Basketball Betting in the US

Basketball is the second-most popular sport in the US behind football and so, naturally, people want to bet on it. To save you time and effort, we have gathered all the information you need to bet on basketball.

You can learn more about everything you need to know before placing a basketball bet. We cover everything from best basketball bonuses to top basketball betting apps.

Best Basketball Betting Sites

#	Sportsbook	Bonus
1.	FanDuel Sportsbook	Up to $1,000 risk-free bet Free bet	Play	Use bonus code: No bonus code required; Register to claim Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount Wagering requirement: 1x bonus
2.	Caesars Sportsbook	Up to $1500 free bet Cashback	Play	Use bonus code: CZR15 Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount and no odds restrictions Wagering requirement: 1x bonus
3.	BetMGM	Up to 1000$ free bet Free bet	Play	Use bonus code: No bonus code required. Register to claim offer Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount and no odds restrictions Wagering requirement: 1x bonus
4.	BetRivers	100% up to $250 Match deposit bonus	Play	Use bonus code: 250MATCH Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount and no odds restrictions Wagering requirement: 1x bonus
5.	PointsBet	2 risk free bets up to 2000$ Cashback	Play	Use bonus code: WELCOME Qualifying bet: No minimum bet amount and no odds restrictions Wagering requirement: 1x bonus
6.	WynnBET	Bet $100 get $100 in free bets Cashback	Play	Use bonus code: No bonus code required; Register to claim offer Qualifying bet: Bet $100 or more at minimum odds of -120 Wagering requirement: 1x bonus

Category Winners

The sheer number of US betting sites available can make it difficult to find the best one for you. Different bettors want different things from sportsbooks and USBetting’s expert team have picked out the best sportsbooks for each category.

All you have to do is click on the one that suits your needs the best!

Best basketball sportsbooks by category

Best basketball odds	PointsBet
Best basketball live betting site	BetMGM
Best basketball markets	PointsBet
Best basketball futures	Caesars Sportsbook
Best basketball bonus	PointsBet
Best basketball promotions	BetMGM

Basketball Betting Sites to Avoid

All the US betting sites we recommend are fully licensed and legally allowed to accept bets, but there are some out there you should avoid using.

These sportsbooks are usually based in other countries and although they can take wagers from US bettors, they tend not to have good odds and there is very little that can be done if something goes wrong.

No US license

High deposit and withdrawal fees

No app

No US license

High minimum deposit

Withdrawal fees

No US license

High fees on deposits and withdrawals

Withdrawals take over a week

How to Place a Basketball Bet

The great thing about basketball betting is that there are so many games played almost every day when the sport is in season. This is in stark contrast to the likes of NFL, where most games are only played on Sundays from September to February.

Such frequency of games gives you plenty of options for betting and if nothing takes your fancy on a particular day, you can just wait until the next day.

Find legal US betting site

It is vital that you bet with a legal sportsbook as this ensures your money is safe.

After choosing a sportsbook, sign up to them and utilize their welcome bonus.

Find the game you want to bet on

Betting sites tend to only list the upcoming games for the day you are browsing on.

Do an analysis of the game

NBA statistics are freely available and you should definitely check them out before placing a bet.

Find the market

Sportsbooks offer upwards of 100 basketball markets to bet on, and the analysis you have done should make it easy to decide which market you want.

Compare odds

You wouldn’t buy something from one place if you could get it at another for cheaper, and that basic principle applies here.

Place your bet and wait for it to settle

Decide on your wager amount, place the bet, and then wait for the game to be played.

How We Rate Basketball Betting Sites

Picking the right betting site for you is not easy given the volume out there, and especially with how enticing the welcome bonuses are.

To save you the time of deciding what factors are important, our expert sports betting team have rated every sportsbook based on a series of strict factors.

