Basketball has plenty of fans worldwide and bookmakers dedicate ample coverage to it. Whether you choose to bet on the NBA, the top European football leagues or international competitions, our basketball betting guide will help you make the right choices.
Learning how to bet on basketball isn’t a time-consuming activity, but punters should know that this is also a never-ending learning process. Each NBA team plays 82 matches every season, so there are plenty of betting opportunities on this championship alone. Not surprisingly, we pay special attention to NBA betting strategies, without neglecting the other important tournaments worldwide. From our guide, you can learn more about the bets available and the strategies that can yield better results.
- Focus on two or three basketball leagues, including the NBA.
- Follow a handful of teams to establish patterns and identify key players.
- Make good use of betting spreads and under/over markets.
- How to bet on sports
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GETTING TO GRIPS WITH BASKETBALL BETTING SUCCESS
Basketball fans should first and foremost learn how to bet on the NBA, by far the strongest championship in the world. With hundreds of games scheduled every month and thousands of betting markets to choose from, the NBA offers unique opportunities. At the same time, it poses unique challenges that need to be thoroughly understood, so punters have a better chance of winning. The season is long and intense, so fatigue and injuries need to be factored in when weaving coherent NBA betting strategies.
Savvy punters can go a step further and spend some time looking at the most promising players from college basketball. Such players have the potential of becoming the stars of tomorrow and have an important impact on the teams that successfully draft them. While trying to learn how does the NBA work, it pays to keep a close eye on these rookies, even if you don’t necessarily bet on their matches. Meanwhile, focus your attention and energy on two or three NBA teams, watch their games and see what the coaches have to say.
FOCUS ON THE BASKETBALL MARKETS YOU KNOW AND UNDERSTAND
Our basketball betting guide can help you get a better understanding of not only the NBA, but also European and international competitions. While the formats of these tournaments differ greatly, the same basketball betting strategies can work wonders if employed correctly. Bookmakers offer moneyline, points totals and spread betting on all these matches and they work identically, regardless of the tournament. As a rule of thumb, mainstream markets are preferable to more diverse ones especially for beginners and casual punters. That’s because less research is needed and the likelihood of getting the facts wrong is greatly reduced. It is also much easier to identify the value in the odds offered by the bookmakers, so you don’t risk betting on markets that carry a crushing house edge. It’s the same when you learn
how to bet on golf
and
how to bet on rugby.
ENJOY A LONG SEASON OF BASKETBALL BETTING THRILLS
The beauty of learning how to bet on the NBA is that the return on investment is exceptional, because of the sheer length of the season. It is definitely worth spending the time to understand how this league works, identify the best teams and the most promising players. Each NBA club plays 82 games per year, so even if you choose just a couple of teams to bet on, the wagering opportunities will be ample.
Games are scheduled on a daily basis, so the action never stops when it comes to NBA betting.
Because of the extraordinary popularity of the NBA and its dominant position among basketball leagues, all bookmakers dedicate ample coverage to it. Intense competition benefits players who can afford to shop around for the best odds. Our basketball betting guide teaches you how to maximize the return on investment by placing intelligent bets. Meanwhile, punters should do their due diligence, and compare the odds offered by several bookmakers to find the ones offering the best value.
- Take the time to watch games, read the latest articles about the teams you follow and pay attention to the fitness of their key players.
- Don’t bet exclusively on favorites and keep an open mind for spread and even Moneyline betting on underdogs.
- Consider prop bets and wagers on the outright winner, while shopping around for the best odds at various bookmakers.
CHOOSE YOUR BET – POPULAR, STRATEGIC & FUN BETS TO TRY!
After learning how to bet on basketball, the next obvious step is to take a closer look at the different types of bets available. The advantage of NBA betting is that matches are scheduled on a daily basis and each game has dozens of betting markets available. Punters can bet on the winners, the margin of victory, and the total number of points as well as more exotic events. Those who enjoy the adrenaline of a basketball match can make each play more exciting by betting on the total number of three-pointers, the first team to reach a predetermined number of points, and the winners of each quarter.
MONEYLINES
The first thing that comes to mind when we think about basketball and NBA betting in particular, is the moneyline bet. Those who choose this market simply bet on the head-to-head results, with complete disregard to the winning margin. This is the easiest bet possible and it has the advantage of offsetting the risk of the match ending undecided after 48 minutes. At the end of the four quarters, if the two teams are tied, the match continues with shorter intervals until the winner is decided. After they’ve learnt how to bet on the NBA, punters can take the chance of betting on a draw in regulation time, at spectacular odds. You can even use this technique when learning
how to bet on snooker.
OVER/UNDER BETS
The second most popular type of basketball bet is the one on the total number of points scored. The line can differ based on how strong a team is in the attack and how solid they are in defence, but other key details are also considered. Winners are decided based on the final result, which includes overtime, so there’s no possibility of having the stakes returned. It is also possible to bet on the combined points scored by the two teams in a single quarter, or by halftime, and the same rules apply. Live betting is particularly useful on these markets, since punters can base their actions on what’s happening on the court.
SPREAD BETTING
Any basketball betting guide will also talk about spread betting, one of the most popular forms of wagering on NBA. There are two different types of bets, on the match winner and on the total number of points scored. Spread betting allows punters to work with fine margins and mitigate the risks while settling for lower odds. They can, of course, do the exact opposite and take greater chances in exchange of better odds. This type of betting is used to extract bigger odds when betting on the favourite and to reduce the risks when supporting the underdog. When it comes to the over/under markets, bettors can increase or decrease the betting lines, while also altering the odds in the process.
OUTRIGHT WINNERS
Throughout the season, bookmakers provide punters with chances to bet on outright winners of the NBA. Naturally, the odds change all the time, based on recent form, head to head results and the fitness of key players, among other things. When betting on the strongest teams, it is recommended to place the bets as soon as possible, even before the season starts. That’s because once these teams develop a lead and consolidate their position at the top of the tables, the bookmakers will adjust the odds downwards. Conversely, when betting on the underdogs, it can be worth waiting for a couple of rounds to cash in on bigger odds.
TIME TO SLAM DUNK YOUR BASKETBALL BETS!
Now that you have an answer to the question “how does basketball betting work?” you can start placing your first bets on one of the world’s most popular sports. A lot of research is needed throughout the season, because when it comes to NBA betting, even those who are on the right track will get run over if they simply sit there. Pay attention to the fitness of players, because fatigue and injuries play a huge role thanks to the high frequency of matches.
Focus on a couple of teams and try to learn as much about them and their players as possible, to make an educated decision when betting. Bookmakers routinely overestimate the favourites and offer odds that hold no value on their victories. Don’t be afraid to take your chances with the underdogs and make good use of spread betting to keep the risks reasonable. Betastic will provide you with tips and basketball betting strategies, so return to our website whenever you need advice.
Looking for more betting advice? Learn
how to bet on darts
and
how to bet on ice hockey
in our latest betting guides!
