How to Bet on NBA - The Complete Guide for 2024
Unlock the ultimate guide to NBA betting in March 2024. Discover how it works, the best sportsbooks, various bet types, and more with FanNation.
As we approach the NBA playoffs, basketball fans and sports bettors are looking for the best places for NBA betting. In this article, we’ll show you where to bet on NBA games, how to bet on NBA games and provide some tips to enhance your betting experience. Keep reading our NBA betting guide to prepare yourself for the upcoming postseason.
📍 Where is NBA Betting Legal?
A common question we get asked by our readers is “Can I bet on NBA games online legally?” In many places, the answer is yes! NBA betting is legal in many states across the country, but there are some states in which sports betting is still not yet legal. For the full list of states that allow NBA betting, please see below.
These states include Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maines, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
🏀 How to Bet on NBA
Once you've registered with a sportsbook, participating in NBA betting becomes a simple process. To guide you through each step, we've prepared a step-by-step guide:
- Select a sportsbook that offers NBA betting and complete the sign-up process.
- Take advantage of one of the new-user promos provided by the sportsbook.
- Create an account, either through the sportsbook’s mobile app or website.
- Deposit funds into your account using one of the many available deposit methods.
- Within the sportsbook's interface, locate the NBA betting section.
- Choose a game and market for your first bet.
- Submit your bet.
By following these simple steps, you'll have access to a wide range of NBA betting markets.
📲 Where to Bet on NBA Games Online
During the winter months, the NBA becomes extremely popular among sports bettors. Die-hard NBA fans are locked in from the opening night, but many start to really pay attention after the Christmas Day games. No matter when you begin your NBA betting, there are some great sportsbooks available for exciting action.
These sportsbooks offer a ton of betting markets, as well as excellent promotions for new and existing customers.
NBA at DraftKings
DraftKings Sportsbook is a fantastic place to bet on NBA games. DraftKings offers markets for just about every NBA market you can think of, including point spreads, totals, player props, live betting and more. You can also watch NBA games directly from the DK app so that you can follow along with your bets. The user experience is excellent, but that’s only when you become a DraftKings customer.
To entice you to sign up, DraftKings has an incredible two-part promotion exclusively for new customers. The DraftKings “$1,000 No Sweat First Bet” welcome offer provides matching bonus bets at your disposal if you lose your first bet of up to $1,000. The best part of the promo is that you walk away with something no matter how that first wager turns out. To begin your NBA betting experience today, click the banner below to get started.
NBA at Caesars
Another great NBA sportsbook is Caesars Sportsbook. By using the Caesars promo code FNEG1000 and wagering up to $1,000 with your first bet, new users receive protection that credits a matching bonus bet back if you lose.
This is a great opportunity to try Caesars, as if your first bet doesn’t win, you’ll still receive a chance to win again with your money back.
NBA at FanDuel
FanDuel Sportsbook is among the most popular sportsbooks in America for many reasons. FanDuel has an incredibly easy-to-use mobile app and a new-user promo that offers some serious value. FanDuel’s promotion for new customers awards $150 in bonus bets with a winning $5+ bet.
Sign up here to secure this unique welcome bonus today!
NBA at BetMGM
NBA betting is great at BetMGM Sportsbook, as there are tons of available markets for each and every game. BetMGM offers extremely competitive odds and a rewards program that is second to none.
For new customers who use the BetMGM promo code FANNATION, there is a current BetMGM sign-up bonus that is among the most valuable promotions in the industry. New customers can place a first bet of just $10+ on any market offered by BetMGM and, regardless of whether it wins or not, you’ll receive bonus bets back in your account totaling $150.
NBA at BetRivers
BetRivers Sportsbook may not yet have the same brand-equity as the prior sportsbooks, but the sportsbook is becoming extremely popular among NBA bettors. BetRivers is known for having great odds and a vast offering of alternate lines. The welcome offer from BetRivers is also very rewarding, as new users can receive a second chance bet.
The second chance bet provides a bonus in the event that your first bet doesn’t win. The bonus can be for up to $500, so don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity.
🏀 How NBA Betting Works
For those new to NBA betting, follow the step-by-step guide below on how to bet on NBA online:
- Log in to your sportsbook account.
- Click on the 'NBA' tab.
- Choose a game from the list, like the Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers matchup.
- Select an available market for the game, such as Denver -3.5 on the point spread or Nikola Jokic to score over 20 points.
- Enter the amount you want to bet.
- Submit the bet and enjoy the game!
🏀 Popular NBA Betting Types
NBA betting offers an exciting array of options, making it a highly enjoyable experience. In this section, we'll outline some of the most popular types of bets used in NBA betting so that you know how to bet on NBA games.
