Sports betting in the US is in a huge boom period. Ever since the federal law barring it was struck down by the supreme court in 2018, millions have been able to wager on their favorite sports. Over two thirds of US states now have some form of legalized sports betting with a majority offering online methods. This means it is easier than it ever has been to place a bet with hundreds of markets at your fingertips.
The NBA is one of the most popular sports to bet on in the nation. Aside from being one of the most exciting leagues in the world, one reason for its popularity is the longevity of it. Between October and April there is a game nearly every day of the week with each team playing 82 fixtures over the course of a season. Following that comes the playoffs, which are even more exciting to wager on with every game becoming more important than the last. As of writing we are nearly halfway through the conference rounds. NBA Finals Odds have Eastern Conference 2nd seeds the Boston Celtics as favorites to take home the championship this year.
For those who are new to NBA betting but want to get involved, look no further. Here is our beginners guide to NBA betting.
To start with, lets go over how the odds work. Each and every market is priced with either a positive (+) or negative (-) number. A positive odds bet tells you how much you would win from a $100 wager whilst a negative price tels you how much you would need to wager to win $100. For example, a $100 bet on a +200 market would win you $200 plus your stake back. A -200 market bet however would win you $50 from the same wager.
Moneyline
The moneyline is as straightforward as it gets. You are wagering on a team to win the game. For the NBA, this includes overtime. Whilst they are easy bets to make, you will often find that the odds on favorites are generally very low, meaning your returns are not likely to be substantial.
Point Spread
The spread is one of the most popular bets to place on NBA games. The way this market works is more simple than it may seem. Think of it as a virtual handicap given to the favorite by the sportsbook. So for example, if the Golden State Warriors had a spread line of -9.5, they would have to win the game by at least 10 clear points were you to back them. Alternatively, their opponents would have a line of +9.5 meaning they would have to either lose by no more than 9 points or win the game outright. A decimal number is often used to prevent a ‘push’. The reason these bets are so popular is because they are a good way of backing heavy favorites without needing to give up the returns on a shorter priced moneyline bet.
Points total
Another easy bet to understand, the total is just as it sounds— the total number of combined points to be scored in a game. These are set with over/under numbers. So if the total was set at 202.5, you would wager on whether there will be 203+ points (over) or fewer than 202 (under).
Player Props
Player props are very popular due to just how exciting they are to follow in-game. These bets are placed on specific outcomes according to player stats. For example, you can bet on the number of points Steph Curry will score, the number of rebounds Joel Embiid will get, LeBron to record a double-double and so many more. These lines are set by the sportsbook. For example, Curry’s points line could be at 29.5, Embiid’s rebounds at 11.5 etc. Whilst these are some of the most exciting bets to place, they require a fair amount of research.
There are a slew of other bets you can place but those named above are the most popular. You can of course place futures for the NBA Champions, MVP Winner and Rookie of the year among others. You can also combine multiple markets into one single bet called a parlay. You can even make same game parlays. These are bets that combine multiple markets for one single game. For example, you could have two player props along with the moneyline and the spread. These bets are tougher to win as of course every market needs to win for your bet to be settled as a winner. However, they make the viewing experience all the more exciting.
From this article you should have a better understanding of NBA betting. Enjoy wagering on yet another incredible season of action in the biggest basketball league in the world.
