Basketball Online Betting Guide

Understanding Basketball Betting Basics

It’s always good to get a grip on the basics when you choose to bet on any sport. Below, you can see details of the important basics surrounding online NBA betting.

Different Types of Basketball Bets

Learning about the different types of basketball bets you can place is vital for any bettor. Below, you can see the most popular betting options for basketball.

Point Spread Betting

Basketball spread betting is the most popular of all wagers possible on the sport. The point spread is a calculated points difference between the two teams, as determined by an oddsmaker. Let’s say that the Milwaukee Bucks are set to face the Cleveland Cavaliers, the former will be quite a big favourite.

The Bucks may be a 12-point favourite, meaning that they must win the game by 12 points or more to cover the spread. In a result where the Cavaliers win or lose by less than 12 points, bets on the team against the spread would win.

Moneyline Bets

A moneyline bet is a wager on the team you believe will win a game. If you think the Phoenix Suns will win against the New Orleans Pelicans, for example, then you can place a moneyline bet on them to do so.

Totals

Like point spread betting, totals betting is another popular market to select. Also known as over/under betting, it’s a simple option to choose. Your wager is based on whether the two teams will exceed or fail to meet a certain combined score.

Let’s say that the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat are scheduled to play against one another. A point total set is given as 155.5, so if you believe that they will combine for more than this, you wager on the ‘over’ option. The opposite is true if you think they won’t reach that combined total.

Prop Bets

Proposition (or prop) bets are wagers made on the occurrence or non-occurrence of something during a game. There are various options available for prop bets, such as betting on whether there will or won’t be overtime.

You can also bet on specific players to achieve something or not in a game, like Devin Booker scoring over or under 28.5 points in a game. Prop bets can also surround number of assists by a specific player, number of steals, how many rebounds will occur, and so on.

Basketball Betting Odds

Basketball betting odds appear in the same way as odds for betting on sports in general. These can be displayed in one of three different formats, which we will highlight below for you.

American Odds

Those sites that promote NBA betting will often feature American odds, considering it is an American league. Odds in this format can be positive or negative, and their value cannot be lower than 100. The positive sign indicates the amount of money you will end up claiming for every $100 you bet.

The negative sign indicates the amount of money you need to wager to obtain $100. Let’s say that the Boston Celtics have odds of -300 on them against the Chicago Bulls, who have odds of +500. The Bulls are the underdogs in this case, and you need to wager $100 on them to potentially win $500. Betting on the Celtics requires you to wager $300 to gain a $100 profit.

Fractional Odds

This odds format is popular within the United Kingdom but has also expanded outside the country. A fractional listing of 5/2 means you win $5 for every $2 wagered, should it be a winning bet. The total payout calculation for fractional odds (using the 5/2 example) is your stake x 5 divided by 2.

Let’s say that the odds provided on the Philadelphia 76ers winning their upcoming game stand at 14/1. You decide to bet $25 on this being the outcome. So, you calculate your potential payout as $25 x 14/1. This equates to a $350 payout should you win.

Decimal Odds

Decimal odds are the simplest to follow, with the favourites and underdogs being a lot simpler to see. The decimal odds number dictates the amount you will win for every $1 you wager. That number represents the total payout, rather than just the profit. So, if you choose to bet $50 that the Sacramento Kings will win the NBA next season and they have odds of 29.00, your calculation is simple. $50 x 29.00 = a total payout of $1,450.

Researching Basketball Teams and Matches

Understanding the betting markets and odds formats is one thing. Yet you need to also do your proper research into basketball betting. If you usually engage in online cricket betting, the research into basketball will need to be completely different. We’ll explain this even more below.

Analysing Team Performance and Statistics

There are many basketball teams around the world. Just within the NBA, there are 30 separate teams that compete each season, coming from 22 U.S. states and one Canadian province. To find out more about the teams competing, you can always head to their official league site. The NBA website, for example, includes an insight into the players.

You can see the daily leaderboards and season leaders. This gives information on points per game, rebounds per game, assists per game, steals per game, and so on. Those are some vital details to take notice of, as when you know which players are competing in a game, you can use them to figure out which team is better off.

You can also view the statistics relating to each team. Details of their background, their achievements, the points obtained in previous seasons and games, their win and loss numbers, how many three-pointer goals they have achieved, and so on, are present. Comparing all relevant information between teams playing should give you more of an insight into which one is more likely to come out on top.

Understanding Different Basketball Leagues

There is a variety of different basketball leagues around the world. While you may be looking at engaging in NBA betting, the sport has a lot more to offer that you can bet on.

Of course, the NBA championship matches are spectacular, and they bring a lot of unpredictability with them. A huge assortment of markets is usually provided by online sportsbooks for NBA games. The main difficulty in this league is having the ability to read the motivation for each team.

