NBA Betting Guide 

The National Basketball Association, or NBA, is the biggest and most popular basketball league in the world, watched by millions of fans. In the NBA, you will find the best basketball players on the planet, as playing in this basketball league is the dream for all players.

Since its founding in 1946, the NBA has brought us countless super exciting matches with many unexpected turns during the seasons. But the NBA isn’t only popular for the players and the fans; it is also regularly spectated by sports bettors, who use their knowledge and skills to gain a profit.

In this article, we will reveal everything that you need to know about the NBA and betting on the NBA, so you can more easily start your betting journey at sportsbet.io.

NBA Teams

Before you start betting on the NBA, you must be aware of the fact that there are 30 teams competing in this basketball league. The United States features 29 teams, while Canada is represented by only one team. However, in the beginning, the NBA had only 11 teams competing for the highest prize.

The current NBA league organisation divides the featured 30 teams into two conferences, which are made up of three divisions with five teams each. Most of the teams, or 13 to be exact, are in the eastern half of the United States.

During one season, which lasts from October to April, every NBA team will have to play 82 games. After that, the playoff tournament begins, which extends the entertainment until June.

The Eastern Conference is divided into divisions such as the Atlantic, Central, and Southeast. At this Conference, you will find the following teams:

  • Boston Celtics
  • Brooklyn Nets
  • Toronto Raptors
  • New York Knicks
  • Philadelphia 76ers
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Chicago Bulls
  • Indiana Pacers
  • Detroit Pistons
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Charlotte Hornets
  • Atlanta Hawks
  • Miami Heats
  • Washington Wizards
  • Orlando Magic

The Western Conference is made up of divisions such as the Northwest, Pacific, and Southwest. The teams that compete in this conference are the following:

  • Denver Nuggets
  • Utah Jazz
  • Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Portland Trail Blazers
  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • Los Angeles Clippers
  • Golden State Warriors
  • Los Angeles Lakers
  • Sacramento Kings
  • Phoenix Suns
  • Houston Rockets
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • New Orleans Pelicans
  • Memphis Grizzlies
  • San Antonio Spurs

The Boston Celtics hold 10 titles in the Eastern Conference, which is the most titles won by a team in this Conference. In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers hold the most titles, having won the Conference a staggering 19 times.

As for the NBA titles, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics are tied for the most championships in the league, with 17 each.

NBA Betting

Betting on basketball matches is a very popular practice for bettors, as this sport attracts the interest of many fans. The NBA is by far the most watched league in the basketball world, mostly because all the best players play there, and it provides the spectators with entertainment like no other.

As there are 82 match weeks during a regular season, aside from the playoffs, bettors will find many opportunities to wager on the featured matches. Bookmakers also provide bettors with a wide variety of betting options, making betting on NBA matches even more exciting.

The bettors will most likely place bets on the winning team in a match, the final scores, or the players’ scores, as well as the winners of the Conference leagues and the NBA finals.

Placing an NBA bet is super easy to do and can be done by anyone who understands the basics of betting and is well aware of the NBA rules. Every reputable betting site like sportsbet.io makes sure to include the NBA matches in its offer, as it attracts many new players and keeps the existing ones satisfied.

Bettors can place an online bet on the featured NBA games from any mobile or desktop device. The reason behind this is that reputable online betting sites have optimised their platforms with the latest HTML5 protocol. This technology allows bettors to wager from any Android, iOS, or Windows device.

Some online betting sites have developed their own mobile apps, which makes betting on the NBA much easier and more convenient.

With a good analysis of the NBA games, every bettor can have a decent chance of making a profit. But that requires comparing different teams and examining their form, injured players, and some other factors.

In order to place an NBA bet, you will first need to register and verify an account at a decent online sportsbook. After that, you will need to deposit some funds into your betting account.

However, before you do that, make sure to check whether the sports betting site offers any kind of bonus. A welcome bonus is most often offered by the betting sites, which can reward you with free bets or cash prizes that you can use on the featured NBA games.

Is NBA Betting Safe & Legal?

When it comes to betting online, including betting on the NBA, the safety of the bettors must be taken seriously by the sports betting sites. Online betting on the NBA is mostly safe, but there are some features that must be checked before you wager with real money.