Security

This is a key criterion as it is vital that the betting site you choose keeps your money safe. Every sportsbook we recommend has strong security features and are licensed to operate in the US.
Odds and markets

Having a strong range of betting markets for basketball games is important as that gives bettors the most choice for wagers. The best betting sites will also have extremely competitive odds to make the betting experience as complete as possible.
Promotions

Promotions are always a good bonus for basketball bettors as you can get rewarded for placing bets that you may have done anyway. It is not imperative that a site has promotions, but those with them tend to be most appealing.
Mobile betting

A good phone and tablet app available on both iOS and Android is certainly crucial. More and more people prefer to bet on their phones rather than on a computer, and so we always recommend betting sites that have strong apps.
Customer support

Quick and knowledgeable responses from customer support can make-or-break whether we recommend a betting site. If agents are not able to explain what outcome is needed to win a bet, it usually points to a sportsbook not being very good.
Payment methods

Having a variety of deposit methods makes the site appeal to the most potential bettors, with the likes of PayPal, VISA and Play+ particularly common.

Which States is Basketball Betting Legal in?

Basketball betting is legal in every state that offers online sports wagering and there are no restrictions on NBA betting.

NCAA Basketball is a little different with some states imposing specific betting rules on what markets can and cannot be wagered on. You can find more information about each state’s college basketball regulations here.

Colorado	Oregon	Connecticut	Pennsylvania
Illinois	Rhode Island	Indiana	Tennessee
Iowa	Virginia	Michigan	Washington
Montana	Washington DC	Nevada	West Virginia
New Hampshire	Wyoming	New Jersey

Top Basketball Apps

Any betting site worth their salt has apps for both iOS and Android to make it as easy as possible for you to bet.

These sports betting apps allow you to view odds and place wagers from your phone or tablet, meaning you don’t need to be directly in front of a computer to bet on basketball.

Our team of experts have tested all the available mobile apps from US sportsbooks, ranking them in a series of categories including which is best for betting on basketball.

Basketball betting apps

Best basketball app overall	FanDuel Sportsbook
Most user-friendly	Caesars Sportsbook
Best for bonuses	PointsBet
Best for mobile live streaming/betting	BetMGM
Best Android app	Caesars Sportsbook
Best iOS app	FanDuel Sportsbook

Basketball Live Betting

The introduction of in-play betting has created a mass of potential for online sports wagering and basketball betting is no different.

Live betting means you are able to wager as a game is going on, which gives you freedom to watch the fixture and place bets and means you can rely on more than just statistics to influence you.

For instance, say you’re watching LA Lakers vs Utah Jazz and see the Lakers giving up plenty of easy buckets inside – this could lead you to bet the over on Rudy Gobert’s points total as the center thrives on points in the paint.

Best basketball live betting sites

Great range of markets

Lots of live events to bet on

Not many stats available

Draftkings Sportsbook review

Very easy to use

Good selection of sports

Fewer markets than others

Caesars Sportsbook review

Lots of stats available

Competitive live odds

Not as many markets as some

BetMGM review

Pros and Cons of In-play Basketball Betting

You should always be aware of the pros and cons of live betting as, for all its good aspects, it is not some silver bullet that allows you to automatically win most of your bets.

Pros

Bet based on how you see game
Potential for more value
Hedging pre-game bets

Cons

Can lose track of wagers
Bet delay

It is easy to get carried away with live betting as you start to wager on gut feel rather than anything rigid, which can lead to you spending more than you initially intended to.

If you are able to stay regimented and stick to your limits, then in-play betting can provide plenty of advantages for basketball bettors.

Use Live Streaming to Your Advantage

Being able to watch live basketball on betting sites is a gamechanger as you only have to look at one screen to both watch and bet on the sport.

There is usually a delay on the stream, more so than the usual TV delay, but it can still give you the chance to watch and bet on basketball games you wouldn’t normally be able to.

Basketball Betting Bonuses

There are many specific basketball bonuses available at US betting sites that reward you for placing bets with bonuses such as free bets, odds boosts, and money back offers.