NBA Parlays
Parlays are extremely popular among all sports bettors and NBA bettors are no exception. Parlays provide the opportunity to combine multiple bets, resulting in potentially higher payouts. For example, you can pick the over/under from two different NBA games and if both bets are successful, your payout will be substantially greater compared to placing individual bets. However, it's important to note that for the parlay bet to be successful, both of your chosen bets must win.
NBA Same Game Parlay
Over the last few years, the Same Game Parlay has seen a surge in popularity as a unique type of parlay bet. This option allows you to combine two separate bets from different markets within a single NBA game. For example, you might place a wager on both the point spread and a player prop from the New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics matchup. If both of these bets turn out to be winners, you can earn a significant payout.
NBA Teasers
Teasers are bets that allow bettors to adjust the point spread or total of a game, making the bet more favorable to win. However, in exchange for this advantage, you must combine multiple bets into a parlay. One of the most common NBA Teasers is the two-team teaser, where you can move the lines 4 or 5 points, as demonstrated in the example below.
Suppose the original point spreads for the two games in your teaser are -7.5 and +2.5. A four-point teaser enables you to modify the point spreads on your bet to -3.5 and +6.5, respectively. This adjustment increases the likelihood of each leg of the teaser winning but remember that you must win both legs for the entire bet to be successful.
NBA Futures
The futures market is another fun NBA market. Unlike the bets mentioned earlier, futures bets do not pertain to immediate single games. Instead, they revolve around outcomes that will be determined in the future, which is why they are called futures. In the futures market, you place bets on who will emerge victorious in events like the NBA Finals, odds to win the Western Conference or odds to make the playoffs.
These bets often come with plus-money odds due to their involvement in multiple games. For example, you could place a $10 bet on the Milwaukee Bucks with odds of +650 to win the NBA Finals. In this scenario, if the Bucks go on to win it all, you would make a $65 profit.
Other Popular NBA Bets
Sportsbooks also offer other markets for NBA betting, such as player props, regular season win totals and odds to win awards such as the MVP, Rookie of the Year or Sixth Man of the Year. Player props in particular are very popular because you can bet on how many points, rebounds or assists a certain player will have in a game. To see the full list of available NBA markets, check with your sportsbook.
🏀 NBA Odds & Betting Lines Explained
In this section, we will get into the nuts and bolts of how to bet on NBA online. To begin, you must understand the various types of bets you may see when clicking on an NBA game in your sportsbook’s mobile app.
- Point Spread: A bet on the point spread in a basketball game is a bet on the margin of victory. The example below is something you may see.
- Dallas Mavericks -8.5 (-110) vs. Utah Jazz +8.5 (-110)
- Money line: A bet on the money line is a simple concept to grasp, as you are just picking the team that you think will win the game. Odds will be shown in the format below:
- Memphis Grizzlies (-135) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (+115)
- Total (Over/Under): Betting on the total, or over/under, in an NBA game is betting on the number of combined points the game will end with. You will see odds such as this:
- Sacramento Kings vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Over 202.5 (-115) vs. Under 202.5 (-105)
📖 How to Read NBA Odds & Betting Lines
After answering “Can I bet on NBA games online legally?”, the next step is to understand the numbers you’ll be seeing. This section will build on our previous one, continuing to explain how to bet on NBA online. To make it easy, we will continue with the same examples from above.
Point Spread: Dallas Mavericks -8.5 (-110) vs. Utah Jazz +8.5 (-110)
By reading these odds, you will see that Dallas is favored by 8.5 points against the underdog Utah Jazz. If you bet on the Mavericks to cover the spread, they would need to beat the Jazz by at least nine points for your bet to win. If Utah loses by eight or less, or if they win the game, bets on the Jazz would win.
In the parentheses, you will see the odds of each side of the point spread. Both sides of the point spread have odds listed at -110, which means a winning $11 bet would profit $10.
Money line: Memphis Grizzlies (-135) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (+115)
Remember, a bet on the money line is just picking the team that will win the game. There is no spread to worry about, but the odds become more important. In this example, you would need to wager $13.50 on Memphis to profit $10 but would only have to bet $10 to profit $11.50 if the Pelicans were to win the game.
Total (Over/Under): Sacramento Kings vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Over 202.5 (-115) vs. Under 202.5 (-105)
This example combines both a side of a bet and differing odds. An $11.50 bet on the over 202.5 would profit $10 if at least 203 total points are scored. A bet on under 202.5 at -105 odds means that you would need to bet $10.50 to profit $10. The bet on the under would win if fewer than 203 total points are scored.
