How to bet on nba basketball

NBA Odds 2022 - How To Bet NBA Games Online

In terms of overall interest at legal US sportsbooks, there’s a clear choice behind the NFL. The NBA is a major revenue generator for sportsbooks. The high-scoring league has tons of diehard fans and a regular season that is jam-packed with games. There’s an even bigger spike in interest when the NBA playoffs roll around.

That sets the stage for the NBA Finals, one of the biggest highlights on the yearly sports calendar. The learning curve of betting on pro basketball is not at all difficult to overcome. Here’s our complete look at how to legally and safely bet on the NBA here in the US.

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Legal NBA odds: moneylines, spreads and totals

The NBA regular season is filled with games, each of which will bring in plenty of betting action. From the time sportsbooks release the lines right up until tipoff, there will be movement in the numbers in response to where the money is flowing.

The constant shifts on the odds board can be tough to keep up with, but we have a solution. Our live odds feed pulls together the latest data from top books in the industry. You can customize it to see the latest moneyline, spread, and over/under odds.

Legal NBA betting apps

Someof the explosive growth of legal sports betting can be tied directly to its variety of flexible options. You can bet online or in-person in a number of states, and also bet on the go via apps. Here’s what you need to know about top legal apps for betting on the NBA in the US.

DraftKings Sportsbook

The DraftKings Sportsbook app has been well-received overall. The platform is among the best in the industry, filled with features while being easy to use at the same time. For the NBA, top features include a solid list of props for each game and available live betting once the games get underway.

DraftKings is available in the following states: AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV & WY

FanDuel Sportsbook

While growing into a titan in the daily fantasy sports industry, FanDuel Sportsbook was known for being user-friendly. It has applied the same tenets to its sportsbook offering. Navigation is smooth, and you can complete functions with ease, from funding your account to placing bets. The same-game parlay feature has been a hit for NBA action.

FanDuel is available in the following states: AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MI, NJ, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV & WY.

BetMGM Sportsbook

BetMGM Sportsbook has been making headway in the sports betting race. The company inked a number of promotional deals and plans to expand into additional states as soon as possible. Its app features a range of markets and bet types. NBA bettors will find that odds and lines stack up well with the competition.

BetMGM is available in the following states: AZ, CO, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MI, MS, NJ, NV, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV & WY

PointsBet Sportsbook

PointsBet sports app has grown tremendously in a short period of time. Since its US debut in New Jersey in January 2019, the company expanded to several other states with more on the horizon. One of the hallmarks has been PointsBetting, a feature that alters how much you can win or lose depending on how right or wrong your bet is.

PointsBet is available in the following states: CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MI, NJ, NY, PA, VA & WV.

BetRivers Sportsbook

A member of the Rush Street Interactive family, BetRivers Sportsbook has gone from a regional player to gaining notice on the national scene. A strong betting platform and solid rewards program has helped with that. NBA bettors will find competitive odds and lines, as well as all of the bet types they want in a simple-to-use platform.

BetRivers is available in the following states: AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, LA, MI, NJ, NY, PA, VA & WV.

Understanding how bonus offers work

As states go online with legal betting, the sportsbooks able to operate there do all they can to attract users. One of the tools at their disposal is bonus offers. These will vary, but it makes sense to shop around while looking for places to play. Some of the most common sign-up offers include:

• Risk-free bets: This offer lets you make your first bet in a risk-free fashion after making a deposit. The maximum amount will vary, but it can be as high as $1,000. If you lose the bet, you’ll receive a refund for the wager amount in site credits.
• Deposit bonuses: This is an opportunity to have your first deposit matched up to a certain amount. Generally, the sportsbook will match a certain percentage up to a maximum dollar amount.
• Free bets: This option gives you free funds to play with. Amounts will vary, but it can sometimes be up to $50. You must play the free bets through on the site.

Beyond initial sign-up offers, operators will also extend promotional offers to existing users. For example, there may be an odds boost on an NBA bet, or bet insurance offer up to a certain amount if you miss a single leg on a parlay.

State-by-state NBA betting rules

The number of states where you can legally bet on the NBA and other sports has surpassed double digits. In the coming months and years, the list will grow even longer. Here’s the current list of where you can safely play.

Individual states set their own rules, but many regulations are common across the industry. Those with close associations to teams and leagues are generally prohibited from betting on their own sports, for example.

NBA game lines explained

For each game on the NBA docket, you’ll find odds and lines at legal sportsbooks. If you click on the NBA or basketball tab, the main betting lobby will be populated with upcoming games. The default listing features the three main bets. Here’s a look at how each one works.

NBA moneyline betting

Choose which side you think will win the game. The direction of the odds will point you to favorites and underdogs: negative for the former and positive for the latter. A large gap between the numbers indicates an anticipated mismatch, while a closer range indicates a toss-up.

Learn more: What is the moneyline?

NBA point spread betting

Sportsbooks set a spread, which is essentially an estimated margin of victory to factor into your decision. You can bet on the favorite minus the points or the underdog plus the number. To win the bet, the side you choose has to cover the spread.

NBA totals betting

This wager is very popular for NBA games. Oddsmakers set a benchmark number of total combined points. You decide if you think the actual total points for the game will be over or under that amount.

For daily NBA slates, you might see odds for the following day’s games the evening before, and they should be out everywhere by the morning of the contest. After release, the odds and lines can shift in response to betting action or new information such as injuries.

