A guide to betting on the NBA
Ever since the inception of the NBA back in 1949, basketball has become one of the most watched and loved sports not just in America but all around the world.
Over the years, the sport has been blessed with some of the best athletes in the world, and the likes of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson are all rightly hailed as some of the best athletes in American history.
With the NBA proving to be big business, it isn’t surprising that the league attracts millions of dollars in daily betting wagers. With most of the best betting sites in the world offering a huge range of different markets, whether you are a new or seasoned basketball bettor, there is an NBA bet to suit every kind of bettor.
We love the NBA and have a wealth of experience in placing NBA bets. In this article, we will talk you through everything you need to know about NBA betting, from the different pros and cons to the range of bets that can be placed; this guide should reveal how easy it can be to place NBA bets.
How to bet on the NBA
There are plenty of online bookmakers that run deep and comprehensive NBA markets and NBA odds.
The NBA will lead the way when it comes to the basketball markets on offer, and usually, every match in both the regular and postseason will be covered.
As well as placing traditional moneyline bets, spread and prop bets can also be placed.
Mobile is the future of the betting industry, and if you like to bet on your favorite NBA team using your mobile, this is definitely something that can be catered for as most online bookmakers have adapted their sites for mobile use or have an app you can download.
Before you can place your bets, you must ensure that you are registered with your bookmaker of choice. Without registering and becoming a customer, you won’t be able to bet on any NBA games.
Registering is easy and usually involves providing your personal details and setting a unique password. Once this has been done, you may also need to provide some additional identity documents. It’s worth noting that not every bookmaker will require these, but an increasing number do.
The final thing to be mindful of when signing up and registering for an online bookmaker is that there could be a welcome bonus that you can take advantage of. Welcome bonuses can take many different forms, but most online bookmakers usually offer free bets or a deposit match.
Due to the huge popularity of the NBA, basketball can usually be bet on as part of most decent welcome bonuses. In order to ensure that basketball betting is included, make sure you check out all of the terms and conditions before signing up.
Pros and cons of NBA betting
Just like any sport, there are different pros and cons to betting on the NBA, and we will reveal some of these in much better detail below.
Volume of games
with the basketball season taking place from November to June, there is a game taking place almost every day across this time period. With multiple matches to potentially bet on, the NBA can be a bettor’s dream.
Different markets
the NBA has a string of different markets and bets that can be bet on, and for the most popular games, there can be hundreds of different bets that can be placed. Ranging from traditional moneyline bets to betting on the spread, NBA bettors can also place prop bets and outright bets, such as who will win the overall NBA Championship or who might finish the season as the MVP.
You can bet on the biggest stars and the biggest teams
the NBA is home to some of the biggest sportsmen and teams in the world, and usually when you want to bet on the NBA, you can bet on them all. LeBron James, Kevin Durrant, Steph Curry, Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic, and Nikola Jokic can all be backed as a part of prop bets, as can some of the biggest teams such as the Boston Celtics, LA Lakers, and Golden State Warriors.
It can be hard to win big
due to the NBA containing a real mix of powerhouse teams and some teams that aren’t at that level, sometimes the odds between two teams can be hugely contrasting. Often, betting on just one game can make it difficult to make big returns, so in order to make a big profit, bettors may need to bet on the spread or be prepared to bet on multiple teams.
Teams can be tough to predict
because of the sheer volume of games that the NBA plays, it can be difficult to predict how a team may line up. Injuries or players playing limited minutes can greatly skew the odds, and those bets you think will win easily may end up losing.
The up-and-down nature of basketball makes it tough to bet
arguably there is no sport on the planet that fluctuates as much as basketball. The back-and-forth nature of the sport can see the live odds shift dramatically, and at times, that unreliability can make life tough for betting.
How to place your NBA bets
As we have mentioned at the top of this guide, in order to place your NBA bets, you must first be registered with an online bookmaker. From there, placing your bets can be fairly straightforward.
You will need to ensure that before placing your bet, you have money deposited in your account. You can do this by visiting your online bookmaker’s cashier. Deposits are usually accepted by traditional bank payments or with new payment types such as PayPal or Skrill. With money in your account, you should now be ready to place your bets.