📊 NBA Betting Trends
Some sports bettors prefer to integrate trends into their NBA betting approach. Trends involve analyzing historical data to uncover patterns that might have relevance for future bets. Good trends often demonstrate high winning percentages over a large sample size, but it's essential to understand that they do not ensure consistent success in predicting winners.
Trends can come in a variety of forms. There may be trends based on how a team performs at home versus on the road, how teams perform on the second game of a back-to-back or even trends towards an over or under. For example, a certain NBA team may have an excellent offense but sub-par defense, which would maybe show up in a trend of more overs than unders. Experienced bettors will pay attention to these factors and decide if the trend has any validity or if it is just randomness. Remember, trends do not always lead to sustained winning.
🤓 NBA Betting Strategies
Basic
One of the most basic NBA betting strategies is simply using expert opinions on particular matchups. Finding NBA betting experts who share their insights, including their own bets on various games, is relatively easy. We recommend relying on experts who offer free analysis and picks, as even the most skilled NBA bettors are not assured of winning consistently.
Intermediate
An intermediate NCAAB betting strategy may entail utilizing specific trends such as the ones mentioned above to make bets on upcoming games. This approach would require some attention to detail but provides the benefit of using data to support your theories. Another type of intermediate strategy involves simply watching as many games as possible. Although it demands a significant time investment to observe multiple games and teams, you might uncover valuable information that can aid you in making informed future bets.
Advanced
High-level NBA betting strategies would typically involve the use of statistics. Stats can be found on many different websites and can be used to evaluate how good a team is. The tricky part is figuring out how stats may show up in an upcoming matchup, but advanced bettors figure out how to bet on NBA games over time. For example, an upcoming matchup may feature a team with great offensive stats versus a team with great defensive stats. Of course, it is impossible to know how that game will play out, but through the use of certain stats, you may think there is a good bet to make.
❌ What to Avoid When Betting on the NBA
NBA betting demands considerable time and effort, but it offers numerous strategies to explore. Regardless of their approach, all savvy bettors steer clear of these common mistakes.
- Overreactions: Basketball is a sport with a lot of variance. Even the best shooting teams have bad nights, and no one knows when they will happen. Because of this, it’s important to not treat a single game as a predictor moving forward. For example, the worst team in the league may beat the best team in the league on a given night. The great team may be ice cold from the three-point line, while the usually-bad team is on fire. That’s true in all sports, but especially in basketball. Using an approach that evaluates teams based on a larger sample of games is much better than assuming a team is good or bad based on a single game.
- Chasing Losses: Avoiding chasing losses is a fundamental principle for skilled sports bettors, including those in NBA betting. Instead of seeking quick profits, they adopt a long-term approach. Even experienced NBA bettors may face losing streaks, but those who achieve lasting success resist the temptation to recover all losses through a single large bet. The key is to embrace NBA betting over time, and refraining from chasing losses ensures a sustainable and enjoyable betting experience.
📱 Betting on NBA Games With Mobile Apps
In our opinion, the most convenient and optimal method for NBA betting is by using sportsbooks' mobile apps. These mobile apps are readily available for download from the App Store or Google Play Store, providing users with access to a diverse selection of up-to-date betting markets directly on their mobile devices.
With the convenience of a NBA mobile app, you can also participate in live-betting markets while watching the games in real-time. This enhances your betting experience, allowing you to place wagers on unfolding events as they happen.
FAQs
❓ What is the Over/Under in NBA Betting?
The over/under, or total, is predicting how many combined points will be scored in a given game. For example, you may see an NBA game with an over/under set at 210.5. A bet on the over would win if at least 211 points are scored, while a bet on the under would win if less than 211 points are scored.
❓ Can I Bet on Individual Player Performances in NBA games?
Yes, NBA betting sites have many player props available. In fact, betting on individual player performances is one of the most popular bet types in NBA betting. You can bet on points, rebounds, assists or even all of them combined with a P+R+A bet.
❓ Can NBA Betting be Profitable?
NBA betting can be profitable, but it’s important to realize that there are no guarantees. Using our NBA betting guide is a good place to start with how to bet on the NBA, but winning consistently is hard to do. Always remember to bet within your means.
❓ How to Bet on NBA & Win
There is no definitive formula for achieving consistent wins in NBA betting. While our NBA betting guide provides valuable tips and insights, it's vital to recognize that there is no guaranteed method for ensuring victories. Responsible gambling is paramount, and it's crucial to approach NBA betting with a cautious mindset. After determining “Can I bet on NBA games online legally?”, please gamble responsibly.
Enjoyed this article? Further enhance your betting experience with our guides, handpicked for you:
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ and present in select states. FanDuel is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas Star Casino, LLC. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, KY, MI, NJ, OH, PA, IL, TN, VA, VT), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org(MD), 1-800-522-4700 (WY), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV).
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