The amount available from these bonuses varies by basketball betting site, with some only a few dollars whilst others are upwards of $100, so you can be sure there is something for you.

Almost all sign-up offers at legal online betting sites can be used on NBA or NCAA basketball. The most popular sportsbook welcome bonuses are free bets and bet credits, and wagers you place with these bonuses are not included in returns.

So if you placed $10 of cash on Golden State Warriors at +100, you would normally receive a total of $10 plus your initial $10 risk if they win. If that wager is a free bet, you only get back the $10 winnings.

Basketball Promotions for Registered Bettors

Being able to make use of promotions after you sign up for a betting site is important for most punters as it rewards you for placing bets.

Ideally you want promotions that complement your preferred wagering strategies but there is nothing wrong with diversifying your betting and looking at other markets.

Top basketball betting promotions

Best basketball betting free bets	BetMGM
Best basketball cashback bonuses	Barstool Sportsbook
Best basketball boosted odds	PointsBet

How to Bet on Basketball

The number of basketball games played every day in both the NBA and college can make it overwhelming for new bettors.

Like with anything, though, once you understand the basics then it all becomes a lot clearer.

Basketball betting explained

How to Read Basketball Odds

If there is a plus in front of the number, then that is how much you would win from a theoretical $100 wager. For instance, if you put $100 on a market priced at +250, you would win a total of $350 including your initial stake.

If it is a minus in front, then that shows the amount you would have to theoretically wager to win $100. If the selection is priced at -110 and you bet $110, you would win a total return of $210 including stake.

You do not have to wager exactly $100 – each sportsbook has minimum and maximum wagers – so you are free to decide how much you want to bet.

Basketball odds explained

-110	Wager $110 to win $100 profit
-200	Wager $200 to win $100 profit
+100	Wager $100 to win $100 profit
+500	Wager $100 to win $500 profit

The American Odds format is not exactly user-friendly, certainly compared to decimal odds or even fractional odds, but it certainly becomes easier to understand as you bet more.

Bet Types

Basketball betting shares many bet types with the other major American sports and the core concepts of these can applied to most other wagers we haven’t covered here.

Spread

Spread betting is wagering on a team to win with either a positive or a negative handicap added to the final result. The number is determined by how comfortable the sportsbook expects the victory to be.

The team that the betting site favors to win will have a negative handicap which means you take points away from them after the final buzzer, whilst the underdog gets points added to their final total.

You only add or remove points from one side to determine who covers the spread. The spread number usually ends with half a point, which removes any doubt over who covered. In instances where it is a full point and the spread ends in a tie, that is called a push and results in your stake being returned.

Example: Milwaukee Bucks are -4.5 favorites against Detroit Pistons. The Bucks need to win by five points or more to cover, such as a 120-108 victory. The Pistons can either win the game or lose by fewer than five points to cover. A 120-118 Bucks win would see Detroit cover.

Totals (Over/Under)

Totals betting is wagering on how many points will be scored in a basketball game. The betting site sets a line and you can bet on whether the game will see more or fewer points.

Example: The points line for Detroit Pistons vs Milwaukee Bucks is 213.5 points. If the teams combine for 214 points or more (including overtime) then it has gone over, whilst if they combine for 213 or fewer then it is under.

Moneyline

Moneyline betting is just which team will win. The win can be by one point or by 30, so provided you wager on the winning team then your bet will be successful.

Example: Milwaukee Bucks are -200 favorites against Detroit Pistons. A $10 wager on the Bucks returns $15 including your initial stake if they win.

Conversely, the Pistons are +165 to win so a $10 stake will see you scoop a total of $26.50 if they claim the W.

Player Props

A player prop is betting on how well an individual performs in a game. Like totals betting, the sportsbook presents you with a number for a specific stat, and you can wager on whether the player goes over or under that.

