David spent 25 years as both a writer and editor within the betting/casino industries - including at The Guardian, Racing Post, 888Casino and Sky Sports Racing - prior to joining BBI. He has a diploma in sub-editing and law, is the author of four books, and remains a successful sports tipster.
All posts by David Myers
Trevor Jones is an expert in iGaming with a passion for writing US sports, such as football and basketball, in particular. He is extremely knowledgeable about US gambling regulations and has previously contributed articles to Augusta Free Press, Tech Report, Basketball Insiders and Legal Sportsbooks. He is an avid sports and betting enthusiast and a huge fan of the Golden State Warriors, though follows all of the major sports leagues.
All posts by Trevor JonesBetting on NBA games is growing in popularity across the USA, with a range of options available for US bettors. The sites in our list below are all well-trusted names and have some of the most competitive odds on the market. Let’s take a deep dive into them.
Best NBA Betting Sites Ranked
Here are our top 10 picks for the best NBA sports betting sites in the US:
- BetOnline – The most competitive NBA odds around
- BetNow – Best customer support and leading rebate scheme
- Bovada – Huge welcome bonuses available
- Everygame – Intuitive site and app makes betting a breeze
- MyBookie – Strong live betting offering
- BUSR – Competitive basketball odds and great offers
- BetUS – Particularly attractive welcome bonuses
- Sportsbetting.ag – Best for NBA prop markets
- Xbet – Enhanced odds are the main draw
- Mega Dice – Up-and-coming sportsbook with great odds
Best NBA Betting Sites Reviewed
As all sportsbooks are unique and have their own strengths and weaknesses, we’ve taken the liberty of listing the key pros and cons of our top 5 NBA sportsbooks. This should help you determine the right one for you.
1. BetOnline – Best Odds Available at this NBA Betting Site
Since the complete makeover of its interface, the BetOnline sportsbook has looked and felt much more user-friendly. This NBA betting site continues to offer top odds and, perhaps most importantly, is dishing out a 50% welcome bonus up to $1,000 to newcomers on the site.
Once on the site, users can expect to find deep NBA futures markets. Back the winner of each Conference or the NBA Finals, which player will win the MVP award, or find NBA Coach of the Year betting odds long before the season gets underway.
Live betting is a further feature, enabling bettors to back their favorite teams while games are in play. Meanwhile, the prop markets roll deep at BetOnline: back the number of field goals, rebounds, assists, and three-pointers scored by a player/team with ease. BetOnline also has markets open for the NCAA and WNBA, too, while the odds are very competitive all round.
So far as offshore betting sites go, this is an NBA betting app that’s among the elite on the market.
What we like:
- The updated site offers a far superior user experience
- Futures available for NBA, the Olympics, and WNBA
- NBA Finals MVP & NBA Draft odds up early
- 50% deposit bonus up to $1,000 for new users
What we don’t:
- No live-streaming of NBA games
- Prop markets not as deep as some of the competition
2. BetNow – Deep NBA Markets and Excellent Customer Support
BetNow has quickly grown a reputation as one of the top sites for betting on North American sports. This, of course, includes basketball and the NBA. They have a combination of top-quality customer service, deep markets, and some of the best NBA betting odds around.
On BetNow’s sportsbook, you can find the most common types of bets including very competitive NBA betting lines for spread betting, over/under betting, and moneylines. Another area in which BetNow excels is its offering of live betting on the NBA. They have a ton of markets and bets are graded and credited in real-time.
For newcomers to betting on the NBA, BetNow offers guides and tips that can help you decide where to place your money. In addition, there is also current NBA news available which is useful for both less experienced and seasoned gamblers.
Nowadays welcome bonuses are offered by all top-quality online sportsbooks and BetNow is no different. Using the BetNow promo code new users can claim a 100% matched deposit worth up to $1,000.
What we like:
- Excellent 24/7 customer service
- Deep live betting markets
- Hints and tips on NBA betting
- Large re-up bonuses
- Quality loyalty program
What we don’t:
- Site design is a little basic
3. Bovada – NBA Betting Site with a Solid Bonus
An NBA sportsbook with plenty of markets, Bovada features game lines for futures, game day, and NBA live betting. The prop markets are also amongst the most extensive we’ve seen.