Every reputable sports betting site must be licensed and regulated by a respected and well-known regulator. Some of the best regulators that are operating in the iGaming industry are the following:

  • UK Gambling Commission
  • Malta Gaming Authority
  • Kahnawake Gaming Commission
  • Curaçao eGaming
  • Alderney Gambling Control Commission

Avoid sports betting sites that aren’t licenced at all costs, as many of them tend to be scam sites. In order to get a valid licence, every sportsbook must follow strict rules and keep up with industry standards. The regulators always check whether the sports betting platforms are safe and fair for betting.

The most trusted sites, like sportsbet.io utilise the latest 128-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption technology. This security technology makes sure to encrypt all data that is being sent on to the online betting platform, keeping it out of the hands of unwanted third parties.

It is very useful when you are revealing some of your personal and banking information when you register an account and deposit funds. That way, your sensitive information will be kept safe and secure, meaning you can be more focused on the betting activity.

However, it is important to note that sports betting isn’t legal in every country in the world. Make sure to check whether you can legally place an online sports bet in your area before registering an account.

Another thing that can show whether a casino is safe and can be trusted is the customer support feature. The most reputable betting sites make sure to construct a highly knowledgeable and professional customer support team that can be available 24/7 for their customers.

The list of payment methods is another great indicator of a trusted betting platform. A large variety of payment methods shows that the sports betting site is making sure that the bettors can use their preferred payment method.

Also, trusted sites won’t charge hidden fees and feature quick deposit and withdrawal times. Some reputable betting platforms may process your funds for 1 or 2 working days. However, if it takes around a week for a site to approve a transaction, then the featured betting site may be a scam.

Live Betting and Live Odds

Live betting is a very popular trend in the sports betting world that provides bettors with many great advantages. It allows them to place all kinds of bets on games or sporting events that have already started.

The live betting option is widely used in the NBA, as the games can take an unexpected turn in the middle of the game. Bettors that place live bets are waiting to see how the teams will start off the game before deciding what type of bet to place.

This is not possible when placing pre-match bets, which is one of the main advantages of using the live betting option. You won’t get as vast a selection of betting markets with the live betting option as you would with the pre-match option, but all the main NBA bet types will always be available.

During an NBA live game, the odds on the betting markets will keep changing according to the game result. The changing of the live odds gives the bettors many opportunities for live betting.

Bettors who have placed a pre-match bet on an NBA game can use the live betting feature to cover their initial bet in case the game turns sideways. Accordingly, they will minimise the risk of suffering some serious losses.

Placing live bets while simultaneously watching the featured NBA game gives the bettors a unique sense of satisfaction and entertainment. This combination is much closer to bringing some solid profits, as the bettors can see and know how the game is shaping up before they decide to place a bet.

Live betting on the NBA can be done from a desktop or mobile device by accessing the sports betting site from a browser or a mobile app. However, placing live NBA bets is more practical from a mobile device.

You can attend an NBA game and place live bets on the actual game that you’re watching from your mobile device. All you need is a mobile device, a stable internet connection, and funds in your betting account.

The best sports betting sites, such as sportsbet.io are making sure to offer competitive odds for live NBA matches. Some online sportsbooks are providing their bettors with a live-streaming option. This option allows them to watch any NBA game on the featured site from any desktop or mobile device.

How to Bet on NBA Odds

Placing NBA bets on online sports betting sites is a very easy task to do and can be conducted even by beginners. Below we will list the steps you need to take in order to place an NBA bet and after that, we will analyse each step.

  1. Find a sports betting site that features the NBA games
  2. Register and verify an account
  3. Make a deposit and place an NBA bet
  4. Withdraw the winnings

The whole process starts with finding a safe and trusted sports betting site that features NBA games in its sports selection. Make sure that the sports betting site comes with the most important features such as a valid licence, a secure platform, a wide selection of sports and betting options, a big list of payment methods, hefty bonuses, great customer support, and a few more.

After that, you will need to register an account at the featured sportsbook site. The entire registration process is usually very simple and straightforward and doesn’t take long to finish. You will be required to fill in some personal information, as well as to choose a unique username and a strong password. Some sports betting sites will require you to verify your account right after finishing the registration process, while others will ask for it before making a withdrawal.

