Whether you keep up with the NBA, WNBA, or NCAAB, our guide to betting on basketball will help you get involved with all the action when watching from home.
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world, with various leagues to watch and plenty of opportunities to place a wager from home: with long-time rivalries, clutch three-pointers, and plenty of star players to keep an eye on, betting on basketball can be one of the most enjoyable ways to experience the game.
This guide will give you all the basketball betting advice you need, including top basketball betting strategies. Here’s all you need to know about basketball betting, explained in an easy-to-understand guide.
How does basketball betting work?
The process of betting on basketball is very similar to any other sport: you choose a betting market, place money on the outcome, and win back your stake plus a profit if you make a correct prediction. However, to be a great basketball bettor, and maximise your chances of winning, there are plenty of factors to consider.
For a start, learning more about the different teams, players, and matchups can help influence your betting decisions – it’s essential to understand all details of each game ahead of time, so don’t skimp on research, and ensure you’re up to speed!
How to read basketball betting odds
It’s one thing to understand the sport itself, but how do basketball betting odds work? You will often see basketball betting odds shown in fractional terms. This means each bet is represented by a fraction, where the number on the right is how much money you bet, while the number on the left shows how much of that money you could earn back.
For example, let’s say the Los Angeles Lakers are given odds of 14/1 to win the NBA championship. Betting £1 on the Lakers would yield a £14 return, plus the original stake. Similarly, a £10 bet would yield a £140 return (plus your stake), and so on.
On the other hand, the Boston Celtics might be given odds of 7/10 to win the championship. In this case, a £10 bet will only return £7 if the Celtics earn the title. This means the Celtics are considered more likely to win, but you won’t get as much money for a correct prediction.
For more information, please read our guide to fractional betting odds.
Basketball betting advice
When it comes to tips for betting on basketball, there’s no sure-fire way to know the winner of every game. Upsets are common, teams have off days, and unexpected injuries can lead to your favourites being sidelined. However, there are a few things you can keep in mind to stay on top of your betting game.
Common mistakes when betting on basketball
Here are some key mistakes to avoid to maximise your potential when betting on basketball markets:
Not doing your research
Before a game, make sure you know the teams’ history in games against each other, as well as their star players and the strengths of their roster. These will help you understand the match-up in much more detail.
Betting with your heart, not your head
It’s easy to want to root for your favourite team, even if they’re not performing their best. Remember to take the current performance of both sides into account, as if your team is on a losing streak, betting on them to win simply because you want them to can lead to disappointment.
Not utilising multiple bets
While single bets are a fun way to keep up with basketball action, placing a multiple bet will often give you a chance of a higher payout. Multiples are often more risky, so adjust your stake accordingly. With some multiples, such as trixies and yankee bets, you can get some of your predictions wrong and still receive a partial payout.
Popular basketball betting markets
When betting on basketball online, you’ll first need to decide on which market you’ll be placing your bet on. Markets are different outcomes that you can predict with your bets, ranging from the winner of a match to the best team of the whole season. Here are some of the most popular basketball betting markets explained in simple terms:
NBA Finals winner
The NBA Finals are the biggest series in the basketball calendar. Do you think you can predict who will emerge victorious? Our NBA Finals winner market is perfect for betting on the overall winner of the playoffs.
NBA Cup winner
A recent addition to the NBA format is the NBA Cup – a mid-season tournament made up of group stages and a single-elimination knockout bracket. Each game in the tournament is counted as part of a team’s regular season (except for the finals), making it a crucial fixture. Betting on the NBA Cup winner lets you put your basketball knowledge to the test by predicting who will lift the trophy.
WNBA Finals winner
The past few years have seen a meteoric rise in popularity for the WNBA – America’s biggest women’s basketball league. If you want to keep up with the action, you can view our WNBA Finals winner betting page for the latest odds on which team will win the championship.
NCAAB Championship winner
Like most American sports, college competition is the ideal place to scout out future talent and keep up with rising stars. With the March Madness tournament drawing millions of viewers each year, betting on the NCAAB Championship winner is one of the most exciting and unpredictable markets to play in for basketball fans.
WNCAAB Championship winner
Similar to the men’s league, the WNCAAB Championship winner market can help introduce you to young star players who are likely to have a considerable impact in the WNBA someday. Choose which team you think will win the finals, and follow them through the season.
Euroleague winner
If you’re looking to stay up-to-date with basketball outside of the American scene, consider betting on the Euroleague winner with Betway. This tournament pits each European country against one another in an international competition, with tensions running high and new players making a name for themselves.
Types of basketball bets
For anyone learning how to bet on basketball online, the different types of bets available can be hard to wrap your head around. Luckily, we’ve put together a simple guide to explain how each bet type works so that you can make the most of your games:
Moneyline
Moneyline bets are the classic bet type you’ll see when predicting the winner of an individual match. Each team will be given odds of winning, and if you choose the team that scores more in the allotted time, you’ll win your bet.
Handicap
When placing a handicap bet, you’re betting on one team to beat their opponents by more than a set amount of points. For example, if a team is considered to have a 9.5-point advantage over the other side, you can place a handicap bet to predict that they would still win if 9.5 points were deducted from their score.
Totals
A totals bet has nothing to do with the winner of a game, but everything to do with the points scored. Placing a totals bet will let you predict whether the combined score of both teams (or just the total score from one team) is higher than a certain number. So, if a game is likely to involve plenty of three-pointers and back-and-forth offence, you may want to consider the option.
Outrights
Outrights are bets that are placed on the overall winner of a competition, rather than a particular game. These markets are generally focused on long-term success, making it challenging to predict them accurately early on. Popular outright bets include the NBA Championship winner, the regular season MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, etc.
Props
Prop bets focus on one of the teams or individual players in a game of basketball, rather than both sides. These bets are on outcomes such as the number of free throws taken by a side, the points scored by a specific player, etc.
Bet Builder
In a Bet Builder, also known as a Same Game Parlay, you can combine multiple markets and selections from one game into a single package. The more correct predictions you make, the more money you can win. These are an excellent option for personalising your betting experience and keeping tabs on a wide range of markets.
In play
In-play betting involves placing your bets once the game has already started. This means you can place a wager on the fly based on how each side performs in the moment. You can also react to momentum-shifting moments, such as injuries, fouls, clutch shots, and more.
How to place a basketball bet
To start betting on basketball games today, register a Betway account (or log in to your existing one) and start looking for your ideal basketball betting market. Once you’ve made your choice, enter the amount you would like to bet, and our handy bet slip will display your potential winnings. Then, click ‘Place bet’, sit back, and watch the game to see if you’ve predicted correctly.
Where to bet on basketball markets
Betway is your #1 destination for online basketball betting, offering competitive odds on all the biggest markets across the sport. Visit our basketball betting page to keep up with all the latest games, no matter which team you choose to cheer on. You can also visit our blog for the latest news, expert advice, and basketball betting tips.
Alternatively, stay ahead of the game with the Betway Sports app! Download it now from the Play Store or the App Store to enjoy live basketball betting, real-time updates, and exclusive offers right at your fingertips.
Related to basketball betting
Looking to learn more about betting on basketball? Our guide covering how to bet on the NBA will teach you about the biggest league in the sport, while our list of the top 10 NBA players of all time is the perfect introduction to its most iconic figures.
You can also learn more about the NBA’s inner workings with our list of the NBA teams that draft the best, as well as our NBA playoffs guide. To catch up with women’s basketball, we’ve explored the full roster of WNBA teams, which is the perfect way to familiarise yourself with the league.