The NBA betting site itself is user-friendly. There are many pages dedicated to betting on basketball, providing readers with tips, advice, previews, and the latest news. The sportsbook itself certainly looks the part too – it’s a stylish application with the NBA betting lines laid out clearly. This is most certainly an NBA sportsbook that is easy to navigate – and fun to use too.
What we like:
- Deep markets for NBA futures
- Welcome bonus for new users
- Stats and metrics are available at the click of a button
- Rewards patrons regularly with bonuses + referral bonus
What we don’t:
- No live streaming of the NBA in the US
4. Everygame – Easy-to-Use NBA Betting Site
With over 20 years in the business, Everygame is another famed NBA betting site. The sportsbook provides competitive odds, lines, and spreads for just about every basketball game imaginable.
NBA live betting is a particular focus of Everygame. The NBA section takes its in-play betting seriously and serves up an enviable platter of interesting prop bets to patrons. There are also red-hot in-play offers during games, with extra hot in-play offers available during the NBA playoffs/finals.
What we like:
- Futures updated swiftly for NBA finals
- Easy site to navigate; fewer options but more streamlined
- Good bonus offer
- NBA odds are very competitive
What we don’t:
- No live streaming of NBA
- No basketball odds for NCAAB
- Lack of options in prop markets for game day bets
5. MyBookie – One of the Best NBA Betting Sites for Live, In-Play Wagers
When looking for an NBA betting site that fully delivers in terms of options, competitive odds, and has a futures market with real depth, it’s hard not to mention MyBookie.
This NBA sportsbook publishes markets early including lines for both regular and post-season games. MyBookie offers the main selection of NBA betting lines, including moneyline, spreads, and total points. There is a wide range of prop markets and competitive live betting too.
The NBA betting site is also dishing out a 50% welcome bonus up to $1,000 for newcomers to the site. There are also reload bonuses, plenty of special promotions, and enhanced odds offers for the biggest basketball games.
What we like:
- Tons of options for NBA game day and futures
- Parlay betting feature
- 50% deposit bonus up to $1,000 for new users
- Rewards patrons regularly with bonuses + referral bonus
What we don’t:
- No live streaming of NBA
- No basketball odds for WNBA or NCAA
NBA Betting Explained
![Best NBA Betting Sites [cur_year] - Compare Top NBA Sportsbooks Online](https://www.basketballinsiders.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/231109-BetOnline-Basketball-Lines.jpg)
There are three main betting lines you’ll encounter when wagering on the NBA: moneyline, spread, and total points betting.
Wagering on the moneyline is easy because it is simply betting on which team you think will win the game. Looking at the example above, the Orlando Magic are +133 versus the Atlanta Hawks at -153. This means a $100 bet on the Magic to win would net you $133. If you opt instead to go for the favorites, the Hawks at -153, you would have to bet $153 to win $100.
Looking at the spread, the Magic +3.5 are at -113 and the Hawks -3.5 are at -107. This means for your bet on the Magic to win, they must either win or lose by 3 points or fewer. Conversely, for your bet on the Hawks to win, they must beat the Magic by at least 4 clear points.
The total points market is set at 231.5, with both the over and under having the same odds, -110. This means if the game finishes 120-109, under 231.5 would win as there were 229 points scored in the game. Conversely, if the game finishes 123-111, over 231.5 would win as the total number of points scored would be 234.
NBA Betting Tips
Once you’ve selected your preferred NBA betting site, deposited your money, and claimed any bonuses, it’s time to place your bets.
If you are familiar with NBA betting, you’ll know what to do, but this section is designed to help novices devise a coherent NBA betting strategy.
NBA Betting Markets
There are three main types of market for betting on the NBA: Futures, game day (game lines/props), and live in-play betting markets. Let’s take a look at these in more detail.
The NBA Futures Markets: Betting on NBA Futures
The NBA season tends to run from mid-October to mid-April, with the National Basketball Association playoffs beginning soon after. Once the champions have been crowned in June, futures markets for the next season aren’t far behind.
The NBA futures betting markets consist of both team and player futures. These run throughout the season and the odds can fluctuate depending on team and player form.