The next step is to deposit some funds into your account. To do that, you will need to access the betting site and log in to your account. Then, in the Cashier section, select the Deposit option. In there, you will need to type in the desired funds and pick one of the available payment methods.

When you’ve finished that, the funds will be deposited instantly into your account. Then you will be free to place any kind of NBA bet in the sports section.

Access the sports section and choose the NBA, which can be found in the Basketball tab. You are free to select any NBA game or games from the list by clicking on the odds under the featured betting markets. When your bet slip is complete, just click on the Confirm button, sit back, and relax.

If you manage to win some money from the NBA bet, then you will be set to withdraw that money from your account. Make sure to check the minimum withdrawal limit before you do that.

To make a withdrawal, you will once again have to access the Cashier section, but this time you will click on the Withdrawal option. There, you will need to choose one of the available payment methods and type in the amount of money that you want to withdraw.

The final step is to wait for the funds to be processed and the transaction to be approved. It is worth noting that every payment method has a different processing time, so make sure to check it out.

NBA Betting Markets

Before you place an NBA bet, you will notice that there are many betting options to choose from. Those options are called betting markets or betting types, and every single one of them revolves around the players and the team’s points and stats.

The fast-paced nature of the NBA games allows the sports betting sites to offer a wide range of sports bets to wager on. Some of them may require more risk, while others may look like very obvious options.

Reputable sports betting sites tend to offer numerous betting markets for NBA games, and most of them cannot be found at the less-known betting sites. This gives them an advantage, and it also satisfies more players with its betting options.

There are betting markets available for both the players and the teams in an NBA game. Some of them will also be available for live betting, and the odds for the featured markets will change during the game.

However, having loads of betting markets at your disposal may complicate things, as you might be tempted to bet on several of them. It is also very important to note that choosing bet markets based on the betting odds is not a good idea.

If a betting market on a specific team or player is decided by many bettors, then the betting odds for it will be very low. But, that doesn’t mean that it will end up as everyone expects it to end.

To avoid the above make sure to conduct thorough research on the NBA games before deciding what betting market is the best to use.

The betting odds tend to vary from one betting market to the next, but so does the probability for the betting market to come through in a featured game. Sports betting sites know about this, which is why they tend to adjust their betting odds before and during NBA games.

Popular Types of NBA Betting Odds

In the previous section, we’ve mentioned only a few of the betting markets that can be used for betting on the featured players in an NBA game. But, there are many other betting markets available at the sports betting sites that, apart from the players, may focus on the teams and the game stats.

However, some of them are more often used than others, as most bettors don’t overcomplicate things when placing a bet. Every bet type comes with a certain probability of going through in an NBA game, which can be a decisive factor for the bettors when choosing a bet type.

Good research is required about the NBA games before choosing a bet type to wager on. With it, you will be more familiar with the teams’ and players’ stats and styles of play.

The most popular types of bets that are widely used in the NBA are the following:

  • Money line bets
  • Against-the-spread bets
  • Over under bets
  • Player prop bets
  • Team prop bets
  • Parlay bets
  • Future bets

These types of bets can be found at any sports betting site, as without them, bettors will definitely leave the featured sports betting site for a better one. Below, we will analyse and describe every one of the mentioned bet types, just so you know what they are and what to expect from them.

Money Line Betting

Money line bets are very common in the NBA and can be found at any sports betting site that features NBA games in its offer.

It is simply a betting offer that is being used to pick a winner in a certain NBA game. Betting on whom you think will win the game is the most simplistic form of betting.

There are two teams playing the game, and with money line betting, your job is to guess which one will win the game. With this bet type, it doesn’t matter how the team wins the game or by how many points. The NBA game can finish in regular time or overtime, and the money line bet is still active.

It is worth noting, although it seems very logical, that the outright favourites will provide smaller payouts than the massive underdogs. This is because the probability of the favourite winning the game is much greater.

If the sportsbooks were to pay the same amount of money for both teams to win, then they would suffer major losses. Also, the more bettors bet on the favourite, the lower the odds will go.

