NBA Betting Guide For The Noobs and The Seasoned
Oh dang, is it basketball time already? It seems like just yesterday that we were going through the madness of March Madness for the NCAA, but the Pros are starting up and it’s time to turn you into one as well!
Well, let’s get ready here for the 2022/23 season and make sure that the new gamblers out there are ready to come with us! New seasons mean that people that are a little interested or even just coming into legal age are coming around and we want to make sure that everyone has some fun!
Phoenix letting Los Angeles know that they’re not going to just give up!
Here in this post, we’ll talk about the best places to go and make your NBA bets, as well as what kind of bets you can place, and probably a little stuff in between!
Starting off, if you are completely new to Basketball in general, you’re in luck!
Basketball is not a complicated game at all and you can learn all of the rules and how it’s played in less than an afternoon. This marks it very popular among the younger crowd that may be new to the sport of the world of Online Gambling.
If you fall into that first category you can always check out this link here. Once you do that you’ll want to come on back here and get a good head start on your next steps.
For those of you that have done that or just fall into the second category, just keep on scrolling!
Firstly, we want to hit up the types of bets that you can make on the NBA because that will be important here in a bit when we start to talk about the best places to make your wagers.
The Common Types Of NBA Bets Available
This is going to be a real basic list here. The same bets that are available will probably be available at another site, but there are no guarantees in that department!
That’s just one of many reasons that when you’re cruising the internet looking for a place to make your bets, you really should be checking out quite a few sites.
You will want to make sure that there isn’t a site that’s offering a bet that nobody else is, (usually in the way of Props Bets, we’ll get to that). You’ll also want to make sure that you’re getting the best odds possible and the most bang for your buck!
- Moneyline
This is the most basic type of bet here. With the Moneyline bet, you are just betting that X team will win, and this transfers over to just about any sport.
Think about the time you and a friend were watching a big game and you said, “I’ve got 10 bucks on the 76ers”. That was a Moneyline bet.
We cannot think of any Online Gambling site that does not offer these, so if that’s the type of bet you’d like to place, that’s one of the most important times to check out multiple sites just to ensure you’re getting the best odds!
- Handicapping
Fun fact:
A professional NBA ball is a “Size 7”. This means that it is 29.5″ in circumference and weighs a standard of 22 ounces.
The Handicapped bet is a fancier version of the Moneyline bet.
In most games, there’s going to be a favorite to win. In order to establish a balance between the two teams and even out the playing field, (or the court, if you will) sportsbooks and booking will offer a certain handicap in the form of positive and negative numbers.
The team that is considered the favorite will be given a negative handicap while the underdog will be given the advantage to start off with.
For example, if the handicap for one of the teams is -7.5, that team will need to win by more than that number for the bet to be considered a winner.
- Totals
In Totals bets, the winner of the game is completely irrelevant. It just doesn’t matter.
The objective here would be to successfully predict the total number of points scored by both teams and bet whether that number will be over or under the sum provided by the sportsbook.
- Outright Betting
Outright betting is a good option for those that would like to cover a more extended amount of time. You could bet on the entire season all at once and take all 82 of the games into consideration with the option to go even further and bet on longer time intervals.
Some examples of this would be the NBA Championship Winner, The Winners of the Eastern and Western Conferences, the Total Number of Wins a team will score, the MVP Award, and so on.
Sometimes, the sportsbook will list some of these options in its “Props” section.
- Props
A Props bet is a bet that has nothing to do with the outcome of a game at all. These can range anywhere from the insanely fun to the insanely boring.
They’re just about always fun, the whole point is that anything goes in this type of bet. Some basketball props could include things like:
- Will a fight break out on the court?
- Will X player come into Y number of fouls?
- How many 3-point shots will be made?
Just random stuff like that!
Other Wagers
This list of types of bets is not complete. Your sportsbook(s) of choice should offer you a whole mess of choices, giving you the opportunity to place all kinds of wagers.
These aren’t the only options for NBA betting and can of course be far more advanced, such as focusing on a particular stage of a game rather than the match as a whole.
Many bookies will let you place wagers on what will be going on during a particular half or even quarter of a game.
Naturally, placing your bets on events like these requires a more thorough knowledge of the sport in question, and conducting some research that will go beyond the game itself!
The betting options would remain the same, but with a more compressed and restricted period. Depending on the usual gameplay strategy of the two teams playing, one can bet on Team X in one period and team Y in another in the same game!
Also, we’re going to talk a lot about some American sportsbooks. From somewhere else but still interested in the NBA? Check out CloudBet! They’re Bitcoin/Crypto only but accepting of many other countries with a Welcome Bonus of up to 5BTC!
The Best Places to Place NBA Wagers
At the time of this writing, we are literally at the very beginning of the 22/23 season, so the different types of wagers currently available are a little on the lacking side. As the season picks up this will change!
For now, we’re going to list the types available at the first couple of Online Gambling sites, and those types are pretty much going to be available at any site you choose to go to.
Now let’s get into the best places you can go to make your bets, and then we’ll pick up right here with some other Basketball information you should know!
Bovada
Bovada just may be the most popular choice for American gamblers. We’re singing their praises constantly, and for good reason!
If you want to learn more about just why that is, take a look at this post here where we really dig into what Bovada is all about and why we love them so much!