NBA Team Futures Betting
![Best NBA Betting Sites [cur_year] - Compare Top NBA Sportsbooks Online](https://www.basketballinsiders.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/231109-BetOnline-Basketball-Outrights.jpg)
This screenshot was taken in November 2023 and details the NBA betting odds for each team to win the 2023-24 NBA Championship. The 2022-23 champion Denver Nuggets are the joint second favorites at +450, with just the Boston Celtics ahead of them at +375. Milwaukee and Phoenix are next on the list.
In addition to this, there are usually outright markets on conference and division winners too.
Betting on the NBA Division, Conference & Finals Winners
There are 30 teams in the NBA and those teams are divided into two conferences – the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. The Eastern Conference is split into three divisions called Atlantic, Central, and Southeast. The Western Conference is split into three divisions too: The Northwest, Pacific, and Southwest.
So, with regards to betting on NBA futures, you might see the following odds on BetOnline for the Milwaukee Bucks to win…
- The NBA Championship/Finals +450
- The Eastern Conference +175
- The Central Division -290
Some NBA sportsbooks allow you to wager on other team futures too. You might come across a wager for the highest-scoring team, or the team with the most rebounds, etc. Each site takes a different approach so we suggest shopping around and seeing what’s available.
NBA Player Futures Bets
![Best NBA Betting Sites [cur_year] - Compare Top NBA Sportsbooks Online](https://www.basketballinsiders.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/231110-BetOnline-NBA-MVP-Futures.jpg)
There are futures markets for players too. The most common market of all is the NBA finals MVP. Practically every NBA betting site will have NBA betting odds on the MVP months before the season gets underway.
The NBA players’ futures markets are deep and varied. Besides an outright bet on the MVP, fans can wager on the player to have the most points, the most rebounds, assists, and plenty more over the season.
BetUS is a particularly great option for futures betting because they list outright markets well ahead of time. Current specials include:
- Will James Harden Become An NBA Champion Before Retiring?
- Will Chris Paul Become An NBA Champion Before Retiring?
- Will Jimmy Butler Become An NBA Champion Before Retiring?
Related content: NBA Players Statistics
NBA Players Leaderboard
Game Day Betting: Betting on an NBA Game
If futures bets are bets you make way in advance of the event taking place, think of game day betting as a kind of mini-future, or a short-sighted futures bet.
As with all betting, you are still predicting a future event – it’s just that when betting on a game, you’ll see the outcome of your bet in a much shorter period of time.
Basketball Odds
League: NBA
- All
- NFL
- NCAA
- Pro Boxing
- Premier League
- Bundesliga
- National League
- Championship
- Superliga
- Eredivisie
- WC Qualification, UEFA
- Valhalla Cup 2025 Week #45
- AO VIVO
- Serie A
- Super Lig
- Primera Division
- LaLiga
- Brasileiro Serie A
- Premiership
- Valkyrie Cup 2025 Week #45
- Ligue 1
- NHL
- Roland Garros
- UEFA Champions League
- UEFA Europa League
- UEFA Conference League
- ATP Challenger Matsuyama, Japan Men Singles
- International Championship
- Brazil Street LNF
- ATP Challenger Helsinki, Finland Men Singles
- ATP Challenger Knoxville, USA Men Singles
- ATP Challenger Taipei, Chinese Taipei Men Singles
- 1. Liga
- ATP Challenger Lima 3, Peru
- X-Battle IPL
- Europe Super League
- Australian Open
- Rizin Landmark 12
- Modus Super Series
- Berserk CS2 League 2025 Week #45
- China Super League
- Brasileiro Serie B
- Ekstraklasa