It’s a good idea to shop around prior to placing your bets. The numbers won’t always be exactly the same everywhere, and seemingly minor ticks of difference can add up. Some bettors like to wager soon after the initial release, while others prefer waiting until closer to tipoff.

When betting at legal sportsbooks, there are house rules in place for all sports. The standard rules cover the placement and settlement of bets, as well as any circumstances that could impact the proceedings. For the NBA, here are some points to keep in mind.

• The sportsbook will consider all bets action once the game gets underway. They’ll remain live in the event of a slight delay, but a complete cancellation or postponement will lead to voided bets.
• Sportsbooks will remove prop bets on players who fail to suit up or are ruled out prior to a game, and will void and refund any placed bets.
• A spread or total bet that lands exactly on the listed number — i.e., a four-point spread or 210-point total — is a push, with neither side winning and the wagered amount refunded.

Futures, props and live betting odds

The big three pregame bets bring in lots of action for the NBA, but those aren’t the only ways to bet on the game. There’s an active futures market for pro basketball, as well as lots of props for each contest. Once the games start, you can also place live bets as the action plays out.

NBA futures betting

Futures odds for the NBA will appear first in the offseason and are for long-term bets, generally on outcomes of the full season or playoffs.

• NBA Finals winner
• Division and conference winners
• Team regular season win totals
• Clubs to qualify for or miss the playoffs
• MVP, rookie of the year and other award winners
• Season-long leaders and individual player accomplishments

When betting on futures, the goal is to make the right call while also finding the selections you want at the best possible prices. This is another area in which line shopping can be beneficial.

NBA prop betting

You can find available props for upcoming NBA games by clicking on the individual game listing. There’s typically a range of choices for each contest, with options including game, team, and player scenarios.

• Will overtime be necessary — yes/no?
• Which side will lead at halftime — New York Knicks or Denver Nuggets?
• How many total points will Stephen Curry score — over/under 28. 5?

On the player prop side, those with fantasy sports experience often find this to be a natural entry point for crossing into sports betting. Many wagers revolve around specific accomplishments, so projection skills and experience translate well.

NBA live betting

After the games get started, you have the opportunity to live bet as the action plays out. Many legal shops have dedicated sections for current and upcoming live betting offerings.

• Updated game lines: You’ll see updated odds for the moneyline, spread and total based on what’s happening right now.
• Quarters and halves: You can focus on specific segments of the game, such as which team will score more points in the second quarter.
• Player props: There will be a lot of prop-style bets throughout the game, many of which will resemble what you would see prior to tipoff.

Live betting is fast-paced, which makes it easy to get caught up in the action. That being the case, it’s imperative to have a clear budget in place and limits to adhere to whenever you plan on live betting on an NBA game.

Understanding the juice/vig

When placing a bet at a sportsbook, you aren’t receiving the service for free. Sportsbooks charge a vig, short for vigorish, as a fee. It’s often referred to as juice and is an important concept to grasp as it can have a direct impact on your potential returns.

For bets that use a set range of odds, such as the standard -110 on spreads and totals, the amount of the vig is fairly easy to figure. If you place a $100 bet at odds of -110 and go on to win, you’ll get back $90.90. You’ve made a 90.9% profit, while the book has charged a 9.1% vig.

It’s not quite as clear cut in other wagers such as moneylines and props, but the vig is being accounted for by the book. A slight difference in the odds — such as -105 vs. -110 — impacts the amount of the vig, so seasoned bettors are accustomed to shopping around for odds.

To further understand the impact of the vig, consider that bettors who win 51% of their bets at odds of -110 wouldn’t be profitable. In order to completely cover the juice being charged, you would have to win 52.4% of wagers to break even.

Offshore sites and illegal betting

Since the federal legal sports betting barrier came down in May 2018, many states have come online, and there will be more that do so in the future. Despite that, an active black market for wagering remains, including via offshore sites. These are sites that operate outside of US jurisdiction and claim that all is well due to vagueness in certain laws.

Some of these entities have been around for a while, and others have come and gone without notice. There might be offerings that you won’t find at legal sportsbooks, as well, such as props on things that are happening off the court. Most things may appear normal, but the bottom line is that playing on these sites is not a sound idea.

At legal sportsbooks, there are protections in place for consumers and a clear means of resolving any problems that could arise. That’s not the case with offshore operators. Your funds might be at risk by playing there as a result. In the current environment, playing at unregulated betting sites is an unneeded risk.

How the playoffs work

Since the 1984 season, the NBA playoffs have traditionally included 16 teams: eight each from the Eastern and Western Conference. The format was expanded prior to the restarted 2019-20 season to include play-in rounds. That addition is here to stay this season. Here’s how the NBA playoffs will work under those rules.

• The top six teams in each conference — three division winners and next best records — receive automatic bids.
• The final two seeds in each conference will be decided via a play-in tournament. Teams with the seventh- through 10th-best records in the conferences will compete.
• Tiebreakers will determine seeds and qualifications as necessary.
• After the play-in round, the NBA playoffs begin, with four rounds in total.
• The rounds are best-of-seven with winners advancing — i.e., the team to win four games first.
• The final rounds on both sides of the bracket are the conference championships, with winners advancing to the NBA Finals.

