The basketball season is a big one, not just for the players or the coaches, but also for sports fans. During this period, punters have a plethora of options at the best online sportsbooks like N1bet. Plus, you can place pre-match wagers or stake on live events on betting sites.
If you want to improve your knowledge about wagering on basketball, keep reading. We have explored betting lines, the odds, and how to wager on the sport.
Betting Lines
There are many betting lines basketball players can choose from. These range from moneyline to accumulators. We have explained the markets you’ll find in basketball betting today.
Moneyline
This is the most basic wager you can place. You simply need to stake on which team will win the game. For instance, consider a game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers. Punters can bet on the Lakers winning the game. If the Lakers do win, you get a payout.
Handicap/Spreads
A basketball spread bet is one where the weaker team is given the advantage to level the playing field. This means that the stronger team is given a disadvantage and must win by certain points to cover the spread.
For example, if the Minnesota Timberwolves play against the Miami Heat, and the Heat are a -5.0 favorite. If you wager on the Miami Heat to win the game, the team must win by more than 5.0 points to cover the spread.
Over/Under
This is another popular bet type. Here, you stake on the teams playing to win more or less than a predetermined number.
Let’s say Duke and Michigan State are scheduled to face off with a total of 155.5 points. If you predict they will score more than 155.5 points collectively, you will wager on the over. However, if you believe Duke and Michigan State would not score that many points, you will bet on the under.
Winner Margin
Instead of simply betting on which team will win the game, you also wager on how many points the team will score. Consider a game between the Indiana Pacers and the Golden State Warriors. You can bet that the latter will beat the former by ten points. If the Golden State Warriors end up winning by ten points, you win your wager.
Race to Point
Race to the point is another prevalent market in basketball betting. The betting line requires that you guess which team will reach a specified number of points first. Let’s say there’s a game between the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks. You can bet that the Chicago Bulls will be the first team to score 20 points in the game. If this occurs, you win the wager.
Future
Like other sports, basketball lets you place future stakes. These are betting markets that require wagers on events months before their occurrence. A good example is betting on which team will win the NBA. If you win the wager, you get your payout afterward.
Props
There are many events surrounding basketball games that might not directly affect the game’s result. A good example is a player from a team scoring the first point. Online sportsbooks also let you wager on such events. Another good example of a proposition bet is predicting who the next permanent club manager will be.
Winner Odds in Basketball
Before placing stakes on the game, you must fully understand odds that determine how much you’ll be paid if your bet wins. That means the better they are, the more money you make from your winning bets.
Basketball odds are read in the same way that other sports odds are. First, you should understand that there are different odd formats, the most common being American, Decimal, and Fractional. For this text, we’ll be using the American odds format.
American odds revolve around $100, but what you win depends on whether you wager on a favorite or an underdog. The choices are those with a minus sign in front of their odds (e.g., -120). In this case, the odds tell you how much you need to bet to win $100. For instance, if the odds are -150, you need to wager $150 to get $100.
On the other hand, the odds with a plus sign, which represent the underdog, tell you your gain with a $100 bet. For instance, a $100 wager with odds of -200 means that you win $200 for your bet.
Now that you understand more about basketball betting odds, here are the most common leagues and tournaments you can wager on.
NBA Betting
Basketball is played in the NBA (National Basketball Association), a professional league in North America. One of the top professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, the league has 30 teams. It is the world’s top men’s professional league.
Throughout the season, there are a lot of NBA games played, meaning that there are tons of betting markets. On sites like N1Bet, you can place pre-match and NBA live bets.
College Basketball Betting
Teams from colleges and institutions compete in college basketball. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is the most well-known college league in America. However, others exist, like the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Placing a bet on basketball games is similar to betting on any other sport. However, you should learn about the odds before placing your stakes.
Olympic Basketball
Basketball became part of the Olympics in 1936. As you already know, the Olympics is one of the most-watched competitions in the world. On reputable sportsbooks like N1Bet, you’ll find the best Olympic basketball odds.
Basketball Betting Tips
Betting basketball online is very simple, especially when you’re a seasoned gambler. However, if you’re still new to the sports betting scene, here’s how to bet basketball:
Choose an Online Betting Site
Choosing the right sportsbook is the first step to placing a bet. There are multiple sites available, but you must evaluate each one before deciding which one you prefer. Platforms like N1Bet has everything you need to make your betting session worthwhile. This includes great odds, bonuses, and multiple basketball markets.
Register
Once you’ve found a site that meets your requirements, the next step is to register. Like many modern gambling sites, registration is easy. For instance, at N1Bet, you simply need to visit the site. Click the signup button and enter the necessary details. Once done, click “Create account” to complete the process.
Deposit
You need to fund your account after registering, as you must stake with real money. For this, navigate to the cashier or payments page and select the “deposit” option. Pick your payment method, enter the amount you want to deposit, fill in other details, and complete the transaction.
Place Your Bets
After a successful deposit, you can bet on basketball online. Simply visit the lobby, pick basketball, choose the game you want to wager on, and place your wagers.