- Primera A, Clausura
- UFC Fight Night: Bonfim vs Brown
- A-League
- AFC Champions League Elite
- Africa Cup 2x4
- South American Championship (1 set — 25 pts)
- CEV EuroVolley (1 set — 25 pts)
- Pro Kabaddi League (2x5 min)
- Kabaddi World Cup (2x5 min)
- Eerste Divisie
- LaLiga 2
- Copa Libertadores
- Serie B
- ATP Athens, Greece
- ATP Metz, France
- League Two
- National League North
- National League South
- SA Championship, Women (1 set — 25 pts)
- CEV EuroVolley, Women (1 set — 25 pts)
- Primeira Liga
- Liga MX, Apertura
- Parva Liga
- J.League
- J.League 2
- Japan
- EURO
- UEFA
- Brazil
- France League 1
- Valhalla Cup 3 2025 Week #45
- KSW 112
- Liga Profesional
- LigaPro Primera A
- Ligue 2
- Saudi Pro League
- 2. Liga
- 2nd Bundesliga
- NBA CBA
- England Championship
- Men's International
- Indian Cup
- Spain
- Venezuela
- UTR Pro Series Men
- NCAA, Regular Season
- Intel Extreme Masters Chengdu 2025
- S | BLAST R6 Major Munich 2025
- Super League 1
- Liga Portugal 2
- Pro League
- Thai League 1
- Super League
- ATP Challenger Matsuyama, Japan Men Doubles
- Eliteserien
- NBA Philippine Cup
- NBA Turkey
- NBA Spain
- Bangladesh - Premier League
- Liga Nacional de Futevôlei
- I Liga
- Challenger Pro League
- K-League 2
- CCT Season 3 South American Series #6
- ATP Metz, France Double
- 1st Division
- ATP Challenger Helsinki, Finland Men Doubles
- Handboldligaen
- ITF Hamamatsu, Japan Women
- ATP Challenger Knoxville, USA Men Doubles
- ATP Athens, Greece Doubles
- DHB Pokal
- ATP Challenger Taipei, Chinese Taipei Men Doubles
- Euroleague
- NBA France
- Yodha Premier League 2025 Week #45
- Challenger Series
- Allsvenskan
- ESL Challenger League Season 50: Europe - Cup #4
- KHL
- K-League 1
- NB I
- Liga Pro 4X4, 3 sets (3rd to 15)
- VHL
- MHL
- Liga Pro
- Baller League UK
- ITF Liberec, Czechia Women
- University League
- NBA FIBA Europe
- NBA Current
- HNL
- Isthmian Premier Division
- 1. Division
- League 2
- Challenge League
- League 1
- Division 1
- Handbollsligan
- Kings League (2 x 20 min)
- Valhalla League 2025 Week #45
- NBA FIBA Americas
- Berserk Dota 2 League 2025 Week #45
- BLAST Rivals Fall 2025
- ESL Challenger League Season 50: South America - Cup #4
- MLS
- Liga Pro Women
- CIS Battle 3
- T20 SA West End Cup
- Big Bash League, Women
- WTA Finals Women
- NMHL (MHL - B)
- Mestaruusliiga
- Primera División Reserve
- ATP Challenger Lima 3, Peru Doubles
- NODWIN Clutch Series #2
- Novo Basquete Brasil
- UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev
- ESL Challenger League Season 50: Oceania - Cup #4
- PrvaLiga
- ESL Challenger League Season 50: North America - Cup #4
- 1. Lig
- Primera B
- NBA
- WE League, Women
- Jordan 1st Division
- 2nd Division
- CCT Season 3 European Series #10
- UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs Hooker
- Int. Friendly Games
- UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs Yan 2
- BLAST Slam IV
- MPL Malaysia Season 16
- Veikkausliiga
- J3 League
- Euro Hockey Tour
- Liga Siatkowki
- Liga Nacional. Apertura
- Liga 1
- Stars League
- AHL
- Shillong First Divison League
- Exort Series #18
- LKL
- Campionato Primavera 1
- Indian Super Cup
- WTA Finals Doubles
- Liga ABA
- Northern Premier League
- Insight Season 9
- WBL, Women
- Qbl
- T20 Internationals
- NBB
- Hong Kong Premier League U22
- Asian Cup 2x15
- UTR Pro Series Women
- Elite Exhibition Boxing
- Elite Boxing
- FA Cup
- Primera Division, Clausura
- USL Championship
- Showmatch
- Carioca, Serie B1
- ICC Test Championship
- NB II
- Superliga, Women
- BBL
- T20 Falcons Champions Trophy
- Copa Argentina
- Copa Colombia
- Copa Sudamericana
- Extraliga, Women
- Bundesliga, Women
- VTB United League
- ICC Cricket World Cup League Two
- PLK
- Serie C, Group A