Player props can be influenced by injury or by game flow and if your bet loses because chosen player doesn’t get as much time on the court as usual, it’s unlikely the sportsbook will take much pity on you.

Example: The points total for Giannis Antetokounmpo is set at 31.5 points. If he scores 32 or more points during the game, this bet will be a winner.

Parlays

Parlay betting is a bet that consists of selections from multiple games, and you win if all your picks are successful. The total return is higher than if you place the bets individually, but the chance of winning is lower because you need more things to happen.

Example: Bucks -4.5, Mavericks +2.5 and Jazz -9 are all priced at -110. Put all these selections into a parlay and that pays out at +595.

Teasers

A teaser is like a parlay except that all selections have to be either spreads or totals or a combination of both. A fixed number of points is then added to all selections and the total return is reduced.

Example: Bucks -4.5, Mavericks +2.5 and Jazz -9 are all priced at -110. If you wanted to add five points to each of these then the bet would become Bucks +1, Mavericks +7.5 and Jazz -4.5, with the odds cut from +595 to +130.

Half/Quarter Betting

Half/quarter betting much like regular game betting except the bets only apply to either a selected quarter or half. Usually you can only bet on the first quarter and first half before a game starts, with the other quarters and half becoming available in-game.

Example: Milwaukee Bucks are -145 moneyline favorites to win the first quarter. You only need the Bucks to be ahead after 12 minutes for this bet to win – the rest of the game does not matter.

Basketball Futures

These bets are ones that get settled towards the end of the season rather than after a specific game. Futures are also known as outrights and usually take the entire year to become a winner or loser.

It is common to place bets on basketball futures before the season begins but betting sites almost always offer them throughout.

Champion – The team that wins the NBA Championship or the College Basketball National Championship in NCAA Basketball. Teams that are expected to be contenders have shorter odds.
Player awards – A handful of awards are handed out by the NBA each season with Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year the two key prizes. All betting sites should offer these whilst some may also have odds for Most Improved Player and Sixth man of the Year.
Win total O/U – Sportsbooks set a win total for every NBA team and you can bet on whether they will win more or fewer games.
To make/miss playoffs – The NBA playoffs consists of 16 teams and betting sites give odds on whether a team will make it into the postseason or not.
To win division/conference – There are Eastern and Western conferences in the NBA and those are split into three divisions each.

Basketball Betting Tips and Advice

Knowing how to bet is just the tip of the iceberg – now you need to understand what to bet on. Staying disciplined and not just punting randomly are both important factors, along with the tips below.

It must be stressed that this is only general advice as there is no guaranteed way to win all basketball bets you place, but these can still help you out.

Research matchups – You’ve got to know at least a bit about both teams that are playing the game you want to bet on. Statistics are freely available and are open to interpretation, allowing you to draw your own conclusions to justify your bets.
Injuries/rest/absences – Load management in the NBA is prevalent these days, with only a handful of players playing the full schedule in a season. Finding out whether a player is going to play or be rested, especially during busy periods, can be the difference between a winning and losing bet.
Current form/upcoming schedule – The schedule of a team can give you clues as to whether they will share the minutes around the team. If they have a couple of days rest following a game, it’s likely they’ll look to rotate less but if they are on a back-to-back then they may rest up a little.
Line shop – Always try to find the best price for your bet. If your chosen betting site offers a selection at +300 and another one has the exact same line at +325, it makes far more sense to get the best value possible.
Manage bankroll – Only wager money you are comfortable losing. Employ limits for set periods and don’t go beyond them, otherwise you will lose money quickly. As well, don’t be distracted by amounts that other people bet.
Look for value – Value is the concept of you believing that an event is more likely than the odds suggest. Not all value bets will win but theoretically, you will win money in the long run by betting on selections that are more likely than the odds.

Most Popular Basketball Leagues and Events

Basketball is the second most-watched sport in the USA, with both NBA and NCAA being incredibly popular all across the nation.

NBA

NBA is without doubt the best basketball league in the world and is constantly on TV due to the sheer number of games.