Some bettors may go after the underdogs as a way to win big payouts if they manage to surprise the ultimate favourite. However, this is a very rare and unexpected scenario, but still possible.

Against the Spread Betting

Another very common type of bet in the NBA is the “against the spread” bet, also known as a “spread bet.” These bets usually confuse bettors at the beginning, but once you understand them, you will see how easy it is to use them in NBA games.

In a featured NBA game, the teams are never perfectly matched, as there will always be a difference between them. One of the teams will always be more likely to win than the other.

For that reason, sports betting sites are offering spread bets, which refer to how many points a team is expected to win or lose in a featured game. Without this bet type, the bettors would just simply place money line bets on the favourite.

The bookmaker will decide by how many points they think an NBA team is going to win or lose a game. Then they will allow you to place a bet based on which NBA team will outperform the bookmaker’s prediction about the game.

For instance, in a game between the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic, the sportsbook thinks that the Celtics are going to win the game by 8 points. Now, if you think that the Celtics will win the game by +10, then you should place a spread bet on the Celtics. The sportsbook lists the Celtics at -8, meaning that they would win the game by 8 points. So in order to win the spread bet, the Celtics must exceed the sportsbook’s expectations.

Over/Under Betting

If you aren’t interested in betting on a specific team winning the game, then you should check out the over/under bet type. This bet type is also known as a total bet, and it is used to predict the total number of points that both NBA teams will score in a single game.

The sports betting site will decide and set a line on how many total points they expect to be scored in a single NBA game by both teams. Then it is up to you whether you think fewer or more points will be scored during the featured NBA game.

For instance, if the sportsbook that both teams will score 215 points in a game, and you think that there will be greater points scored in the game, then you take the over bet.

On the other hand, if you think that the total points scored will be lower than the given total score, you will need to select the under bet.

It doesn’t matter which team scores more points, or which team wins the game, as long as the total score is according to your over/under bet. This is a very simple and one of the most used bet types in the NBA that are used by experienced bettors and beginners.

Before deciding whether to bet over or under on an NBA game, it is very important to make thorough research about the teams. If both teams feature their best players and are known for scoring loads of points, then the over bet will be a reasonable one.

Player Prop Betting

The player prop bets are also very popular among bettors, as they are quite unique and super fun to bet on. Placing player prop bets means betting on the statistical performance of the featured NBA players during a particular game.

It usually involves one or more of the main stats categories from the player or players such as points, assists, and rebounds. The majority of player prop bets are in the form of total or over-under bets.

A player prop bet would be a player scoring over or under 27.5 points during a game. Most sports betting sites would have a selection of player prop bets for every NBA game, where you can wager on one or multiple players’ points, assists, or rebounds.

You will also be provided with an opportunity to bet on the player’s total performance during a game with an over/under line set for a particular player’s total combined, points, rebounds and assists.

In certain NBA games, some sports betting sites will also offer odds on a player scoring a double-double or a triple-double during a single game. However, this betting option is rarely available and it usually includes only the big names in the NBA.

Other types of player prop bets that can be found at the sports betting sites are steal bets, points + assists combined bets, points + rebounds combined bets, and a few more. Some player prop bets are pure guesses while others require more skills and pre-game analysis.

Team Prop Betting

Team prop bets work the same way as player prop bets, with the main difference being the fact that you bet on a particular team in an NBA game. The team prop bets revolve around the team’s performance but not necessarily on the actual outcome of the featured game.

The most common team prop bet that is used at the sports betting site is the one about the team’s points. This team prop bet can be a bet about the first team to score points in the game, a race to 30 points, or an over/under bet for the team’s total points.

Sportsbooks that offer this type of bet are giving the bettors an opportunity to focus on one team rather than on both during an NBA game.

Just like the player prop bets, every player that wants to place a team prop bet must first analyze the featured team before every game. This is a very important step as you get to know the team’s form, average point scorings, and style of play, as well as understand whether the top player will play in the game.

With the team prop bets the sports betting sites are proposing something happening during an NBA game and it is up to you whether it will happen or not.

It is worth noting that most team prop and player prop bets are specially designed by sportsbooks for entertainment purposes. The reason behind it is that the majority of them can go either way and no one knows for certain what the outcome will be.