The first step to placing your NBA bet is to find the basketball section in the navigation. Once found, you should instantly see all of the different NBA games that you can bet on.
When you have found the game you want to bet on, you should usually have a choice between choosing to bet on the moneyline, the spread, or placing particular prop bets. Once you have clicked on the odds you want to back, the bet should automatically load into your bet slip.
Now, with your bet slip open, choose your stake, and you should see the returns that your bet will make. Once you are happy with your odds and potential profits, confirm your bet, and your bet should now be registered.
NBA bet types
We have already briefly covered some of the different bets you can place within this guide, but in this section, we will dive into them in a little more detail.
Moneyline
The moneyline is the most common bet that is placed when betting on the NBA. The bet is simple and requires you to bet on either Team A or Team B to win. For example, let’s say that the New York Knicks are playing the Detroit Pistons, and we think the Knicks will win. By betting the moneyline, we would bet our stake on the Knicks to win. The only way that this bet will win is if the Knicks go on to win the game. If they win, our bet will be a winner; if they lose, so will our bet.
Betting on the spread
Although betting on the moneyline can be a great way to bet, for some, the returns can be too small. Therefore, to try and make some better profits, people may bet on the spread. The spread is essentially a handicap that is applied to each team. Using our example of the Knicks taking on the Pistons, it could look a little like this: New York Knicks (-13.5), Detroit Pistons (+13.5) In this example, the Knicks will start the game with a -13.5 point deficit; this means that in order to win the bet, they must win the game and win it by more than 13.5 points. If they win the game by five points, the bet will lose; to win, the spread must be covered. Betting on the Pistons would see them starting the game with a 13.5-point head start. This means that if they win the game or lose by less than 13.5 points, this bet would be a winner. If they lose by 20 points, the bet will lose, but if they lose by eight, the spread will be covered and the bet will win.
Betting on multiple teams
In order to make better returns, some NBA bettors may look to win big profits by betting on the outcome of multiple games. Traditionally, using the moneyline, bettors can place parlay bets, which means betting on at least two different teams to win. Some parlay bets can be huge, and can see over ten teams placed into a single bet. Let’s say that on one particular evening, the following teams are playing: New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons LA Lakers vs. Chicago Bulls Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns Dallas Mavericks vs. Charlotte Hornets We want the Knicks, Lakers, Celtics, Nuggets and Mavericks to win. This would trigger a five-team parlay, and in order to win, every team that we have backed will need to win. If one team loses, so will our bet. If every team does go on to win, we will make far bigger returns than we would have done if we had bet on each team individually. A parlay is the ultimate risk/reward bet that can be placed.
Prop bets
Prop bets throw the result of the game out the window and instead focus on a specific element of the game. One of the most popular prop bets would be to bet on how many points a player will score. Often presented with a number, a bettor will need to decide if the selected player or team will score over or under the predetermined number that the bookmaker has provided. Other prop bets include the amount of assists a player may make, the amount of rebounds, or how many fouls. There is usually a massive range of prop bets covering both individual players and teams.
NBA betting tips
There are many different betting tips and strategies that you can apply when betting on your favorite NBA games. Here are just a few.
Backing the favorites
Backing the favorites can often give you a good run for your money. You can place bets using the moneyline or by combining them into a parlay. Although not every favorite will win, it could be a decent long-term strategy that helps consistent long-term profits.
Placing only prop bets
As we have mentioned above, the up-and-down nature of basketball games can sometimes mean that the actual result of the game may not be decided until the final few seconds. For those who don’t want to wait for the final results, betting using prop bets is a really fun way to play.
Covering a range of options, basketball is a great sport for prop bets, and you can see some decent amounts won. It’s a different angle that many simply love.
Betting on home teams
In today’s NBA, most teams have a significant home-court advantage. With winning on the road getting tougher, betting on home teams to win could be a useful strategy. Usually, betting on the home team will result in that team carrying favorable odds, but betting this way can be a really savvy way to play.