While all NBA games attract plenty of betting action, it’s the top matchups such as nationally televised affairs that bring in the most volume during the regular season. Once the postseason rolls around, all contests are heavily bet.

Betting on the NBA Finals

The NBA Finals pit the winners of the two conferences in a best-of-seven series to determine a champion. It’s the signature event of the NBA season, and also the star attraction from a betting perspective. You can bet on the NBA Finals in several ways. Here are some of the top options:

• Moneyline, spreads and totals for each game.
• Bet on the overall winner.
• Wager on which player will be named MVP.

For each game throughout the series, there will also be plenty of props to choose from. After the games tip off, you can place live bets in real time. The games are an active time for legal sportsbooks, and we can assume it will become even more intense as additional states legalize wagering.

The NBA’s shift to legal sports betting

In the days when legal sports betting was off the table outside of Nevada, the NBA followed the same stance as other sports. The league kept its distance and expected its players and teams to do the same. This was especially true back in 2007 after a controversy erupted with an NBA referee and gambling.

Following a landmark Supreme Court ruling of 2018 that shifted the legality question into the hands of the individual states, the NBA began to soften its public stance. Since then, the league has signed a number of sponsorship deals with sports betting operators, and it has permitted its teams to do the same.

In the new legal environment, business has been booming on the state level. The NBA has been one of the top attractions. Moving forward, it’s reasonable to expect that the league’s relationship with legalized betting will continue to grow.

League/team partnerships

Since 2018, the NBA has inked deals with a number of gambling companies, including MGM Resorts International, DraftKings and FanDuel. Individual teams can sign their own sponsorship deals, as well, and many have done just that.

Team	Sportsbook	Deal Highlights
Detroit Pistons	DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet, BetRivers	All operators gain access to various promotional and advertising opportunities.
Denver Nuggets	PointsBet	Named official betting partner on team media outlets, branding throughout the arena.
Indiana Pacers	DraftKings, PointsBet	DraftKings gets branding in the arena and a postgame presence. PointsBet gets signage and special sign-up offers.
Memphis Grizzlies	FanDuel	Marketing in the arena, access to marks and logos, contest integration in game telecasts.
New York Knicks	DraftKings, FanDuel	Arena signage and various other promotional and advertising opportunities.
Philadelphia 76ers	BetMGM, DraftKings, Fox Bet	BetMGM gets signage and a branded game. DraftKings gets marks, logos and other opportunities. Fox Bet gets branding across 76ers assets.
Washington Wizards	William Hill	Exclusive sports betting partner of the team with access to various marketing and promotional opportunities.

As more markets open, partnership deals with local teams are a promotional opportunity for sportsbooks. We’re expecting to see more deals with NBA teams and sports betting companies in the future as additional states legalize sports betting.

How To Bet On Basketball

Learn NBA moneylines, point spreads, totals, parlays, and more in this comprehensive NBA betting guide.

The NBA is one of the most fun leagues to bet on, with an up-and-down pace and unrivaled intensity on every shot. It's a sport where you can't look away from the TV and is enticing for bettors across the globe. 

There's no shortage of basketball betting options during the NBA schedule. 

Multiple matchups are on the board, allowing bettors to wager on their favorite teams as well as bet on the big games on TV each night.

Basketball betting lines explained

Like most major sports, there are endless ways to wager on basketball. The most popular forms of basketball betting are the moneyline, point spread, and Over/Under totals.

Moneyline

NBA moneyline odds ask bettors to pick the winner of the game. Based on the strength of the teams and other factors, oddsmakers calculate the implied probability of victory for both sides and set moneyline odds for each team.

Point spread

NBA point spreads level the competition between two teams, with oddsmakers setting a handicap in points. One team is the point spread favorite – and has to win by more than the spread – while the other will be pegged as the point spread underdog – having to win outright or lose by less than the spread.

Over/Under

NBA Over/Under totals are the estimated total number of points scored by both teams in a game. Bettors wager on whether the final score will go Over or Under that expected tally.

Moneylines: Pick the winner of an NBA game

Betting basketball moneylines is the most straightforward and basic betting market available, simply allowing you to bet on which team you think will win the game.

Sportsbooks generate moneyline odds for a game based on each team's implied probability of winning. Basketball teams are not always evenly matched, and the moneyline odds will reflect those chances of victory. You can use our odds converter and moneyline calculator to see a team's implied probability based on their odds.

Sportsbooks most often display moneyline odds in hundreds (American odds). American odds show one team set as the favorite (indicated by a negative value) and one team designated as the underdog (positive value).

For example, the Los Angeles Lakers are -130 moneyline favorites versus the Toronto Raptors, the +110 moneyline underdogs.

Because the Lakers are the stronger team (56.52 percent chance of winning), for every $10 you wish to win betting on Los Angeles, you must risk $13 ($130 bet will win $100). Since the Raptors are the weaker team (47.62 percent implied probability), you can win $11 for every $10 risked ($100 bet will win $110).

Point spread: Betting the spread with basketball

The point spread is the preferred odds market for many basketball bettors because it levels the difference in skill between the two teams. When calculating the perceived point spread between the two sides, oddsmakers analyze both teams and consider the venue, current form, and any critical injuries.

The negative value indicates a point spread favorite, and that team must win the game by more than that spread to win for bettors. The underdog has a positive value in front of its point spread. Underdogs can either win outright or lose by less than that spread to generate winning bets.

