How to Bet on The NBA - Betting Guide for Beginners
How NBA Betting Works
To bet on the NBA games online, one has to create an account at an online sports betting site. Registering on these platforms follows a straightforward process that you can complete within minutes. The steps for signing up might differ slightly depending on the site, but they are similar to the following:
- Find an online basketball bookie and visit the platform
- Select the appropriate option to create an account
- Fill in the necessary details, which usually include your email and phone number
- Submit the form and confirm your account (if required)
Before claiming bonuses like a risk-free bet or betting on an NBA match, you must fund your account. Top gambling sites have a plethora of payment options that you can use for this. Afterwards, visit the lobby, choose the event, check the NBA odds, and place your bets. The operator will deduct the bet amount from your balance.
Popular NBA Bets Explained
You can place different types of wagers at the best NBA betting sites. Some of these wagering options are most suited for newbies still learning how the sports betting world works. Others are more complicated. We have explained the most popular ones below.
Outright Winner - MoneyLine
Moneyline bets are the simplest wagering option. All you have to do is pick the team you think will win. By looking at the betting odds, you can tell which team is the favourite and which is the underdog. The favourite is shown with a negative sign, and the underdog is shown with a positive sign.
For instance, consider a match between the Los Angeles Lakers (-130) and the Toronto Raptors (+110). Here, you simply bet on one of the two teams, and you get a payout based on the odds if you win.
Spread Betting
Similar to NFL betting, online bookmakers offer bettors an alternative to even the odds when two NBA teams are not evenly balanced. The underdog is given an edge and the favourite is given a disadvantage.
For example, consider the Brooklyn Nets (-110) with a -6.5 spread and the New York Knicks (+110) with a spread of -6.5. In this case, the Nets would have to defeat the opponent by a margin of at least seven points. On the other hand, the Knicks would have to lose by no more than six points for a bet on the team to win.
Over/Under - Totals Betting
Over/Under is very simple to place. All you have to do is bet on whether a team or player will get more or less than the points the bookmaker predicted.
For instance, the total number of points in the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Toronto Raptors is 212. To win a bet on the Over, the game's final score must be 213 points or more. However, to win a bet on the Under, the game's final score must be 211 points or less.
ACCA Betting - Parlays
With ACCA Betting, you can combine two or more wagers on the same betting slip. With a parlay, you can use the Moneyline from one game, the totals from another game, and the spread from a third game.
For example, this is how a parlay ticket might look: Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Lakers OVER + Brooklyn Nets Moneyline + Dallas to cover the spread
For this type of bet, all of your selections must win or you lose the whole stake. You can also make cross-sport parlays that combine your NBA picks with bets on college basketball and other sports.
Future Bets
Futures odds for the NBA will first show up in the offseason. These odds are for long-term bets, usually on the whole season or the playoffs. When betting on futures, the objective is to make the correct prediction with the best odds. With this bet, line shopping can be helpful, since some betting sites will have better odds than others.
Some examples of futures markets include the NBA Finals winner and Teams to make the playoffs.
Specials - Prop Bets
NBA prop bets let you place wagers on several facets of the game rather than just the outcome or final score. These bets can concentrate on game outcomes as well as a team's performance and the performances of specific players.
An example is wagering on the first team to score 15 points and the total number of three-pointers a team has made. You can also wager on a player's overall points, rebounds, and assists.
For instance, you can wager on Kevin Durant's over/under points in an NBA season.
Race to Points
A "Race to xx" bet is a wager on which team will reach a certain number of points first. If neither team gets to that number of points by the end of the game, the bet is void.
For instance a Race to 40 points for a match between Los Angeles Lakers (-350) and Dallas Mavericks (+220). In this case, a person would bet on whether the Lakers or the Mavericks would score 40 points first during the game. If the Lakers lead 40 to 26 in the second quarter, NBA bettors who backed the Lakers would win and get their payouts.
Quarter Bets
This is simply wagering on which team you think will be leading by the end of a quarter in basketball games. Almost every online bookmaker lets you bet on the quarter in two ways: spread and total points. Wagering on quarters is the same as placing a stake on the full game.
For example, consider a game between the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks. You can bet on which team will be leading at the end of the third quarter. You get paid based on the NBA odds if your stake wins.
How Does Live Betting on NBA Games Work?
Live betting or in-play is wagering on a match as it is ongoing. You place these stakes after the game begins and before the game ends. Like pre-match bets, sports fans have different wagering options to choose from, including the common ones like props bets, point spread, total points scored, and Moneyline bets.
Since you wager while the event is still on, the odds change regularly based on what is happening in the game. The best sports betting sites will offer competitive odds for these games.
Additionally, these odds are updated in real-time, giving you a good idea of which markets to place your bets on. So, before wagering on live games, be sure that the online bookmaker offers competitive odds.
Some sports betting sites also have a live-streaming function. This lets you watch the game on the site, sometimes, even on mobile devices.
How To Bet On the NBA: Step-By-Step Guide
If you know a lot about basketball, it's easy to bet on it. The process involves guessing the outcome of different basketball games before or during the game. Before proceeding, one has to register at an online bookie that offers betting options for the NBA. Upon registration, you make a deposit by following the onscreen instructions. Then, you can follow these steps to place an NBA bet.
- Visit the sports lobby
- Search for basketball and choose NBA
- Pick the event you want to wager on
- Choose your odds, and place the type of bet you want
- Submit your bet slip
How To Start Betting?
Everything You Need To Know In 5 Easy Steps!
Find the right bookmaker for you and sign up.
Make a deposit with the payment method you prefer. Consider responsible gambling features and bankroll management.