- USL League One
- MLS Next Pro
- U19 ODI Series
- A1 Semi Pro League
- NBL
- SV League
- WJBL, Women
- ICC ODI Championship
- ATP Challenger Lima 2, Peru Men Doubles
- Superleague
- Worlds 2025
- U17 World Cup, Women
- KBL
- Campionato Primavera 2
- EPL Regular Season 2
- T20 Sharjah CBFS
- King Pro League Grand Finals 2025
- Dust2.us Eagle Masters #4 Playoffs
- CrossFire Mobile League Season 18
- Youth League, Women
- Egyptian Volleyball League, Women
- Superettan
- Kosovo Superliga Women
- WASL Gulf League
- WABA League
- SBL
- WJBL Future League, Women
- League One
- ULLH
- Thai League 2
- NIFL Premiership Development League
- 1. Lig, Women
- Persha Liga
- U21 Professional Development League
- 3. HNL
- Reserves Future Cup
- Galaxy Battle 2025 // Phase 5
- Highlights
- Schedule
Fractional Format- European
- American
- Hong Kong
- Indonesian
- Malaysian
- Fractional
Live Basketball
NBA
Basketball
November 3, 01:00 AM UTCNov 3, 01:00 AM UTCLive
1.Phoenix Suns
2.San Antonio Spurs
November 3, 01:00 AM UTCNov 3, 01:00 AM UTCLive12.7+1701.7-0.5881.717/10X19+180018-0.0561818/121.57-175-1.7540.570.5757/100
NBA
Basketball
November 3, 02:30 AM UTCNov 3, 02:30 AM UTCLive
1.Los Angeles Lakers
2.Miami Heat
November 3, 02:30 AM UTCNov 3, 02:30 AM UTCLive11.57-175-1.7540.570.5757/100X14+130013-0.0771313/122.82+1821.82-0.5491.8291/50Show more +
Upcoming Basketball
Show more +
There are no events at the moment
Basketball Schedule
November03 MonNovember04 TueNovember05 WedNovember06 ThuNovember07 FriNovember08 SatNovember09 SunShow more +
There are no events at the moment
NBA Betting Online Odds Release Dates & When to Bet
NBA game lines come into their own on game day itself. It is important never to rush to bet on game lines though. It’s usually better to wait until as close to the match as possible as you need key information to make an informed decision. For example: Will Ja Morant be fit? This is the kind of news you want cleared up before you bet on/against a Grizzlies win!
That said, there are times to rush in early too:
1) Sometimes sportsbooks can jump the gun and under/overvalue a certain team or player. Pro bettors are on the lookout for this kind of over/under-sight and charge in, putting down huge money on team X to win and player Y to score 40 points. Smart NBA sportsbooks will later shorten the odds.
2) If you have inside information on something very few people know, for example a key player being out through injury or illness.
Other than that, we would recommend not wagering on NBA game lines until approximately 24 hours before the game begins at the earliest.
Betting on NBA Game Lines
![Best NBA Betting Sites [cur_year] - Compare Top NBA Sportsbooks Online](https://www.basketballinsiders.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/231110-BetOnline-NBA-76ers-Pistons.jpg.jpg)
There are three key game lines that every NBA betting site will feature odds for: moneyline, point spread, and total points (Over/Under). In the example from BetOnline above, you can see these at the top in the ‘Game Period’ box.
Game Day Prop Betting on the Best NBA Betting Sites
![Best NBA Betting Sites [cur_year] - Compare Top NBA Sportsbooks Online](https://www.basketballinsiders.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/231110-BetOnline-NBA-76ers-Pistons-Props.jpg)
Prop market betting is also a key part of betting on a game. Within 24 hours of it beginning, NBA sportsbooks will usually introduce their prop options, i.e., the fun stuff. In the example above, the Double Double and Triple Double markets have been expanded, but there are other options too. These include Head-to-Head, First Point Scorer, First Point/Winner Double, Most Points Scorer, Player Performance Doubles, and a range of Parlays.