For example, the Los Angeles Lakers are -2.5 point spread favorites hosting the +2.5 underdog Toronto Raptors. For the Lakers to cover the spread, they must win the game by three points or more. For the Raptors to cover the spread, they must either win the game outright or lose by two points or less.

Point spreads always have a second set of odds with them, known as the vig or the juice. They are the cost of placing a bet. Most point spreads have a vig of -110; to win $100, you need to risk $110. However, vig can be adjusted depending on current betting action and can vary from book to book.

Over/Under: Betting on basketball point totals or season win totals

Another popular way to wager on basketball is via the Over/Under odds, also known as the total.

Oddsmakers measure the matchup between two teams, looking at both offensive and defensive production, and set an expected total number of points scored by both sides for the game. Once a sportsbook sets that total, bettors can wager if the final score will go Over or Under that number.

For example, the Over/Under total between the Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors is 222.5 points.

A bet on the Over requires the game's final score to total 223 points or more to win, while a bet on the Under needs 222 or fewer points.

Like point spreads, both sides of the total – Over and Under – have attached vig, often set at -110. This value can adjust to betting action and may vary from book to book.

Parlays: Combine NBA bets for bigger payouts

Parlays allow you to risk a smaller amount to win a bigger payout but carry a higher risk. NBA parlays require you to tie two or more bets together. 

The more bets added to the parlay, the bigger the potential payout and the bigger the risk, as all bets in the parlay must win for the entire parlay to pay out.

The majority of parlays will end up with a line at plus money. Each fixture within a parlay is considered a "leg." Most books will allow anywhere from 2-12 games in an NBA parlay. 

If you're solely betting the Milwaukee Bucks, you're getting them at -120. By parlaying the Bucks with the Warriors at +140, the bet turns into plus money. Now the parlay is listed at +340 odds.

Prop bets: Betting on player performance and more

Prop bets are a rapidly growing way to bet on basketball, allowing you to wager on different aspects of the game – not just the final score.  

NBA prop bets can focus on game events as well as a team's performance and individual player performances. Examples of game and NBA player props odds include betting on the first team to 15 points, a team's total three-pointers made, or a player's combined points, rebounds, and assists.

Listed below are Kevin Durant's and James Harden's over/under for total points scored in a single game. You must pick whether or not either player scores more than or less than the designated number set by the sportsbook. In this case, the Over/Under are both listed at -120, meaning the sportsbook favors neither scenario.

There's no way this bet can be a push because of the half-point. If the game goes into overtime, the prop still counts as well.  

Futures: Win totals, MVP, and NBA Championship Odds

Futures odds are long-running betting markets focused on overall results for a team or player, such as odds to win the NBA Finals and the player to be named NBA MVP. Another popular form of futures is season win totals, in which you can bet on whether a team will go Over or Under their set total of wins for the year.

These odds often open before a season begins and will take bets throughout the schedule, adjusting to results and injuries, until the market is decided.

Below are the odds of winning the NBA Finals. Odds will come out as early as the end of the season prior, and can usually be wagered on into the final round of the postseason. In this example, you can see that Brooklyn is favored to win the Finals at +250, with the Lakers having the second-best odds at +400. These types of lines will fluctuate and change throughout the NBA season depending on team performance, injuries, and roster transactions. 

Basketball betting tips and strategies

Keep these basketball betting strategies in mind when looking to handicap NBA odds.  

Shop for the best odds

When betting, it's always good to get the best bang for your buck. Line shopping is something all the experts do and takes very little time. If you want to bet the Lakers at -140 at one book, but they're -125 elsewhere, there is a ton of value on the latter. Missing out on the best lines long-term will affect your bankroll, especially if you're betting larger sums of money. 

You can use our odds comparison tool to find the best lines for each game and a huge variety of online sportsbooks.

Count on current form

Don't get caught up looking at the standings when betting on the NBA. Pay more attention to current form, weighing the past three games more attentively.

Even the best teams can go through slumps, and losing teams can suddenly find their form. Find out what's behind those recent results and if they'll carry over into the game you want to bet.

Mind the matchups

Every team has its strengths and weaknesses. When searching for the best NBA bets, look closely at how those attributes match up against that day's opponent using our NBA scores and matchups page. 

If a team struggles to rebound and takes on a foe with a bigger, more potent frontcourt that dominates the glass, make sure you account for that and bet accordingly.

Basketball is a game of runs, and these matchups and mismatches often fuel those deciding swings.

Injuries and off nights

The NBA schedule is a grind, and injuries will play a huge role in a team's success along the way. If you're looking to bet on a side, comb through the injury report and see which key contributors are out of action. Also, try and find out which players could be resting – a recent wrinkle to betting the NBA, particularly on back-to-backs.

Big-name stars' status will carry the most impact on the NBA odds. Still, there is an edge in finding undervalued injuries and how those could impact a team's performance. A missing backup point guard or a sidelined wing defender may not move the odds but will have a say in the final score.

Follow the line movement

As with all sports wagering, NBA betting is often not about betting the best team but rather the best number.

Point spreads, moneylines, and totals will constantly adjust to action and injury news. Make sure you monitor the opening NBA odds and where they're moving to pinpoint the best time to place your bet.

