How to Bet on the NBA
The National Basketball Association may not be as big in the betting world as football, but its star power is quickly making it a rising force in online sports gambling. With its daily games, All-Star weekend, and playoffs, the NBA is arguably the second most popular sport in North America. For those new to betting on the NBA, here are four ways to get started.
What are NBA Moneylines?
Moneyline betting is a simple way to start gambling, as it involves betting on the team you think will win the game. For example, in a match between Golden State and Cleveland, the Warriors are favored at -175, meaning you would need to bet $175 to win $100 on them. On the other hand, the underdog Cavaliers might have odds of +140, requiring a $100 bet to win $140. Remember, the favorite will have a negative sign and the underdog will have a positive sign, so be sure to pay attention before placing your bet on NBA betting sites.
What are NBA Spreads?
Spread betting involves wagering on the margin of victory in a sports game. In this example, the Golden State team is favored to win by 5.5 points, indicated by the -5.5 odds. If they win by more than 5.5 points, they cover the bet. The half-point is added to avoid ties, where the bet is returned. The underdog, in this case the Cavaliers, has odds of +5.5, meaning they cover if they lose by less than 5.5 points or win the game.
What are NBA Totals?
Next, there is Over Under betting, where you bet on the total number of points scored in the game. For example, the Warriors and Cavaliers may have a total set at 201.5 points (with the half point to prevent a tie), and you bet on whether the final total will be above or below this number.
What are NBA Teasers?
A teaser bet in basketball allows you to adjust the point spread in your favor for either team spread or totals. You can shift the lines by a predetermined amount of points, but you must play a parlay of at least two games.
What are NBA Futures?
Futures betting is when you’re wagering on something that will happen in the future, but not the immediate future, like today’s game. This is when you’re betting on who the NBA champions will be, or who the NBA MVP will be. You can get those odds before the season starts, which means you can get some good lines for teams or players that the sportsbooks might not think highly of, but you think you know something they don’t.
And if you are also passionate about NFL, make sure you check our Super Bowl odds section to help you select the best odds!