How To Bet On Basketball

Basketball is one of the fastest most thrilling sports on the planet, which is why it’s also one of the most thrilling sports to bet on. There’s slick passing and dribbling tricks, whilst pinpoint shooting accuracy means the scoreboard changes quicker and more often than in any other sport.

The NBA league in America is the best league in the world, but basketball is also played in many other countries. It’s very popular in Europe and continues to grow in popularity in Asia.

Many matches are also televised, whilst many more can be streamed live through bookmaking sites once you’ve had a bet. There’s plenty of bookies for betting on basketball, you really don’t have to look far!

Another reason why basketball is a popular sport to bet on is the rules are easy to follow. Teams basically score two points for scoring a basket but get three if they shoot from outside the two-point zone. Players can also receive “free throws” if they get fouled, and they score one-point for each one they convert.

Match Bets In Basketball

Match Betting is one of the most popular ways to bet on basketball, as it simply gives you a chance to bet on one team to beat the other. Match Betting in basketball is even simpler than in other sports such as soccer/football, as there is no draw to factor in. That’s because basketball goes into overtime if the two teams are tied at the end of the fourth quarter, meaning there is always an outright winner.

A typical match between two teams may see both teams priced-up at 10/11 (1.91). That means if you have a £10 win bet, you will get £19.10 back if your team wins. But not all teams are that evenly matched. For example, you may get games in which team A is priced-up at 1/2 (1.50) and team B is 6/4 (2.50).

Basketball Handicap Betting

Handicap betting is generally available on most basketball matches. This is where the bookmakers give one of the team a theoretical points-start over their opponents. For example, team A may get an 8.5-point start over team B. To decide which team wins this bet, the bookies simply add the handicap points to the final score to decide which team comes out on top. Handicaps are offered with a .5 at the end to make sure there is no chance of the game being a draw.

For example, the final score is 83 to 91 in favour of team B but, with the 8.5 points start, team A would win the handicap betting 91.5 to 91. This type of betting simply gives bookmakers the chance to offer two teams at similar prices, whereas one team would be heavily odds-on in the standard outright match betting market.

Over/Under Bets In Basketball

An over/under bet in basketball gives you the chance to predict what the total points scored by both teams in a match will be. For example, bookmakers will set a threshold of 150.5 points and you can bet on whether you think there will be fewer points than that (under) or more points than that (over).

Over/under betting on some matches will also be for specific quarters, such as the first quarter. In this scenario, you only need to predict the number of points after the first quarter.

Top Scorer Betting In Basketball

Another popular basketball bet is predicting which player will be the top scorer in the match or you can bet on a player to be the top scorer for his team in the match.

Basketball Betting Strategies

If you’re willing to tie-up some of your betting bank for anything longer than the couple of hours it normally takes to play a basketball match, you might also want to consider long-term basketball betting. This normally revolves around picking which teams will win a league or a cup competition.

What is basketball total points betting?

Basketball total points betting, commonly referred to as Over/Under betting, is a popular form of betting where you bet on the combined score of both teams in a game. The sportsbook sets a total point value, and you can bet on whether the actual combined score will be over or under that number.

For example, if the total for a game between the Grizzlies and Warriors is set at 228.5, betting the Over would mean you expect the game to total 229 points or more. Conversely, taking the Under would mean you expect 228 points or fewer. The outcome of the bet is independent of who wins the game; it solely depends on the total number of points scored.

Key Points to Consider

Game Pace: Knowing the pace at which teams play can be crucial. Teams that slow down the game are more likely to keep the score low.

Injury Reports: The absence of key players can significantly impact the total points in a game. Always check injury reports before placing a basketball bet.

Referees: Some referees are known to call more fouls, leading to more free throws and potentially higher scores.

Value Prices: Always shop around for the best lines and odds. Even a small difference in the total points line can impact your bet’s outcome.

Time of Bet Placement: Many bettors prefer to wait for the lines to move, offering potentially better value later on.

By understanding these factors, you can make more informed decisions when you bet on basketball, increasing your chances of a successful bet.

Things To Consider When Betting On Basketball

You can bet on basketball purely for fun but, with lots of statistics available from past matches, it’s also a great sport to bet on for serious punters looking to win regularly and increase their bankroll.

The keys to becoming a successful basketball punter are to study the formbook closely, make educated picks where the value is in your favour, and start with a bankroll that will let your skills blossom.

But don’t worry if you don’t have the time or knowledge to become a successful basketball punter on your own, as you can follow the advice of a proven basketball tipster who can help you make long-term profits from betting on basketball.