National team basketball is usually played in August and September each year, pitting countries against one another. The main factor to consider regarding this is the physical and tactical abilities of each team. Weaker teams will try to reach peak form at the beginning of the group stages.

Meanwhile, experienced teams often tend to bring a better A-game in the middle of the tournament. FIBA is the national governing body for worldwide basketball. Teams like Spain, the United States, Australia, Argentina, and France often do well in national tournaments.

EuroLeague basketball is another popular league to bet on. It is widely recognised as the top-tier men’s league within Europe. The EuroLeague broke away from its FIBA era in 2000, and today it features 18 teams.

The EuroCup is competed for in this league, although a lack of financial interest and many passing games make the matches difficult to predict. The EuroLeague title has been won by 22 clubs, with 14 of these winning it more than once. Real Madrid is the most successful club within the competition, winning in 2023 once again.

College basketball is also a popular league for betting on, also known as the NCAAB. This level of competition isn’t quite as fierce as the NBA, although it gives younger players a chance to shine. You can often find sportsbooks providing wagering on these games.

Basketball Betting Strategies and Tips

Basketball betting tips can always be of assistance when wagering on the sport. That’s why we have highlighted some of the best tips and basketball betting strategies below.

Bankroll Management

Whether you join the Bwin sportsbook, Bet365, Betway, or any other recommended site, you need to manage your bankroll effectively. Your bankroll is the initial amount of money you will use for betting. That’s why it is important to manage this money properly. There are two basic basketball betting strategies regarding bankroll management. They are:

• Use a Constant Percentage – Always bet the same percentage of your bankroll each time on basketball games. A good percentage would be between 1% and 3% of your total bankroll.
• Utilise Units – Try betting specific unit amounts each time. This means your wagers will be the same amount from start to finish, regardless of whether you win or lose.

Don’t be overly flexible when it comes to your bankroll. Allow for a little bit of this, but don’t go beyond your financial means with it.

Identifying Value Bets

Often times, the most reliable and useful source of information regarding sports betting is experienced bettors. They will usually tell you to put your research to good use in determining the chances of a specific team to finish as the winner. Yet, in the long-term, value bets are ideal to seek out. This involves you finding a bet with odds that provide you with an advantage over the bookmaker.

Two main strategies are possible for basketball value betting. They both include being able to calculate the “true probability” of an event and then determining whether the expected value is positive or negative.

You can base value bets on the odds provided or on your own analysis. Better still, combining this information helps. The more information you have, the better position you are in to outdo the sportsbooks.

Live Betting in Basketball

If you aren’t sure what live betting is, it allows you to place wagers on a game after it has started and through to the end. Live betting odds will fluctuate throughout the game, with changes to moneyline, point spread, and more occurring after every shot.

Fewer options for bettors exist in the live betting scene, but it can provide a much more thrilling experience. Live betting odds will refresh automatically, so you’ll need to be quick to wager on them when they’re just right. Of course, you will need to consider the fact that losses can occur swiftly, as well as wins.

Choosing a Basketball Betting Platform

What about deciding upon a basketball betting site to join? Well, you will need to consider a couple of things before registering. Take a look at these below.

Researching and Comparing Betting Sites

First, you need to ensure you research the available betting sites properly. Our site highlights various recommended sportsbooks, such as the 1xBet online site, Bet.co.za, Supabets, and so on. Yet you should read reviews of all the possible basketball wagering sites before signing up to one. Check into what each one offers. Maybe you have found others not listed here. If so, make sure you look at whether they are licensed or not.

Without this, you’re not protected against rogue operations. Make sure the sportsbook has a good selection of basketball betting markets and online promotions to cater to you. Furthermore, check into the general reputation of the sites you’re interested in. This will tell you how well they operate.

Understanding Betting Site Features

It’s good to know about the background and legality of a sportsbook, for sure. Yet, you should also investigate the features it provides alongside. Key features like live betting and live streaming can be very important.

Without a doubt, they will work to enhance your betting experience, with live streaming allowing you to watch the basketball games play out while you bet. See if the sportsbook provides mobile betting, too. Is this available via a downloadable app or via mobile web browsing?

While you’re live betting, can you use tools like cash out? This ensures you can close a bet before the game ends, thereby locking in a potential profit or minimising a loss. The inbuilt functions and tools of a sportsbook can make all the difference.

Conclusion

It’s vital to remember that whenever you’re betting, you should engage in responsible gambling. Don’t get carried away by placing sports bets on basketball. Managing your bankroll and following the other guidance here is an ideal way to proceed with your betting activity.

Use the information provided in our online basketball betting guide to your advantage. This way, you can maintain a strong level of control over your wagers and enjoy the experience.