Many betting sites have a welcome bonus or free bet, which you can claim after making the first deposit. *never forget to read the small print!
Find an event you are interested in, select a betting market that appeals to you the most and "click" on the odds.
Go to the bet slip and input the details of your desired bet and confirm the wager.
NBA Betting Tips and Strategies
Betting is based on luck, so you can not always predict correctly if you are going to win or lose. However, with the right NBA betting strategy, you can place wagers with a higher chance of success. Below are the best basketball betting tips and strategies to keep in mind when wagering on the NBA online.
Look out For the Best Available Betting Lines
When you bet, you should always try to get the most for your money. Line shopping is something that all experts do and does not take very long.
For instance, you want to bet on the Lakers at -140 at one bookmaker while another one offers you odds of -125. While you might consider both to be fair, there is a lot of value in the latter.
If you do not take advantage of the best lines, it will hurt your bankroll in the long run, especially if you bet a lot of money. You can find the best lines for each game and a huge number of online bookmakers by using the Oddpsedia odds comparison tool.
Take Advantage of Sure bets
A Sure Bet enables you to profit from the variations in odds established by several bookmakers. A profit is essentially guaranteed regardless of how the event turns out.
This is possible because betting sites provide various lines based on their forecasts for the market. As a result, you can easily locate profitable arbitrage opportunities. Oddspedia lists the instances of "sure wins" when betting on each outcome at various bookies.
Follow NBA Tipsters and Their Expert Predictions
Another NBA betting strategy you can employ is using predictions from tipsters. You can find the best NBA tipsters at Oddspedia.
Our experts keep an eye on the markets throughout the NBA regular season. Using their knowledge of the players' and teams' performances, they offer you near-accurate predictions.
Combine these NBA tips with the best NBA betting lines. With this, you have a betting strategy that will help you get the most out of your wagers. Just ensure that you wager only on legal sports betting sites.
Take The Small Wins And Profits
Every bettor looks forward to a big win. This does not mean that you should ignore the little profits you make from NBA Totals Betting or any other bet. When you gather enough of these wins, you will realise that you have made much more than you could have thought of.
However, you must be very calculative about how you place your bets. Ensure to go through Oddspedia to find sites with the best NBA betting odds. With this, you boost your winning chances on the platform.
Most Common NBA Betting Mistakes
Using an NBA betting strategy would be pointless if you are still making some common mistakes. That said, here are some mistakes that bettors make when wagering on these basketball games.
Not Familiar with The NBA or Basketball Betting
Some bettors believe that NBA betting is just like wagering on other sports. While this is true, it is not entirely correct. The NBA is a major league with its own players, teams, and betting markets. If you do not know which player is best or which team is in a good form, how do you make the right NBA bets?
Therefore, the first step to wagering at NBA betting sites is learning more about basketball in general. With this knowledge, you can make better-informed decisions on where to place your bets.
Ignoring Team Form and Injuries to its Players'
Keeping up with what is happening in a player’s life is important. An injury, a personal problem, or a fight with another player or teammate could affect a player’s performance. If you ignore this, you might end up placing non-profitable bets.
If you can not keep up with this type of news, take advice from tipsters. These experts get updates about a player’s form.
Mismanaging Your Bankroll
One of the common mistakes that both novice and seasoned sports bettors make is mismanaging their bankrolls. Learn bankroll management strategies before you start a career in sports betting. For instance, establish and adhere to daily, weekly, and even monthly limits.
When setting the boundaries, you should be guided by a budget. To avoid getting into debt, define your bet amounts based on how much money you have. These methods will make it simple for you to control your betting bankroll.
Avoid Betting on Your Favourite NBA Team
Sentiments often affect punters' decisions on where to place their bets. One of these is always betting on your NBA favourite team. This is not a bad idea, provided you are placing the right types of wagers.
Avoid placing stakes on that team if the odds offered are poor. Instead, do your research to learn the best betting options you can place at that moment.
Online NBA Betting FAQ
❔ Is It An Easy Place To Bet On the NBA?
Select the type of wager you want. This could be a Moneyline bet, NBA point spreads, and NBA totals, just to mention a few. Once you confirm your stakes, online sportsbooks will deduct the bet amount from your real money balance.
🏆 What are the Most Successful NBA Teams?
- Boston Celtics: This team's dominance in the 1960s is a big reason why they are one of the best in NBA history.
- Milwaukee Bucks: The team has won 17 division titles, two league titles, and three conference titles.
- Chicago Bulls: The team was at its best in the 1990s, when they helped make the NBA popular all over the world.
- Los Angeles Lakers: During the 1971–72 season, the Lakers won 33 straight games, which is the longest winning streak in NBA history. Los Angeles Lakers have had 26 Hall of Fame players and 4 Hall of Fame coaches.
- Philadelphia 76ers: The 76ers have many Hall of Fame players, and have won three NBA titles.
🤔 Which Is The Best NBA Betting Site?
💰 What Types Of Promotions Are There For The NBA?
Punters can also take advantage of other offers specifically for existing players. These promotions could be risk-free bets and other reload bonuses. The bonus package you get depends on the online gambling site.
🏀 Can I Bet On A Live NBA Game?
❔ How Does DFS Work?
To enter most daily fantasy sports contests, you have to pay some kind of entry fee. All of these fees go into the pot, which is what you hope to win at the end of the competition.
- NBA Betting 2022 | Legal Sports Report. (2022). https://www.legalsportsreport.com/sports-betting/nba/
- Charlie Kelly. (2022, August 4). How to bet on the NBA online: Guide to betting on basketball games https://nypost.com/article/how-to-bet-on-the-nba-online/