Games are played almost every day throughout the season, even on Christmas Day where there are usually five nationally televised fixtures.

Each NBA team plays 82 games during the regular season with potential for another 28 during the playoffs. That means there are a total of 1,230 regular NBA games available to bet on.

Biggest NBA Events

NBA Finals

The NBA Finals is a best-of-seven series at the end of the season to determine which teams wins the NBA Championship.
NBA Conference Finals

The NBA is split into the Eastern Conference and Western Conference. The Conference Finals are both best-of-seven series and the two winning teams go into the NBA Finals.
NBA Playoffs

The best eight teams from each conference qualify for the NBA Playoffs.
NBA All-Star Weekend

Usually taking place in February, the All-Star Weekend is a relaxed break from the season and consists of competitions between players like the Dunk Contest. The weekend culminates in the All-Star Game on Sunday, with the best NBA players that year facing off.
NBA Draft

Each NBA team gets two picks in the NBA Draft to select the best college player that fits their needs. The teams with the worst records get the better picks.

NCAA College Basketball

College basketball offers even more games to bet on, with hundreds of colleges having basketball teams that compete in the NCAA. Colleges like Kentucky, University of North Carolina, Duke, and Kansas are amongst the top teams.

There are some restrictions on college sports that are imposed by states and you can find out more about those limitations here.

College basketball is divided into three divisions but most US sportsbooks will only offer wagering on Division 1. It generally contains the best players and those colleges in NCAA D1 are the best in the country.

Biggest NCAA Events

March Madness

The ultimate college basketball event. The top 68 teams each year compete for the National Championship, with games taking place at various arenas across the country.
Final Four

A part of March Madness. The Final Four refers to the four teams who reach the semi-finals of the National Tournament

EuroLeague Basketball

EuroLeague is the top European basketball league, with 18 teams from across the continent playing in it each year. Each team plays everyone else twice, once at home and once away, with the top-eight qualifying for the playoffs.

Although not as popular as the NBA or NCAA Basketball the EuroLeague can still provide plenty of betting opportunities and there are plenty of former NBA stars who have played in the league.

Biggest EuroLeague Events

EuroLeague Final

The championship game is a single knockout game between two of the eight teams who qualify for the playoffs. It is played at a pre-determined arena at the end of the season.
EuroLeague Final Four

The eight teams play one best-of-five series and the four winners go to the Final Four. The Final Four is played over the course of a weekend, with the two semi-final winners meeting in the Championship Game.

FAQs

How do I bet on basketball?

You can bet on points spread, total points, moneyline, or player props. These are the most popular markets but others are available, with some basketball betting sites having hundreds for you to choose from including which player will make the first field goal of the game.

Can I bet on college basketball?

College basketball betting is legal in all states where online sports wagering is allowed, but some states impose restrictions which means you may not be able to bet on player props. You can read more about those restrictions here on our dedicated NCAA page.

Is basketball betting legal?

Basketball betting is legal in the US. Every state which allows online sports wagering has sportsbooks that accept bets on NBA, NCAA basketball, EuroLeague and other major basketball leagues around the world, giving you a range of choices for wagering.

What is moneyline in basketball betting?

Moneyline betting is simply wagering on which team will win the game. There are no other conditions or handicaps to be aware of, unlike spread betting which requires the winning team to be victorious by a set number. Many recreational bettors like to bet moneyline on an underdog as it gives better returns than the spread.

How to place a bet on basketball?

Sign up for a legal US betting site and deposit using your chosen payment method, then find the basketball game and market you want to bet on. Decide how much you want to risk on a bet and finally wait for the game to be played to see if you are a winner or not.

What does +1.5 mean in basketball betting?

+1.5 is the handicap you are giving to a team. This is added to their final total and your bet wins if that total is higher than the opponents’ after the +1.5 handicap has been added. Handicap betting is also known as spread betting.