Spread betting is when you try to get more equal odds by handicapping the outright favourite team in a particular basketball match-up. This is achieved by assigning a specific number of points that a team must win by for your wager to settle as a winner. |
| Moneyline betting | These are simply bets on who will win a particular basketball game. |
| Totals betting | If you know your NBA teams, placing totals wagers ups the ante nicely. This is when you predict the total points scored over the course of a game, with over or under rules in effect. |
| Prop betting | This is when you wager on in-game elements unrelated to the final outcome – whether it’s the player to score the next triple-double or the side that makes the most assists. |
| Parlay betting | Here, the objective is to combine a range of winning picks on a single bet slip. You only win if all bets settle as winners, so it’s not for rookie bettors. |
| Futures betting | Predict that the Pacers could scoop the NBA trophy? Maybe you think Curry is the odds-on favourite to be this season’s best point guard? Futures betting is all about playing the long game. |
| Live betting | Live betting is rapidly becoming the most popular way to bet on basketball. Here, you’re placing live bets after the game has actually begun. |
| First and second-half betting | First and second-half basketball betting is where pre-match and live betting meet. Here, you can predict what you think will happen in the first and second half of a basketball game. |
While plenty of people enjoy betting on tournaments like the Euroleague, Spain’s Liga ACB or even Australia’s NBL, here are some of the big-name tournaments and events to look out for on leading basketball betting sites.
It’s important to understand that each country, state, province and territory will have its own laws regarding sports betting. This means that while something like NBA betting might be perfectly legal in one country, the opposite could be true just over the border.
So be sure to check what the sports betting laws are in your country before you rush to make your prop bets. Plus remember to only ever sign up to fully licensed and regulated betting sites to ensure that you get a safe way to bet on pro and college basketball.
While NBA betting is a whole lot of fun, it’s important to get a balanced view of this activity. So here are the main pros and cons of betting on basketball:
Just about anyone can enjoy some good fortune when betting on something like the NBA playoffs. However, if you want to consistently raise your game, you’ll need to keep the following tips in mind:
It’s smart to shop around to see who has the best betting odds for the game you are betting on. After all, even the slightest difference in the betting odds for something like the NBA Championship can have a major impact on your potential returns.
Don’t feel like you have to stick with money lines or spread bets when betting on NBA or college basketball. Instead try different things like prop bets where you might find extra value in the betting odds.
It doesn’t matter whether you are betting on college basketball or the NBA playoffs, as it gets even more fun when you do it live. After al,,
Most sports betting bonuses should be usable on anything from the NBA Championship to college basketball. So make good use of these deals, but remember to pay attention to the terms and conditions first.
While NBA betting is fun, it’s important that you don’t get carried away with your bets. So be sure to apply limits in how long you spend sports betting to make sure that it stays under control.
While most online bookmakers will let you bet on things like the NBA playoffs and college basketball, some of these sites are definitely better than others. So here are the key features that we look for in all good NBA betting sites:
This is the most important factor to consider when looking for basketball betting sites. Some NBA betting sites only feature the minimum amount of basketball fixtures while others specialise in covering the lot, even down to the collegiate level.
Comparing basketball betting odds is essential before you commit to a particular brand, as the numbers do differ depending on where you bet. As mentioned, some sports betting sites specialise in basketball and so tend to deliver the best odds.
Welcome deals can certainly sweeten the deal when signing up for a new sportsbook. Better still is if those betting sites also offer basketball-specific promotions and deals; particularly around those NBA Playoffs.
NBA betting gets even more enjoyable when you do it live. After all, the odds will be changing in real-time and it means that you can stay fully entertained all the way through the game. Plus some betting sites even throw in free live streaming to add even more fun.
Another non-negotiable feature has to be mobile basketball betting. Some of the best sports betting apps excel in the basketball arena, giving you the ability to make in-game bets in the palm of your hand.
We’ve shown you that there are plenty of excellent online bookmakers out there who give you a superior way to enjoy NBA betting or making bets on college basketball or a variety of global basketball competitions.
Not only will you get a massive range of prop bets at these sites, but you should enjoy competitive odds and no shortage of special offers too. So make sure that you sign up to one of these sites, make your prop bets and enjoy the best in NBA betting.
Yes, you can, provided that you live in the right location. Lots of countries currently accept online basketball wagers, while others prohibit real-money sports betting. Always check the rules for the individual sportsbook you’re interested in, too, as the legality of different bookmakers is decided on a country-by-country or even state-by-state basis.
Most big-name sportsbooks offer basketball betting markets, particularly NBA and NCAA fixtures. We’ve handpicked a selection of brands that we think give you a superior way to bet, so check out the banners around this page for the top brands and their current welcome bonuses.
Spread betting is by far the most popular type of basketball bet, followed closely by moneyline. With some sizeable disparities existing between top basketball teams, even in the NBA, spread betting is favoured as the best way to level the playing field and ensure more competitive odds – regardless of the team you’re backing.
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