What are the Best Basketball Sites for NBA Online Betting?
Any of the online sportsbooks from our above list are ideal for betting on NBA games. Each is secure and provides bettors with NBA odds and action on every matchup available, whether it’s a Friday nighter between the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers or an elimination game in the NBA Finals.
When we deem a sportsbook worthy of a bettor’s time, we look at everything from betting options to payment types accepted. Below, we’ve detailed why these online gambling sites are the best for betting on the National Basketball Association.
Deposit and Withdrawal Options
If a sportsbook doesn’t let you use real money to bet with, they’re not worth your time. The sites we champion allow you to make deposits using credit cards (AMEX, MasterCard, Visa), e-wallets (PayPal, Neteller, Skrill), debit and cryptocurrency.
When it comes to withdrawing your winnings, most sites will let you use the same method you used to fund your account. The time it takes to receive your money varies. Bitcoin is the fastest, and with more and more bettors embracing crypto as a way to stock their bankroll, it might be worth your while to check out our BTC guide.
Bonuses and Rewards
NBA betting online, or wagering on any sport, should come with certain rewards besides the money you get from a winning bet. Sportsbooks see how valuable their customers are and want to give back. Most online betting sites give a Welcome Bonus, which matches a certain amount of your initial deposit up to a specified percentage. For instance, you could be offered a bonus of 100 percent up to $200. This means that if you were to add $50 to your account, you’d get an additional $50 to bet with.
Make sure to read the terms and conditions before accepting rewards. Every betting site has different stipulations that need to be met in order to claim a free bet or deposit bonus.
Customer Service
If something should go wrong with your betting account, you want to know that the sportsbook has a great client services team to help you out. The sites we recommend have customer support available 24-7 via email, phone and even live chat.
Betting Types and Odds
Betting odds at your sportsbook of choice will be offered American style (-500), Decimal type (1.20), or in Fractional form (1/5). At Odds Shark, we use American odds.
When it comes to betting, you’ll find the following selections:
Moneyline: Choosing a Winner
Moneyline bets are simple because you need to select which team you believe will win the game straight up (SU). Odds would look something like this:
Boston Celtics -120
Miami Heat +150
Favorites are always represented with the minus sign (-) and underdogs are shown with the plus sign (+). This is universal across all betting sites.
If you were to wager $100 on the Celtics and they won, you’d get a payout of $183.33 – you get your original $100 back along with your prize of $83.33. On the other hand, a winning bet on the Heat would give you a payout of $250 – you get your $100 back, plus your loot of $150.
Underdogs provide the most value but are less likely to win the game, according to the oddsmaker – these are the professionals that set the betting lines. Favorites are not as lucrative as underdogs but have a better chance to win in the eyes of the sportsbook.
To see how much you’d win based on the odds and amount wagered, check out our Odds Calculator.
Point Spread: Which Team will Fare Better ATS?
Like with NFL betting, NBA point spreads are incredibly popular with bettors. To make a spread bet, you don’t need to determine which team will win SU. Instead, you need to figure out how much they’re going to win or lose by, aka how they’ll do against the spread (ATS).
For example, spread odds for the NBA could look like this:
Golden State Warriors -3.5
Los Angeles Lakers +3.5
Essentially, the Lakers are spotted 3.5 points before the game even starts since they’re considered the weaker team. The Warriors are given a disadvantage of 3.5 points to create a more even betting field since they’re the stronger squad. You’d need to decide which team you think can cover the spread.
For LA to cover, they would need to win the game outright or lose by no more than 4 points. For Golden State to cover, they would need to win by 4 points or more.
Totals: Will the Combined Score Go OVER or UNDER?
Betting totals is another awesome option for NBA wagering. The oddsmakers will select a total number based on how they think the game will pan out. To make this kind of bet, you have to decide if the total number of points in the game will be OVER or UNDER the selected number.
Let’s say the Philadelphia 76ers are playing the Toronto Raptors with the total set at 196. If you bet the UNDER, you think the combined score will be less than 196 points. If you bet the OVER, you think that collectively Philly and TO are going to score more than 196 points. If the score lands on 196 exactly, that’s a PUSH and your bet is refunded as if it never happened.
Props: More Fun for Your Money
Props are bets on events that may or may not occur without affecting the outcome of the game. These basketball bets can involve entire teams or individual player milestones such as:
• How many points will Kevin Durant score in his next game?
• How many rebounds for Anthony Davis in his next matchup?
• How many assists will LeBron James have against the Clippers?
During the NBA Finals, sportsbooks could offer entertainment-style props like:
• How many games will Drake attend?
• How many games will be played in this series?
• Who will have more points between Kawhi Leonard and Steph Curry?
Parlays: Bundling Your Bets
A parlay bet combines more than one wager on one betting slip, for example, two totals, a moneyline and a point spread bet. What makes a parlay bet risky is that all selections must win in order for you to get a payout. Our Parlay Calculator will show you what your potential payout will be based on the odds. You can also include bets from other sports or leagues on your parlay ticket.
Teasers: Creating a Favorable Spread
This type of bet allows you to adjust the spread or totals line in your favor to minimize the associated risk. Depending on how you think the game will play out, you can adjust the lines by 4 to 6 points. Some sportsbooks will even let you go as high as 8 to 10 points. Teasers are similar to parlay bets in that all wagers must be correct in order to receive a payout.
Live Betting: Predicting the Next Play
Unlike a traditional wager before the game begins, a live wager lets you place a bet while watching the match unfold. In-play betting lets you bet as the game is going on. This is great if the favorite has a slow start or if the underdog is giving their all and leading at the end of the first quarter. Live odds disappear fast so when you see odds you like, it’s best to jump on them quickly.
Futures: Which Team Will Win the Championship?
Futures are bets on an outcome that will happen at a later date. Bets like this involve you guessing which squad will win it all, who will be named MVP, or which player will be awarded Rookie of the Year.
NBA futures odds for the championship would look something like this:
Brooklyn Nets +300
Milwaukee Bucks +350
LA Lakers +500
Utah Jazz +700
Houston Rockets +10000
You can make a futures bet before, during or after the regular season (during the playoffs). Generally, the further away the specific event is, the higher the potential payouts are.
Before you make your picks, check out Odds Shark’s NBA handicapping tools:
• Odds