Remember, betting on props alongside betting on a game line is particularly fun when you parlay your bets. The odds are improved as the chance of two events (or more) happening is less. This is something that pro bettors who have done their research seek to exploit come game day.
There are more detailed explanations of NBA betting lines, how they work, and how to bet on the NBA further on down the page.
Latest NBA News
NBA
Luka Doncic Joins Wilt Chamberlain For NBA Record After Historic Start
Luka Doncic returned Friday from two separate injuries to add yet another 40-point outing to his season total, in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 117-112 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Luka Doncic Records Third Straight 40-Point Game Doncic, who missed the previous three games with a sprained finger on his left hand and a lower left […]
NBA
Bucks’ Kevin Porter Jr. Out 4 Weeks With Torn Meniscus
Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. will undergo a “minor orthopedic procedure” to address a torn meniscus in his right knee and is expected to miss around four weeks, the team announced Friday. Kevin Porter Jr. Was Already Out With A Left Ankle Sprain Porter, who was working his way back from a left ankle […]
NBA
Pacers’ Obi Toppin To Undergo Foot Surgery, Out At Least 3 Months
Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin will undergo surgery to repair a partial stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot, the team announced Friday. Obi Toppin Sidelined With Hamstring, Foot Injuries Toppin was already expected to miss at least a month because of a right hamstring strain. His recovery timeline for the right […]
NBA
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Home Burglarized During Thunder-Wizards Game
Police are investigating a break-in at the Nichols Hills home of Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Law enforcement officers say the house was burglarized around 10 p.m. on Thursday, during the Thunder’s game at the Paycom Center against the Washington Wizards. According to News 9, sources said no one was inside the home at […]
College Basketball
NCAA Implements Player Availability Reports For Men’s, Women’s Basketball Tournaments
The NCAA announced Thursday that it will implement player availability reports for the 2026 men’s and women’s basketball tournaments in March. HD Intelligence To Serve As Reporting Service Provider According to the NCAA’s news release, HD Intelligence will serve as the NCAA’s player availability reporting service provider. HDI currently provides similar services to multiple NCAA […]
NBA
76ers Exercise Third-Year Option on Jared McCain
The Philadelphia 76ers exercised their third-year contract option for second-year guard Jared McCain on Thursday. The move keeps McCain under contract with the team through the 2026-27 season. Jared McCain Remains Sidelined After Suffering UCL Tear McCain has not played yet this season after suffering a UCL tear in his right thumb in late September. […]
NBA
Cavaliers’ Jarrett Allen Suffers Broken Left Ring Finger
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen is listed as questionable ahead of Friday night’s NBA Cup game against the Toronto Raptors after breaking the ring finger on his left hand. Jarrett Allen Played Through Finger Injury Against Celtics Allen, 27, sustained the injury during pregame warmups before Wednesday’s 125-105 loss to the Boston Celtics, which ended […]
NBA
Victor Wembanyama Leads Spurs To Franchise’s First 5-0 Start
Victor Wembanyama led the San Antonio Spurs to their first 5-0 start in franchise history on Thursday night with a fifth straight double-double, posting a team-high 26 points to go with 18 rebounds, six assists, and five blocks in a 107-101 home win over the Miami Heat. “It feels great,” said Wembanyama, who finished 10-of-23 […]
Live Betting at NBA Sportsbooks
Most NBA betting sites allow basketball fans to wager live in-play while the game is broadcast on TV or, if you’re lucky, on the app itself.
NBA live betting makes betting on basketball more fun. It’s fast-paced and provides tons of extra options, especially in the form of prop bets. Different bookmakers have different options, so shop around. Here are some examples, but the list is not exhaustive:
Player Prop Bets
- First player to score a field goal
- Next player to score a 3-pointer
- Which player will score the first 3-pointer?
- Over/Under on player points in the game/half/quarter: Giannis Antetokounmpo +/- 30pts, for example
- Number of rebounds (over/under)
- Number of assists (over/under)
- How many times will Trae Young steal the ball?
Team Prop Bets
- Which team scores first
- Which team scores last
- Over/under on team points per half/quarter
- Winning margin
- Winning margin per half/quarter (over/under)
- Will player X score a 3-pointer (Yes/No)
- Will there be overtime?
