nba betting

Are you are looking to place bets on games in the NBA, enjoy real-time live betting, or simply make some NBA futures bets? This NBA betting sites guide gives you independent reviews of top providers, welcome bonus links, and the lowdown on placing wagers online.

Opening Your NBA Betting Site Account

Registering for these new NBA betting sites couldn’t be easier, below we have detailed the simple steps you’ll need to complete in order to place bets on the NBA.

  1. Click on the NBA betting site bonus and review the various terms and conditions that apply.
  2. Once you’re happy you’ve found a betting site or app that’s suitable for you, sign up by inputting your personal information.
  3. You’ll get an email confirmation, once your account is fully activated you can make your first deposit to claim your NBA betting bonus.

Popular NBA Bets

Once you’re all signed up for your new betting account, you can check out the variety of different odds on the NBA games and place a new wager with just a couple of clicks. But which kinds of bets are you going to make? We have detailed some of the most popular wagers that exist in the basketball world today.

NBA Spread Bets

This is one of the most common bets placed on NBA games. A spread bet will level the playing field by adding points to the underdog’s scoreline known as the spread. This equalizes the odds on the game and allows for more action to be placed on the game.

NBA Betting Odds Example:
Date/Time Team Spread Win Total
12/27/21 @ 20:00 Los Angeles Lakers -4.5 (-110) -170 O222.5 (-110)
Portland Trail Blazers +4.5 (-110) +145 U222.5 (-110)

Placing bets on the spread is really easy, you’ll just want to click on the spread number on the team of your choice, you’ll then get improved odds on the favorites and a better chance of winning by still betting on the underdogs.

In our example, Los Angeles is the favorite, so the spread is set at -4.5 with odds of -110. This means they’ll need to win by 5 points for you to win a wager on with this spread bet.

This bet selection will then be added to your betting slip, where you can then decide on your stake. Once you enter the amount you want to bet, you’ll see the winnings calculated, so you know how much you stand to win. You’ll then need to confirm your selection to place the bet.

NBA Moneyline Bets

These are also some of the most popular bets placed on the NBA, with lines set by the sportsbook that offer different odds on each team winning the game. So all you are doing is betting on the winner of the game.

The odds you’ll get a different compared to spread bets because moneyline bets are not handicapped in any way. So let’s look at our example once again and see how much we can win from betting on the moneyline.

NBA Betting Odds Example:
Date/Time Team Spread Win Total
12/27/21 @ 20:00 Los Angeles Lakers -4.5 (-110) -170 O222.5 (-110)
Portland Trail Blazers +4.5 (-110) +145 U222.5 (-110)

If we bet on the Lakers to win the game, they are a favorite in this match-up, so we would need to bet $170 to win $100 with the odds set at -170. A bet on the Blazers as the underdog would mean that we could win $145 for a $100 bet with +145 moneyline odds.

NBA Over/Under Bets

The last numbers you’ll notice in our example are the O222.5 and U222.5. These are the Over/Under bets available on how many points will be scored combined by both teams in the game.

The odds are always set evenly, so you can either take the over or the under at the same price, in this case, it’s -110, meaning you’ll need to wager $110 to win $100.

NBA Prop Bets

Whilst these are some of the most exciting bets for fans of the game, they usually come hand in hand with fairly poor odds. However, they can also be a soft spot for finding weaknesses in the sportsbooks lines on these kinds of events. You can place bets on how many three-pointers a player will score, or how many fouls will be made.

Some sportsbooks offered a wider variety of these kinds of bets than others, so it’s worth checking out how populated the prop bet section is looking before signing up if this is something you are going to want to use.

NFL Prop Bets

Prop bets let you bet on different aspects of the NFL. These include which team will win the faceoff, how many touchdowns will be scored, etc. Top online NFL sportsbooks give you over 90 prop betting options for primetime matchups.

NBA Parlays

A parlay or an accumulator is a single bet that combines multiple outcomes in order to offer more favorable odds. In order to win a parlay bet each part of your prediction must come true. Whilst these bets can be hard to win, they come with some huge potential returns.

The kinds of parlays offered at different sportsbooks vary again, some websites and apps will cap the number of predictions at 12, whereas others will offer boosted odds and unlimited amounts of picks for these kinds of bets.

NBA Futures

NBA futures bets let you place action on outcomes that occur near the end of the season. For example, you can wager on who will win the Western Conference, East Conference, MVP player award, top scorer, and of course who will win the NBA championship.

Check out some of the main NBA Futures betting markets available at online bookmakers.

  • Regular Season Win Totals Odds
  • Playoff Odds
  • Eastern Conference Winner
  • Atlantic Division Winner
  • Central Division Winner
  • Southeast Division Winner
  • Western Conference Winner
  • Northwest Division Winner
  • Pacific Division Winner
  • Southwest Division Winner
  • MVP Winner
  • Rookie of The Year Winner
  • Championship Winner

Live Betting

Most bookmakers will allow you to place bets on NBA games whilst they are in play, these are known as live bets. Popular bets include next team to score, next team to score a three-pointer, team to next foul. Additionally, you can view live betting odds on spreads, moneyline bets, and totals whilst the game is being played.

Support for Problem Gamblers

If you think that you could do with reaching out and getting support with regards to your gambling, make a call to the NCPG (National Council on Problem Gambling) helpline on 1-800-522-4700 lines are open 24/7, and calls are always confidential.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bet on the NBA online?

There are plenty of top online sportsbooks that offer a range of NBA betting options. We have reviewed some of the best options that are online right now for the US and Canadian markets.

These sportsbooks are regulated and hold international licenses, so whilst they might not be regulated on a state level, it's not illegal to use them. You can out more about sports betting laws in your state.

What are NBA sharps?

These are some of the brightest minds in the betting world that have been using in-depth statistical analysis and massive knowledge of the NBA in general, to gain huge edges over sportsbooks and amass fortunes.

The most famous NBA sharp has to be Haralabos “Bob” Voulgaris, the man that would end up as the Director of Quantitative Research and Development for the Dallas Mavericks due to his prolific winning streak betting on the NBA. Other notable mentions include Bill “KrackMan” Krackomberger and Doc Holliday.

Can I bet on the NBA with my iPhone/Android Phone?

Yes, all the sportsbooks that you'll find links to are optimized for mobile platforms, meaning that you can launch them in your browser of choice, or in some cases download the official apps to make your bets.

Which NBA team has the most championship titles?

Whilst the epic double three-peat by the Chicago Bulls might stick out in many people's minds when they think of the best NBA teams ever, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have the most NBA Championships with 17 each.

What are the most popular NBA futures bets?

When it comes to NBA futures bets the most popular are which team will win the NBA championship and which player will win the MVP.

Can I cash out my NBA bet early?

Yes, some sportsbooks will offer you the ability to cash out your bet early and collect a portion of your winnings.