Dive into derivatives

NBA betting odds can be chopped up into halves and quarters, setting sides and totals for different segments of the game. These derivative odds can hold added value not found in the full-game lines as teams present tendencies and trends that fly under the radar of oddsmakers.

Some teams are slow starters and find their form in the second half, making them an excellent bet to fade with the first-half spreads. Others come out firing quickly on offense in the first quarter, adding value to the Over in the opening frame. Dive into the analytic splits to uncover the best derivative bets on the board.  

Scout the schedule

The calendar can sometimes dictate a team's performance on the court, depending on rest spots, travel, and motivation. Situational betting – also known as spot bets – is a valuable tool to find underlying value betting on or against a team.

Chunks of the schedule could have a team playing multiple games in a short window, leaving them running on empty for the final outings of that stretch. The schedule can also allot an extended break from the action, allowing players and coaches to adjust their game plan and get injured bodies back. And as always, be mindful of "letdown" and "lookahead" spots around important matchups and big wins.

Handicapping refs

An underutilized method of handicapping basketball odds is to dissect the guys blowing the whistle. Referees significantly impact games' outcomes, specifically the Over/Under totals. Covers is one of the rare sources of unique betting data for every NBA referee assignment.

You can use this data to measure a team's recent betting results when a particular ref is part of the officiating crew. Or, you can follow referees with one-sided tendencies to the Over and Under, as some refs will call more fouls than others. Those whistles result in foul shots, which means teams are scoring points with the clock stopped – a big boost for Over backers.

How to make an NBA bet 

1

Our NBA scores and matchup page lists the day's games and upcoming days, but you can also sort by spread, total size, and line movement. 

Each game gives a snapshot of the opening odds, current odds, team records straight up and against the spread, as well as the percentage of picks calculated by our Covers Consensus. 

From there, you can dive deep into our detailed matchup pages for each game. Track line history, view the most popular spread and total picks and analyze unique betting trends for every team.

2

Making intelligent bets on NBA basketball isn't always about betting the best team, but betting the best odds.  

Find current spreads, totals, and moneylines for every NBA game from the top legal sportsbooks in your area using our odds comparison tool. Compare across the industry and shop for the best odds for your NBA bets.

3

Signing up for a new sportsbook is simply a few clicks away. Once you find a legal book in your area, sign up for an account and quickly deposit using various banking methods, such as credit cards and e-transfers. Most sportsbooks also offer great bonuses and sign-up promotions to new users.

4

After researching your best NBA picks on Covers.com, you can place those bets at the sportsbook by selecting NBA basketball from their menu and searching for the game or market you want to bet. 

From there, select the wager to add it to your bet card and enter the amount of money you wish to risk. After that, click submit, and you'll get a receipt or e-ticket for that bet, showing you the odds you bet and the amount you can win.

Today's NBA odds

Here are the current NBA odds for today's biggest games:

Best basketball sportsbooks for beginners

Covers’ team of betting experts have thoroughly researched the internet’s vast collection of online sportsbooks so you don’t have to. Here are the best basketball betting sites so you can get your NBA betting underway.

These sportsbooks are licensed and trusted sites and offer great sign-up bonuses, plenty of convenient and quick banking options, and great odds for rookie bettors.

NBA betting forum

Want to learn more about NBA betting and meet a large, knowledgeable community? Check out Covers’ NBA betting forum to get picks, ask questions, and learn from experienced sports bettors.

Smart NBA betting strategies

10 Winning Tips for Betting NBA Basketball Odds

Strategies to Help You Handicap NBA Betting Odds

Basketball betting FAQs

There are a number of online sportsbooks where you can bet on the NBA. Check our betting sites reviews for the best legal online sportsbook options in your region.

One team will be set as the point spread favorite and must win the game by more than the designated number of points. The other is the point spread underdog and must win outright or lose by less than that number of points.

All sportsbooks in Las Vegas will offer markets for NBA, college basketball, and WNBA. So simply find a sportsbook near you, head to the counter, and make your bet.

Yes. Almost all sportsbooks offer WNBA odds.

A 3x2 bet in basketball means a three-bet parlay in which at least two of the picks must be correct for you to get a payout. If you get all three correct, the amount of the winnings would be larger.

In the NBA, +/- or Plus/Minus often refers to the point differential when a player or team is on the floor. Don't confuse Plus/Minus with American odds, which use positive and negative numbers to display betting odds. Positive numbers indicate underdogs (+110). The lower the number, the bigger the betting favorite, indicating a negative number (-110).

A draw in basketball betting is an option when wagering on the three-way line. You have three choices: Home, Draw, or Away. If you're betting a draw, you're betting on a tie at the end of regulation.

You can bet on the NBA at nearly any online sportsbook across the globe. It is among the most popular sports leagues for bettors.

strategy and system tips - how to win more often

Basketball (along with baseball and hockey) is one of the most popular sports in North America, and basketball betting takes a serious place in the total amount of sports betting. At the same time, the point here is not only (and even not so much) that it is in North America that the matches of the strongest basketball league in the world take place - the point is the number of equiprobable outcomes that the basketball line offers. Also on our site you will find bookmakers for betting on basketball.

1. Benefits of betting on basketball
2. Disadvantages of betting on basketball
3. Types of bets
   1. Main Outcomes
   2. handicap
   3. Total
      1. Basketball total betting strategy
   4. Quarter Basketball Betting
      1. Quarterly Basketball Betting Strategy
4. Pre-match analytics
5. Where to bet on basketball?

