Basketball is typically the second most popular sport in the United States behind football. This is true in both the amount wagered and the television ratings.
Sportsbooks offer a large variety of basketball betting. This includes the NBA and NCAA. Some live, mobile and online sportsbooks have restrictions on in-state college betting. For example, New Jersey sportsbooks were unable to take action on Saint Peter’s during the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament because there is a ban on all in-state college betting.
This created a big problem when that team made it into the Elite 8. Most states are not this strict. If there are any restrictions on college basketball betting, it usually pertains to individual player prop bets related to stats.
Bettors must be at least 21 at sportsbooks in Las Vegas. This is true at live sportsbooks in nearly all jurisdictions. A handful of tribal sportsbooks in Michigan are exceptions.
The minimum age for online and mobile sportsbooks is generally 21, with New Hampshire and Wyoming being exceptions, where the age is 18 to play. It is 19 to place sports bets in Washington DC. Unregulated sportsbooks usually have a minimum age of 18.
Online basketball betting guide
The first step in making an online basketball wager is by creating an account. You can do that at one of the mobile sportsbooks displayed above. You may be asked the state where you would like to play. After that, you will need to create a username and password.
The next step is to submit your name, email, street address, last four digits of your Social Security Number and date of birth. This personal information is used by the online sportsbook’s security department to verify your identity. Nevada players will need to visit a retail sportsbook to open an account due to regulations in that state.
Once you are approved to play, it is time to make a deposit. We have an online sportsbook deposit guide that can help with that. You may also be interested in our online gaming withdrawal guide.
Once you have your account open and funded, it is time to make a bet. The menu at an online sportsbook will usually be broken down by sport. It may also show the next events that are about to start. Find your favorite basketball game in this menu through either of those methods. You may need to filter between NCAA and NBA games.
This is where you will choose which basketball bets to make. The options available are typically point spreads, moneylines, totals, futures, props and in-game.
Making a live basketball bet
Making a basketball bet at a live sportsbook is different than at an online one. These types of bets may be made on a kiosk or at a ticket counter. Kiosk betting is nearly the same as doing it on the internet.
If you prefer to make a bet at the counter, you will need the betting rotation number for the game. This is found on the digital odds board or on basketball betting sheets found throughout the sportsbook.
You will need this number to place a bet. That helps the ticket writer find the game you want action on and prevents errors. Once you have your bets made and printed, check your tickets to ensure accuracy. If you don’t find the error at the counter, you are stuck with it.
Make sure to inquire about free drink tickets. These are common at Las Vegas sportsbooks, especially at locals casinos.
Betting basketball point spreads
The most popular way to bet a basketball game is by point spread. This is a handicap of points given to the favorite. For example, a basketball team listed as -3 must win by four points or more to cover the point spread. The underdog gets three points, which means that bet wins if the side wins outright or loses by one or two points. If the game ends with the favorite winning by three points, it is a push. All bets are returned in the same way a blackjack player pushes on 20 against a dealer 20.
Basketball point spreads can use half points. These games can’t push. If the spread is 2.5, the favorite covers by winning by three or more. The underdog covers by winning or losing by only one or two points.
Point spreads are available for college and professional basketball games. This includes the NCAA and NBA. These bets normally require a -110 lay, meaning that you will need to bet $11 for every $10 that you would like to win. Point spreads may be placed in straight bets, parlays and teasers.
Point spreads are available in several ways. You can typically bet a spread in any quarter, half, or for the entire game. These may also be parlayed, except for with the final outcome with another part of the same game.
Moneylines
A moneyline is a way to predict the winner of a basketball game without using a point spread. Instead, the favorite lays money, and the underdog receives money.
For example, a moneyline might say that the favorite is -180. This means that for every $10 that you would like to win on this team having an outright victory, you must lay $18. The underdog in this hypothetical matchup is +150. This ticket is paid $15 for every $10 wagered. Moneylines may be parlayed.
Totals
Totals are sometimes referred to as over/unders. These cover the number of points scored. The most common total is for an entire game. It may also be for a quarter or half. Totals may be parlayed. However, correlated ones that include a total for a game and part of a game together are not accepted.
Basketball parlays
A parlay involves betting two or more outcomes. This can be a same game or single game parlays. It can also involve multiple games. For example, you can parlay the point spread and total on the same game. You can also parlay two or more point spreads, moneylines and totals together.
Correlated parlays are not accepted. This means that you will not be able to bet a point spread and moneyline together on the same parlay ticket. You also can’t parlay a first half total with one that covers the entire game.
Parlays have large payouts. That is due to the need for all bets to win on the ticket. If one loses, the entire parlay ticket is lost. A push drops the parlay down one team. If you bet a three-team parlay, and two win and one pushes, it is paid as a two-team parlay. A two-team parlay with a push is dropped to a straight bet. That is a single bet on one outcome.
Teasers
Teasers are more common in football betting. However, there are a few sportsbooks that offer basketball teasers. These work like a parlay with a twist. A teaser allows the player to add 4, 4.5 or 5 points in their favor to a point spread or total. Two or more outcomes are placed on a teaser ticket. A five-point favorite on a 4.5-point basketball teaser has its spread moved to -0.5.
All parts of a teaser must win for the ticket to be paid. If any leg loses, the entire ticket is graded as a loss. Pushes drop a teaser down by one team. A two-team teaser with a push and a win is graded as a push.
Basketball futures betting
Futures bets involve a team winning its division, conference or championship. These are available for college and professional NBA teams.
For college, it may be for the team that wins the SEC, ACC, Big 10, Pac 12 or any other type of conference. It can also be which team wins a March Madness bracket or the Final Four. In the NBA, it is for division, conference and NBA Finals winners. These bets are typically accepted during the preseason and up until the end of the relevant event.
Props
Props on basketball games tend to cover individual player stats. This may be for how many points a player scores. It can also combine points, assists and rebounds. It could also be the number of free throw attempts or points scored.
Another type of basketball prop is the number of wins a team has. These must be placed before the season starts.
Live and in-play betting
Live betting, sometimes referred to as in-play or micro betting, is when a wager is made after tip off. These bets are typically accepted at halftime and during commercial breaks.
Last Updated on August 1, 2023 by John Mehaffey