Parlay Betting

Another very popular type of bet used by bettors for NBA games is the parlay bet. An NBA parlay bet consists of two or more individual bets strung together into a single bet.

The bettors are truly fond of parlay bets as they allow them to win some very big payouts if luck is on their side. However, the higher bet provided by the sportsbook also means that it is a lot harder to win money with this type of NBA bet.

You must win every single individual bet on the bet slip in order to claim the featured payout. If you bet on 5 different NBA teams with the money line bet type and only 4 manage to win then you will lose all of the wager money placed on the bet.

The maximum number of single bets that can be included in a parlay bet varies from one betting site to the other. Parlay bets are very useful when you want to bet on multiple games.

Using the parlay bets to bet on several games will bring you a bigger payout than betting on the featured NBA games on separate bet slips. However, there is always the risk of losing the parlay bet if one of the featured bets fails to provide while in the separate bets you will only lose one bet slip.

It is worth noting that there are three forms of parlay bets that you can use for NBA betting such as teasers, pleasers, and round-robin bets.

The teaser bets are a form of parlay bets that allows you to adjust the total and point spread in your own favour. It is much easier to win a teaser bet, but that also means a smaller payout than the parlay bet.

An NBA pleaser bet is another form of parlay bet that is the opposite of the teaser bet. It offers worse odds on the NBA teams that you want to bet on.

Lastly, a round-robin bet is a series of individual bets where you divide the featured bets into three smaller parlay bets. You get to separate the individual bets into three different bets.

Future Bets

Future bets are yet another popular bet type for NBA games that involves wagering on something that will be decided in the future over the course of numerous NBA games. One of the most popular NBA future bets is the one about the NBA Champion, which can be placed even before the season starts.

These future NBA bets can be placed at any given point during the season until the bet is decided. So you can place a bet on the NBA Champion even at the mid-season, during the playoffs, or even during the NBA finals.

But, it is worth noting that the odds will drastically change during the course of the season. Usually, the biggest odds for winning the NBA are provided before the start of the season.

The more certain the sportsbooks are about a team winning the NBA, the lower the odds and payout will be. Also, the lower the degree of certainty over a team winning the championship, the bigger the potential payout will become.

Other popular NBA future bets are betting on a team to reach the playoffs, or to win their featured division or conference. You can also place NBA futures bets on individual players, like the potential winner of the NBA Rookie of the Year or the NBA Most Valuable Player award.

FAQ

Is it safe to place NBA bets online?

Yes, betting on NBA games from an online betting site is safe and secure, but only if the betting site is licenced and regulated by a respected and well-known regulator. The safest betting sites are also utilising the latest 128-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption technology, which is used to encrypt all data that is revealed to the betting platform. That way, unwanted third parties won’t be able to steal any sensitive information, such as your banking or personal information.

What types of NBA bets are there?

There are numerous NBA bets that you can wager at the sports betting sites. The most common ones are the money line bets, the spread bets, the total bets, the player prop bets, the team prop bets, the parlay bets, and the future bets. Most of these NBA betting markets come with different types of bets that represent betting on different things. For instance, the total bets provide you with a chance to bet on either over or under a particular total score.

What is a spread bet in the NBA?

A spread bet in the NBA is a type of bet that refers to how many points a team is expected to win or lose in an NBA game. This is a very useful betting option as the NBA teams are never perfectly matched, meaning that there will always be a difference between them. The sports betting sites are deciding by how many points they think a team will win or lose a game. With the spread bet, the task is for the team to outperform the sportsbook’s prediction about the game.

How do money line bets work in the NBA?

The money line bets are the simplest bets that you can place on the NBA games, and you can find them at any sports betting site that features the NBA games. This bet type allows you to choose which team will win a featured NBA game. It doesn’t matter how the team wins the game or by how many points. The featured NBA game can end in regular time or overtime, but the money line bet will still be active.

How do I bet on the NBA?

To bet on NBA games, you must first register and verify an account at a reputable sports betting site. Then you will need to deposit some funds into your account and go to the sports section of the betting site. Select the basketball tab and choose the NBA category to list the available games. The next step is to click on the bets that you want to wager on and confirm your bet. You will be able to withdraw the funds only if you win the bet.