The vast majority of professional players and cappers, of which there are many in America, play just such “half-way” outcomes in order to get the most even profit over a long distance. In any basketball game, there are at least two equally likely events that you can bet on - handicap and total. It is thanks to this property that basketball has become one of the most popular objects for large bets.

Basketball bookmakers

Benefits of betting on basketball

A large number of equally likely events . As mentioned above, basketball is one of the most suitable sports for those who like to bet on equally likely events.

High NBA betting limits. The vast majority of big cappers make bets on the NBA, including the lion's share of US players who traditionally make big bets. In pursuit of this traffic, the best bookmakers are trying to create the most comfortable conditions for basketball betters by offering generous betting limits on the main outcomes, as well as handicap and total. True, this feature is more characteristic of large Western bookmakers. Domestic gambling establishments most often offer limits for NBA matches no higher than those given for the same Euroleague and the Russian Championship.

Low NBA margins. All the same competition between bookmakers in the struggle for the biggest players has led to the fact that in almost all leading gambling establishments in the world the margin for NBA matches is less than for all other competitions and sports offered in the line.

Regularity of games. The fact that most basketball teams play between two and four games a week makes this sport the most attractive for statistics lovers in calculations - the sample of analyzed NBA matches is very solid and allows you to make fairly accurate predictions. In addition, the NBA is often the only competition that can be bet on any day, including holidays - even on December 31 and January 1, at least two or three matches are invariably played in this league.

Disadvantages of betting on basketball

Low limits and odds for European competitions. Unlike NBA matches, European Cups and European Championship matches usually offer very modest upper betting limits; the odds are also generally 3-5 points lower than the NBA odds. All this makes betting on the same Euroleague not the most profitable business.

Rating of bookmakers by odds

You can find out which Russian bookmakers offer the best basketball odds on Legalbet in the Odds Rating (“Basketball” tab). Our experts have calculated the margins of all bookmakers based on real events in their lines and based on these calculations sorted the companies into categories in order to identify the best offers for fans of basketball betting.

Weak painting. The vast majority of bookmakers offer a weak list of basketball matches. Many are completely limited to handicap, total and main outcomes. Despite the fact that such painting is enough for professionals, for many players who are used to betting on football, it may seem very meager.

Types of bets

Main outcomes

The number of main outcomes offered for a basketball match depends on which bookmaker you play at. Some gambling establishments open three main outcomes: W1, X and W2, adding a win including overtime to the list, while others offer only two outcomes - W1 and W2 (this means that in case of a draw, the winner will be determined in overtime).

Before you start betting on basketball, it is very important to clarify which positions in a given gambling establishment take into account OT and which do not, because it often happens that the handicap with the total is calculated according to one rules, and the main outcomes are calculated according to others.

Handicap

Handicap in basketball shows the final score difference in favor of one of the teams. You are required to guess if it will be more or less than the specified value. For example, if you bet on a team with a handicap of -5.5, you need it to win at least 6 points. If you bet on it with a handicap of +5.5, you would be rooting for this team to lose no more than 5 points. The handicap in basketball is not much different from the handicap in other sports, and most bookmakers allow you to buy more handicaps, while most often the coefficient drops by 8-10 points for each point bought. You can usually buy in addition from 4 to 12 points (each office determines the exact value for itself).

Total

Total is a type of bet in which you have to predict whether the final result of the game will be more or less than the proposed value. Almost always, the coefficients for "more" and "less" are the same. Totals, as well as odds, can be bought in addition, both up and down. The dynamics of odds changes in this case is most often similar to the dynamics of changes in quotes for a handicap.

Please note! Bookmakers accept bets on both the total in regular time of the match and the total with overtime in basketball, and it is important to understand that when calculating these bets, different time periods of the game will be taken into account. The calculation of the total in basketball in regular time is based on the results of 4 quarters.

Basketball total betting strategy

Basketball total betting strategy seems simple at first glance. It is enough to look at the previous results of the teams and analyze how many points they score per game. However, not everything is so simple: anything can happen in one particular match, and several factors can affect the team's game at once: from the psychological state of the players to their physical condition.

Quarter basketball betting

This type of bet is very popular among those who like to bet on basketball. A quarter in basketball is a mini-match. The head coach uses different tactics, simulated combinations, there can be constant replacements of athletes on the court. Player fatigue accumulated over the previous quarters also affects the result. Often in betting lines you can see a bet not only on the outcome, handicap and total of each quarter, but also on a comparison of the performance of the quarters: more points scored, more fouls committed, etc.

Basketball betting strategy by quarters

Basketball by quarters strategy also has its own peculiarities. Here you need to have an idea how the team plays in the first half of the game, and how in the second, what are the features and differences in the team's actions in different quarters. In the case of betting on quarters, you should keep a closer eye on what happened on the court in the previous quarter.

Other offers. In addition to the standard set of positions, the vast majority of bookmakers include an additional painting in their line. An additional list can offer a variety of betting options: on the handicap and total of each quarter, on the individual totals of the teams, on the individual totals of the leading basketball players, on the presence or absence of overtime, etc. There is also a bet under the conditional name "even-odd". Basketball is a game that scores a lot of points. And the score at the end of the meeting or quarter will definitely be even or odd. Bookmakers also offer to bet on this. This type of bet, by the way, is the purest “guessing game” and does not require any knowledge of the game from the player.

