There’s no doubt that basketball is one of the most popular and exciting sports in the world. With such immense popularity worldwide, it’s no wonder that more than half of the planet’s population is betting on basketball.
That’s precisely why I’ve decided to make this guide and help you find your place in the world of basketball betting.
With a bit of knowledge and useful insight into the basics of the game and betting, you can come up with your own betting strategy, beat the odds and earn some extra cash while having lots of fun.
Since I want you to have that fun, I’ve taken my time to divide this article into four major parts to make your reading through it a walk in a park.
This guide will provide the following:
Basketball betting can be more exciting than you can possibly imagine, so without any further ado, let me take you down the rabbit hole and teach you what you need to know to turn the odds to your favor.
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Even though basketball is played in every corner of the planet, the American NBA is the pinnacle of the sport. The Olympics are the very heart of international basketball next to the World Cup. The Euro League is home to big competitions as well as Asia.
With worldwide popularity, basketball draws and attracts millions of fans from across the globe. The reasons for this are many, but I’ll give you one that matters the most, in my opinion – it’s extremely easy to follow this sport. That means that basketball provides tons of great betting opportunities.
The rules of the game are also pretty simple. There are two teams, each with five players, facing each other in a basketball court with the main goal to win the game by scoring more points. Players earn two points by successfully throwing the ball through the hoop of the opponents or three points if they manage to throw the ball outside of the immediate hoop area.
In the case of a foul, players get free throws, which earn them one point per throw. Matches last from 120 to 150 minutes and are divided into four quarters, each lasting 12 minutes. There are timeouts, breaks, and stoppages during the matches.
Basketball is one of the top ten fastest-growing sports in terms of the number of players and fans it attracts. Each NBA season offers over 1000 matches, so it’s safe to say that basketball is among the most intense sports.
What makes basketball attractive in the eyes of the gamblers is the fact that there are countless opportunities for players to score points, much more than hockey or football. High point score means a low factor of randomness, much lower than in football betting.
In other words, high-profile teams have much better chances of being victorious than in football.
If you’re a fan of basketball betting looking to start, you probably think that you have better chances of winning if you bet on the outcome of a match. Backing a winner is the best, and the easiest way to go because there are no draws in basketball.
Betting on the outcome of a match is great for starters, but let me help you expand on that by showing you the ropes of how to bet on basketball. Immense popularity means that there are tons of bookmakers offering a wide variety of betting markets and types where opportunistic gamblers can find many excellent opportunities.
To place a bet, you either bet on the home team (1) or their opponents (2).
A winner is decided in the overtime in games that go over the fourth quarter. That means that most basketball betting bookmakers will offer bets that include overtime. If you really want to learn how to bet on basketball, start with the most popular form of betting.
Handicap Betting
Spread or line betting is a type of handicap betting that revolves around the way point-scoring works. It works in two ways:
- The favourite team’ tally gets reduced for the advantage to the underdogs or
- The underdogs receive extra points
This is what ensures that odds are even, while uneven matches become more attractive in the eyes of the gamblers. Simply, handicap betting ensures higher odds and a safer bet.
Over/Under Betting
Another type of basketball betting that’s extremely popular among gamblers. A single game can go up to over 220 points scored. If you bet on a game yielding +190.5 points, you win a bet if 191 points are scored.
The average number of points scored per NBA game ranges from 180 to 220, which means that most bookmakers offer odds around these point scores.
First Quarter Betting
It’s possible to make bets on the first-half or first-quarter results. This is a type of basketball betting suitable for those who know the game, teams, and the players involved.
Sometimes, a team starts brightly but doesn’t have what it takes to win. If you think that’s the case, you can significantly increase your chances of winning a bet by going with this type of basketball betting.
Match Betting
First-quarter or first-half betting is pretty similar to a match bet. A match bet means placing a bet on the team you back, 1 or 2. If your team leads in the first half or quarter, you win a bet.
Player Betting
The next in line is player specific betting. This is one of the biggest betting activities in basketball. Every basketball team has that one player who is a star and fans’ favorite. Betting fans and gamblers can place bets on the player they like.
That includes betting on the top score the player is expected to win for his team during a specific match. The odds are usually low when it comes to top scoring. Most betting fans bet on their favorite top scorers simply because that’s an excellent way to follow a player or support a team.
Making Long Term Basketball Bets
You can place annual long-term bets on both NBA and basketball each year. Some sportsbooks offer betting markets that include the entire seasons such as the Rookie of the Year, the NBA MVP award and the NBA Championship winner.
Each team has a number of players that help them win through the season, but the MVP award goes to that star player that usually comes from the team that won the NBA Championship. To place your long-term bets, all you have to do is keep an eye on the team that has the best chances of making it to the NBA Finals.
Once you have your favourite, place your bets and hold your hopes high. That aside, don’t forget about the Rookie of the Year. This is a very vivid and exciting betting market where a lot of changes and fluctuations are going on.
These changes go on until the end of the season, as it all depends on the rookie. Some take time to adapt to becoming professional basketball players while others go on to become legends. The best examples are Shaquille O’Neal, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James.
International Basketball
The NBA is where the hottest action is, but don’t forget about European basketball. Euro League is a huge betting opportunity if you know where to look. I always say that two things are most important for becoming a professional gambler: knowledge and timing.
