When betting on basketball, it is important to understand the sport and the different types of bets that can be placed. This will ensure that you are better equipped to make informed decisions about which bets to place.
How to Bet on Basketball Online
When betting on basketball, it is important to understand the sport and the different types of bets that can be placed. This will ensure that you are better equipped to make informed decisions about which bets to place. There are three main types of basketball bets: total bets, handicap bets and bets on the outcome of the match.
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Types of basketball bets
In basketball, there are several kinds of bets to choose from. After all, you can bet on nearly everything: tournaments, leagues, and even championships.
Spread
Any fan of the NBA will tell you that games can become high scoring affairs as teams are only given 24 seconds on every possession to score. Due to these high scores, bookmakers use a spread, or line, to equalize the chances of either team winning a wager. The favorite is the team that is predicted to win by the bookmaker, and they will have a negative (-) spread. For example, if the Los Angeles Lakers are playing the Detroit Pistons and the Lakers are -7.5 point favorites, this means that they must win by 8 points or more in order for you to cash in on your bet. If you were to take the Pistons +7.5, then they can lose by up to 7 points and you will still win your bet.
Handicap
Handicap bets are based on the difference in points between the two teams. The bookmaker will set a handicap and you can bet on whether the team you are backing will win by more than the handicap, or whether the opposing team will lose by less than the handicap.
Moneyline
This type of bet is simple: you just need to pick who will win the game outright. No spreads or handicaps, just which team do you think will win? The odds will be adjusted according to each team’s chances.
Total (over/under)
This is a bet on the total number of points that will be scored in the game by both teams combined. The bookmaker will set a total and you can bet on whether the final score will be over or under that total.
Outcome of match bets
These are bets on, well, the outcome of the match! You can bet on who will win the game, by how many points and even which team will score first.
Quarter/1st Half Lines
Basketball bettors are able to place bets on the 1st quarter and 1st half lines before these contests begin. These bets can be best thought of as the game within the game. Bettors are wagering on who they think will win each of these mini-contests. 1st quarter and 1st half lines work the same as full game lines with aSpread, Moneyline and Totals all being offered.
Halftime Lines
For most people, the dawning of halftime means it’s time to change the channel, but for the avid sports investor, halftimes can become a thing of profit. Halftime lines are available DURING halftime only. Bettors can place wagers on the 2nd half lines which work the same way as full game lines.
Like any major American sport, you can parlay, essentially combine, your bets to increase the payout. For your parlay to hit, or win, ALL of the bets must cover. You can combine spread, totals, and moneyline bets to increase the payout of a parlay. A teaser bet is essentially the same as a parlay wager only the booksmaker gives you points to increase your odds of winning, but decrease your overall payout. For example, a -7.5 point favorite in the NBA could become a -2.5 point favorite in your teaser bet.
Futures
You can bet on basketball futures which are wagers placed on an event that will take place at some future date. The most popular basketball future is betting on who will win the NBA Championship
Proposition (prop) bets
A prop bet, also called a side bet, is any bet that doesn’t fall into one of the other categories such as spread, moneyline or totals. A few examples of basketball props include betting on how many points a specific player will score or if a team will make or miss the playoffs
Live basketball betting
A live bet is a wager that you may make after an event has started. The odds of sportbooks will change as the game goes on, depending on how things are going. Live betting isn’t only for those who miss their pre-game bets. It can also be used as a strategy. For example, if you see that one team is up by a lot at halftime, you may want to bet on the other team to make a comeback in the second half.
This is just a small sample of the types of bets that can be made on basketball. As you can see, there is a lot more to basketball betting than simply picking who will win the game. With so many different types of bets available, there is definitely something for everyone. So whether you are a casual fan or a die-hard hoops junkie, be sure to check out all the different ways you can bet on basketball.
Noah Belanger is a seasoned sports bettor with a decade of experience in the industry. He is the driving force behind the test reports and strategies on the LoonieBet Blog. With a unique perspective, Noah writes from the player's point of view, offering firsthand insights and expertise to help readers make informed decisions.
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