Pre-match analytics

Pre-match analytics of basketball matches is somewhat simpler than debriefing in football matches, since the lineups in basketball teams are 2-3 times smaller, and teams play twice as often, so there is always plenty of information about opponents. Some difficulty is represented only by a small number of broadcasts of basketball competitions in the post-Soviet expanses. However, the availability of high-speed Internet fully compensates for this small drawback. So, what does basketball match analytics include?

• Opponents current kit . The specificity of basketball lies in the fact that there are traditionally much fewer game recessions than, for example, in tennis and football, and therefore it becomes much easier to track the current form. It also helps that each team plays 2-3 matches a week, which means that it is possible to get the latest information about their current level and fitness.

Don't forget to check the results of the last 5-6 matches of each team. Separately, pay attention to the statistics of home and away matches: basketball is a sport in which the home court factor is extremely important, and sometimes even decisive, so when analyzing statistics, evaluate home and away matches separately.

• Head-to-head history . Let's not forget about the history of rivalry confrontation. It often happens that the indicators of the last three or four face-to-face meetings of teams can tell you much more than dozens of live matches watched with their participation. Again, do not forget that in basketball, the statistics of home and away matches differ significantly, and therefore it is worth evaluating it differently.
• Tournament position and motivation. And, of course, we could not forget about such a key factor as motivation - in such a hard and strong-willed sport as basketball, motivation is of particular importance. Be sure to evaluate who needs what from the upcoming match and, based on this information, try to adjust your forecast so that you do not bet on a team that no longer needs anything against an over-motivated opponent.
• List of injured and disqualified. With basketball's busy schedule, it's no surprise that injuries and suspensions are common in the sport. In order to be sure that your bet is considered, you should definitely monitor the press regularly to keep abreast of any personnel changes in the composition of each team.

During major basketball tournaments on the Legalbet website, you can get acquainted with the expectations of the forecasters of our website, find out which basketball bets they recommend choosing, as well as get acquainted with their arguments in favor of one or another option.

• Basketball predictions at Legalbet

Where to bet on basketball?

Modern bookmakers try to offer players the widest possible line of basketball. Bets on matches of the NBA, VTB United League, Euroleague, as well as the World and European Championships can be made at absolutely any legal bookmaker in Russia.

The bookmaker's office "1xBet" offers the most complete list. On the site of this bookmaker, in the left menu, you can click on the sport, and this will open all the championships available for betting. After selecting a specific match, the entire list for the match will appear in the center of the screen. Also, BC "1xBet" offers a wide variety of live basketball bets, in which the bettor, using various strategies, can try his luck. A good painting for basketball is also offered on the official websites of the online bookmakers Paribet and Winline.

• View basketball bets on the 1xBet website
• View Basketball Betting on Winline
• View basketball bets on Paribet website

Read also:

• NBA betting
• Basketball World Cup Betting
• Euroleague betting
• Bets on VTB United League

Subscribe to new bookmaker bonuses

Material prepared:

Alexander Noskov

Legalbet editor

NBA bets, how to choose a strategy, best odds, types of basketball bets

Photo by Championat. com.

Basketball consistently ranks among the top five most popular sports among bettors. Still, because this is the most dynamic ball game! And the NBA is rightfully considered the best league in the world by a wide margin. Below, we will break down the basics of NBA analysis, types of bets, important distinguishing features and basic strategies.

Betting on the NBA: features and benefits

Russian basketball players have not played in the NBA for several years, but the interest of betting fans in the league does not weaken. This is largely due to the rules and features of the game, which compare favorably with football or, say, hockey.

One of the main trump cards is the number of playing segments. As you know, there are only two of them in football - halves last 45 minutes. Ice hockey has three periods of 20 minutes. Four quarters are played in professional basketball, although their length varies. In Europe, the length is 10 minutes, while in the US and Asia it is 12 minutes each.

This gives more options for betting: on quarters, halves and, of course, the whole game. It's no surprise that basketball is a hugely popular live game. Many segments with a short duration make it possible to get a win relatively quickly. Or play it right away.

Typically, a quarter in the NBA takes about 15-20 minutes. Exceptions are endings with a lot of timeouts. For comparison, a period in hockey with all stops takes 33-37 minutes, and a half in football takes at least 45.

The second important advantage of the NBA is a huge number of statistical indicators. Both team and individual. Points, rebounds, assists, steals, losses, block shots, fouls, three-pointers. In less important basketball leagues, not all of these markets can be bet on, but the NBA is a completely different matter. The choice is colossal.

Third - a huge amount of statistics in the public domain. Personal and team, normal and advanced. If in football or other team sports it is difficult to assess the degree of influence of a particular performer on the game with the help of numbers, then in the NBA it is enough to look at the statistics. It appears in real time. Very comfortably. And good for betting.

Fourth - the calendar and a huge number of matches. No windows for national teams and week-long pauses between games, which even top clubs sometimes have. In the NBA regular season alone, teams play 82 games each (less in shortened seasons, but not by much). Mostly they play every other day, and it is extremely rare to have more than two days to rest. There are 30 teams in the league, so almost every day there are five to ten meetings.