Betting outside of the NBA significantly increases your chances of winning big while it’s also an excellent opportunity to learn more about the game, the players that might help shape the future of basketball, and so on. Every experienced gambler will be interested in those kinds of things.
Europe has some of the best teams in the world that come from Italy, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, and Spain. Eurobasket is held every four years, and it’s one of the biggest international tournaments in basketball. With so many countries and teams involved, the betting options are endless.
In-Play and Live Stream Betting
Many sportsbooks allow you to live stream basketball games from across the globe, offering betting fans the chance to place their bets on matches of the highest-profile in basketball, using their computers, tablets, or other mobile devices.
Choose your sportsbook and live stream NBA to place your in-play bets on every game of the season. Follow the best teams in the world each week and let the lady luck scream your name. In-play betting on the NBA or Euro League means watching the game as it unfolds right before your eyes, which significantly increases your chances of winning.
NBA Transactions, Trades and Drafts
NBA drafts happen every year, and they include new and fresh talents that are eager to join the rosters. These drafts include eligible players from all parts of the world. More importantly, these new players are mostly college basketball players that bring new talent and skills to the game.
This is what every experienced gambler sees as a betting opportunity. The reason why this is so is that college basketball is where the real talent is, and these players are potentially the next stars that will go first. If you know how to pick the potential stars, you can place your bets on the player you think will be selected early in the next NBA draft.
You can also bet on a young player you think will do most for the team in the future. The options are literally endless. Every draft includes 60 new players, and they can be loaned, sold, exchanged, or signed to other teams. Each of these transactions is a betting opportunity.
Betting on basketball isn’t any different from placing bets on some other sport, so if you have any previous betting experience, it will do you good. In case you don’t, the following basketball betting tips should help to set you on the right course and increase your chances of winning.
Be Rational
When it comes to betting on basketball, you have to exclude all emotions from the equation. Be rational and think about what bet will win you some extra cash. Going only with your favourite team won’t get you anywhere. That’s why I always say that you need to know the game to be able to bet with success.
Pay Attention to Bankroll Management
Managing your bankroll is essential for basketball betting. This is a hobby. It should be fun and exciting. If you go all in and lose everything, it won’t be fun or exciting. So, place your bets with reason and never spend more than you can afford.
I’d say that the most recommendable method would be to spend around 3% of your total budget per bet. That covers a good chance of scoring while having fun and enjoying a game.
Look at the Stats
Statistics can be immensely helpful in finding your perfect betting strategy. Stats are a fantastic inspiration, but I’d encourage you to analyze them regularly before you place your bets. Also, talk to the experts, ask them what they think of the move you’re about to make.
You can also find a lot of exciting data and betting information on various betting sites on the internet. Look for free tips and betting predictions.
Watch for Teams and How Players React
You can learn a lot from watching only a few basketball games. This will show you how a particular team reacts to winning or losing, the form of the players, their experience, and skills. Some teams play lousy through the whole game while others change after the first quarter.
Making these betting predictions is a challenging task, even for the most experienced and professional gamblers. Still, if you can predict the scores at the half and full time, your chances of earning some extra cash increase. That’s why I always advise gamblers in the making to watch as many games as they possibly can.
Look for Value
Picking winners isn’t the essence of what makes you a successful basketball punter. I find it shocking that many experienced bettors don’t get this. Betting isn’t only about winning bets as you can have a high record of bets you’ve won so far but still end up losing money.
The secret to becoming a successful bettor isn’t in winning bets but in maximizing your bets by finding value. That means you only bet when the value is the highest.
Big Home Underdogs Have the Power
Never underestimate the power of the will that team players have when playing at home. There’s nothing more painful than losing at home in front of all the families, friends, and fans. This is the biggest reason why teams generally tend to show their best at home.
This goes especially for those who have ten or more points, the big home underdogs. They have bigger chances of covering the spread even though they don’t always win.
Sportsbooks Don't Pay Every Bet Equally
One of the most important tips I can give you is that sportsbooks don’t value every bet the same. The amount of money varies from a bet to a bet. If a team you bet on is a favorite, that lowers the win, but if your choice is an underdog team, your win gets higher.
The sportsbooks are aware of the fact that it’s quite easy to pick a winner of the game.
Lineups Matter Too
This is what most bettors fail to do. They mess this one up quite frequently, and it’s a common mistake, especially for those gamblers that place bets on multiple games. Checking the lineups significantly affects your betting success.
If your favorite team is missing their best player, they are hardly going to win. Therefore, placing a bet on that team is a waste of your money.
Things change in basketball all the time. Players miss the game or get hurt. You can track all the changes and place your bets like a real professional without letting anything to chance. By doing so, you’re avoiding the risk of losing money due to recklessness.
I really do hope that this guide will help you become a successful bettor and score some cash while enjoying your favourite sport.
Earning some extra cash has never been easier, and all you have to do to have some fun while betting is investing some time to know the game and how betting on it works.
Have you ever tried placing a bet on basketball? Do you have a couple of useful basketball betting tips you’d like to share with me? What is your basketball betting strategy? Do you have a favourite team? What odds are you into?
Leave a reply and let’s exchange some basketball betting knowledge my readers could use to step up their basketball betting game.
Is it possible to place a bet on the overtime in basketball?