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The Basics of NBA Betting
Trying to understand the NBA betting scene if you’re still new to the game or gambling in general, can be a bit of a challenge. There are different plays, different bets, and many numbers involved, so it’s worth learning about the basics of NBA betting before you start.
This includes getting to grips with some of the most basic bets in NBA sports betting, such as straightforward basketball betting lines or betting against the spread. With the right information at your fingertips, you should be able to be gambling with the pros in no time.
Learn how to improve your NBA betting strategy by keeping up to date with the latest NBA odds. This will help you decide which bets are worth placing with a bigger return or a higher chance of it coming in, and it’s a great way to determine what type of bet you should place.
Single Game NBA Bets
Most NBA betting sites will offer moneyline bets, spread bets, and totals bets, which are three of the simplest single game bets to understand. A single game bet means that the success of your bet depends on the outcome of a single game.
1. Betting the Moneyline
This is a type of wager where you’re betting on which team will win the game. It doesn’t matter by what margin they win, as long as the team you selected is crowned the winner.
It’s easy to understand the odds for this, as the team with a ‘+’ next to it is considered the underdog, while the team with ‘-’ next to it is considered the bookies’ favorite to win. The number that appears next to the symbol indicates the implied probability of the outcome.
2. Betting the Spread
Betting the spread, point-spread betting, betting against the spread, or whatever else you would like to call it, this is a type of bet that specifies the winner BUT on the condition that they win by a specific margin, or on the losing team losing by a specific number of points.
To check the odds, look for the number next to the ‘+’ or ‘-’ symbol as this will indicate how many points your chosen team needs to win or lose by in order for your bet to come in.
3. Totals Bets
Also referred to as overs/unders betting, totals betting is another pretty simple bet to learn. Just like the name suggests, this is when you wager on the total amount of points that are scored by both teams within a single game.
To know the odds for any given totals bet, look at the number the total is set to. If you’re betting on the over, for example, you’re wagering that the combined scores from both teams will total more than the number indicated. The payout you receive, however, can vary and is not always the same for the under/over bet option, so check before placing your bets.
Multiple Game NBA Bets
During the season when there are multiple games involved, some people prefer to place multiple game bets or to spread the outcome of a bet over several games for a bigger return.
However, there are a larger number of variables to consider when you place multiple game bets making it more of a complicated option, but one that can be highly worth it if it comes in.
1. Parlays
A parlay bet is when you wager on the outcome of multiple events, which could all be within the same game or spread out over several games.
For example, if you wanted to bet on one team to win, but you also wanted to wager on the total score being below a specific figure when the final whistle rings, you could place a parlay bet which allows you to do just that.
If you win every selection you’ll receive a bigger return than you would from a single game bet, but if you win two out of three or four out of five selections, you won’t win anything.
2. Teasers
A teaser bet is similar to a parlay as you will need to bet on more than one outcome. These are all placed on the total or against the spread, although you can adjust these to be more in your favor. Just remember that this will also affect your return should the bet come in.
Like a parlay, in order for your teaser bet to be successful, you will need every selection you make to be correct to receive a return.