The fifth is entertainment. Even in an NBA underdog game, there are plenty of highlights. Teams average about 100 possessions per game, and the highest level of skill and athleticism guarantees an abundance of spectacular shots from above. In football and hockey, goals sometimes have to wait a very long time even in top games. In the NBA, the ball doesn't get stuck in midfield and no one plays for time.

Sixth - draws. There are no peaceful outcomes in basketball; in case of a draw, the opponents play a five-minute overtime. And so on until the winner is determined. Of course, with high performance, the probability of a draw in regular time is small. And there are no endless overtimes (NHL and KHL playoffs, decisive matches of major international hockey tournaments) and extra time (at least two halves of 15 minutes each and a penalty shoot-out in football) do not happen here. Everything will be decided quickly, you won't have to wait.

Photo by Championat.com.

Popular types of NBA bets

Basketball features lead to a huge number of types of bets. Let's highlight the top five.

1. Total bets Before the start of the match, at least three totals with a different number of points are offered in the line. Totals are available for the whole game, half and every quarter. The case is not limited to classic options for more / less than a specific performance bar. For example, you can put on the interval. Let's say 19 will be scored in the match0-200 points. Or the fact that in each segment (quarter or half) more than a certain amount will be collected. For example, a total over 48.5 points in all quarters will play if the teams score at least 49 points in total in each segment.

2. Bets on the outcome. This is a bet on the winner of the meeting based on the results of regular time or taking into account overtime. You can also bet on the result of a quarter or a half.

3. Handicap bets. In basketball matches of the leading leagues, bookmakers offer several lines with different handicaps. Due to the high performance in the NBA, handicap values ​​can vary greatly. Let's say, depending on the tournament position and the current state of the teams before the start of the match, the bookmaker can offer both (-1. 5 points) for one of the sides, and (-31.5).

4. Bets on comparison of playing segments. Here the player can compare the performance of one of the clubs, as well as the total score of the match. The bookmaker offers to guess in which quarter (or half) the specified indicator will be higher compared to the other quarter. The choice of the most productive quarter (half) of the match is also popular. For example, the first half will be more productive than the second, and the third quarter will be the most productive during the meeting.

5. Bets on individual statistics. You can choose the performance of a particular player in one of the statistical components or their sum. For example, total over 18.5 points, total under 2.5 three-point hits or total under 7.5 rebounds. It is also popular to bet on comparisons of player statistics.

How to choose a match to bet in the NBA: potential threats and factors

There are several factors to consider when betting on the NBA.

• Team calendar. In the NBA, situations are common when one of the parties has to play paired games, that is, go to the court for two days in a row (back-to-back). Quite often one of the matches is home and the other is away. Of course, the flight and the minimum time for rest reduces the chances of winning. Coaches try to relieve the leaders or even give them rest. In such a situation, experienced players catch high odds and bet on outsiders.

• Injuries. In the NBA, it is much easier to follow the news about the condition of the players than in football. They don’t make secrets out of this, you can find out information even in the clubs’ official social media accounts. As a rule, basketball players with injuries are assigned statuses before each game: pass, participation is unlikely, questionable, participation is likely to play.

• Transitions. The vast majority of trades in the NBA are made before the deadline, which occurs in the second half of the season. After that, clubs can sign free agents and bought out players for some time. However, some deals happen in the first part of the season and can affect the balance of power.

Common mistakes in NBA betting and how to avoid them

The league has a floor and a salary cap, so the overall level of competition is quite high. The winning streak of even the strongest teams in recent years rarely lasts more than 10-12 meetings.

In recent years, the concept of load-management, that is, load distribution, has become entrenched in the NBA. There are many matches in the regular season, which reduces the significance of each game. Teams have a tight schedule. Therefore, some stars may miss individual meetings even in the absence of health problems. The league has introduced fines, but in paired meetings, coaches can save key players.

It is dangerous to blindly bet on favorites. The value of the regular season is declining, title contenders rarely give their best in defense. According to statistics, about 30% of meetings end in the victory of outsiders. Therefore, collecting an express train of four or five events for the victory of the leading clubs in the league is not the best idea. At least in the regular season. One of them will surely fail.

Less than 60% of matches end in favor of the owners of the parquet, so you should not overestimate the importance of the site and constantly bet on P1 either. The margin of bookmakers at a distance will drive the player into the red.

Photo by Championat.com.

NBA Betting Strategies: Tips and Tricks

Basketball betting has similarities to other team sports. The NBA attracts players with frequent matches and a large number of betting options. It is not surprising that bookmakers carefully think over the lines, closely follow the news and make almost no mistakes. Still, there are a few tricks.

• Bets against the favourite. As we have already found out, long winning streaks in the NBA are rare due to the high level of competition and the density of the calendar. Experienced players wait until one of the clubs wins several times in a row, and then bet against it according to the catch-up strategy. Here it is important to clearly calculate your strength so that the size of the bank is enough for ultimate success.

• Overtime bets. According to statistics, about 7-9% of NBA games end in a draw in regular time. The exact figure varies from season to season. At the same time, the coefficient for overtime in the pre-match often approaches 20.0. If one of the teams hasn't gone into extra time for a long time, you can safely catch a draw in one of the next meetings with its participation.

• The zigzag theory can work. The system consists in betting on the team that lost to the outsider in the previous meeting. As a rule, playoff-level clubs avoid bad stretches and respond well to defeats from weak opponents.

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