- Home team total points in the game/half/quarter
- Away team total points in the game/half/quarter
Again, there are many more prop betting options on game day – just keep checking the site(s) of your choice.
How to Bet on Basketball
NBA betting is a much simpler and more enjoyable practice when you know what you’re doing.
If you’re going to make any money betting on NBA games, it’s imperative you understand the three major game lines we introduced earlier: Moneyline, Points Spread, and Total Points.
Practically every other bet, bar simple yes/no bets, are variation of these three game lines. It might be that it’s a quarter not a game on the moneyline, or it might be that it’s player points and not team points on the over/under, or two players duking it out on the spread. However, the same rules apply, so please do read on if you’re unclear and we’ll explain in full.
NBA Moneyline Betting
![Best NBA Betting Sites [cur_year] - Compare Top NBA Sportsbooks Online](https://www.basketballinsiders.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/231110-BetOnline-NBA-Lines.jpg)
The moneyline is the simplest market to understand – all you need to do is back the team you think will win the game (or half/quarter).
Let’s use the 76ers vs. Pistons game in the example from BetOnline above.
Philadelphia 76ers -335 Detroit Pistons +280 As you can see, the Philadelphia 76ers are overwhelming favorites to win the match with odds of -335. This means you need to bet $335 to win $100.
The Pistons are the outsiders at +280. This means if you wager $100, you’ll win $280.
You could get your calculator out to work out trickier odds like +119 and -139 like in the Clippers vs. Mavericks match above. However, there really isn’t much point as the best NBA betting sites will do the groundwork for you. As a consequence, moneyline betting is very easy indeed.
NBA Points Spread Betting
The best NBA betting sites will also feature points spread betting as one of their main NBA betting lines.
Oddsmakers figure out which NBA team is the favorite or underdog for the game and then, to keep things competitive, the spread (+/-) is set to even out the odds.
Let’s look again at the 76ers vs. Pistons example from BetOnline above.
Philadelphia 76ers -8.5 (-105) Detroit Pistons +8.5 (-115) In this example, the odds have been evened as the Pistons have been gifted 8.5 points. This counteracts their underdog status in the Moneyline.
As underdogs, the Pistons have been set the challenge of losing to the 76ers by fewer than (+)8.5 points. If the Pistons can keep things competitive and lose narrowly (for example by 116-113), or if the Pistons pull off a shock upset and win the game, you win too at odds of -115.
The same is true in reverse for the 76ers. Oddsmakers have tasked them with winning the game by more than 8.5 points. This means if you wager on the 76ers at -8.5 to win on the NBA spread and they win by nine points or more, you will win at odds of -105.
NBA Total Points Betting
The third and final common market when NBA betting online is the total points market.
All you’re doing here is visiting one of the best NBA sportsbooks and wagering on whether the total number of points scored (by both teams combined) will be over/under a certain amount.
Again, let’s look at the 76ers vs. Pistons example from BetOnline above.
Philadelphia 76ers O221.5 (-115) Detroit Pistons U221.5 (-105) Looking at the table above, you can see oddsmakers have set the over/under total at 221.5. This means that if the game finishes 120-97, the under 221.5 bet will be successful as the points total will be 217 (120+97). Conversely, if the game finishes 123-101, then over 221.5 will win as the points total will be 224 (123+101). Who wins is irrelevant, it’s just the total number of points scored in the game that matters.
These over/under bets appear regularly in the prop betting markets too. As mentioned, NBA betting online is nothing if not extremely varied and full of options. One example from the aforementioned match is whether Joel Embiid will have O4.5/U4.5 assists.
Finally, never bet more than you can afford, and have fun out there!
NBA Teams
Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets
Charlotte Hornets
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Dallas Mavericks
Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
Memphis Grizzlies
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
New Orleans Pelicans
New York Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder
Orlando Magic
Philadelphia 76ers
Phoenix Suns
Portland Trail Blazers
Sacramento Kings
San Antonio Spurs
Toronto Raptors
Utah Jazz
Washington Wizards
NBA Team Standings & Stats
FAQs
What does +175 mean on the moneyline?
How does NBA spread betting work?
Is it legal to bet on NBA games?
How do NBA bets work?