If you go to join up right now, you can get yourself a $250 Welcome Bonus to use in the sportsbook, and you can actually boost that up to a $750 Welcome Bonus if you’re using Crypto to make your initial deposit.
Need some help in the Crypto department? Take a look at this post!
If you do decide to go and check out Bovada, as we think you should, you can also invite your friends to join in on the fun with you and you can get up to $275 for each friend that comes along.
What Is Bovada Currently Offering For Basketball?
- Game Lines
- First Half Lines
- Second Half Lines
- Quarter Lines
- Team Totals
- Futures
GTBets
GTBets, also known as Game Time Bets is another popular choice for some American gamblers.
We have to say some because the list of states that are not allowed at GTBets is on the long side, and that sucks rocks. Don’t forget that it’s up to you to follow your local laws if you live in one of those states but you get in anyway!
For those that are allowed to bet there, you may be wondering what makes GTBets so special.
How about the fact that every season you may pick one NBA team and for all season long, GTBets will give you a Free Half Point to give you a little boost for all of “your teams” games!
And if you are into other sports betting as well, which we’re sure you are, you are able to pick your favorites for not only the NBA, but also the NFL, College Basketball, and College Football as well!
You can pick different teams each season, but once you choose your team for the season, that’s it! You don’t get to change them again until the next season! Make sure you choose wisely!
If you are new to GTBets you can get a 100% Cash Bonus up to $500 on your first deposit followed up by a 50% Cash Bonus up to $250 on your second deposit.
Already a member over there? Don’t forget about the Rewards Program where you can exchange the points you’ve earned into Cash!
BetOnline
BetOnline is quite possibly the best choice for the gambler that wants a little variety in their betting action. Once again, we’re right at the beginning of the season but here’s a list of what’s currently available over that way.
- Game Markets
- Over/Under
- Player Doubles
- First Point
- Points
- Rebounds
- Assists
- 3-point Shots
- Combo Stats
- Parlays
- Specials
- Exotics
- Game Props
- Head to Head
- Blocked Shots
- Steals
That’s a lot of stuff going on for a season that hasn’t even really gotten underway yet!
As far as incentives go to get you to join up with them, the new players can take advantage of a 50% Welcome Bonus of up to $1000 if you make your first deposit with the code BOL1000.
Once you have joined, or if you’re already a member, you can always get yourself a 25% Reload Bonus when you reload your account with the code LIFEBONUS!
SportsBetting.ag
There’s not a ton to say about SportsBetting here, but that’s not because they’re bad in any way.
Quite the contrary! We freakin’ love them!
There’s not a lot to say here because SportsBetting and BetOnline are almost identical. You see, the same company that owns and operates one owns and operates the other.
That $1,000 Welcome Bonus that’s available over at BetOnline? You only get to use it once and one time only. There are no rules that say you can’t join both sites and end up taking advantage of the same great bonus twice!
If you go over to SportsBetting to do just that, the code is then SB1000, and the code for the “all-your-life” reload bonus is FORLIFE.
Everygame
Ever hear of Intertops? Man, they were awesome and it’s a shame that they’re gone.
Except for the fact that they’re really not!
They just re-branded themselves and are now called Everygame! They’re still the same fantastic company that has been in the business for well over 20 years now!
You’re still going to find the same great service, the same promotions and contests that nobody else offers, and even the layout of the site is the same. It really was just a name change and that’s it.
Need something a little different to go along with your basketball betting?
Why not go and check out the $5k Hot Hoops Chase where you will climb the leaderboard throughout the season to win your part of $5k in Cash!
It’s not available just yet, but if you’re into College Ball at all, Everygame usually puts up a contest every year where you can win travel and game tickets to the Final Four, so make sure that you look out for that one!
While a damn fine choice for the American gambler, Everygame is also one of the top choices for our friends that live in other countries as well. Like basketball but don’t really care for the NBA? Right now Everygame is giving you the odds not only for the NBA, but also the Australian NBL and the Euroleague.
As for the NBA action, right now they’re showing off
- NBA Futures
- NBA Lines
- NBA Regular Season Wins
Some Items for Consideration Before Making Your First Wager
Many of the bets that have been listed here, (especially for sites like BetOnline and SportsBetting) will require some in-depth knowledge and a degree of dedication on the player’s part.
Otherwise, you are taking a higher (and unnecessary) risk of losing!
Before you march out onto the court to place your first bet, you should know that the general statistics are important factors to keep in mind, but that’s not all. You’ll also need to take the following three things into account, (there are more than just these three, but these are the important ones):
- Injuries
- Rotations
- Team Schedules
Obviously, the general statistics are of the utmost importance. It doesn’t matter how much you love “your team”. If you know that they’re the painfully, glaring underdog, there’s a good chance you’re going to lose making any bets on them.
When you’re gambling, always leave your emotion at the door!
Beyond that, there are rotations and injuries. These can change the course of a game and add a higher advantage to the opposing team. Those with experience will adjust their bets accordingly because they make sure to stay regularly updated on any changes in the team’s starting lineup.
Team schedules? That’s going to be important as well. The Basketball schedules can get really crowded at times and can significantly impact the performance of any individual player which would in turn affect the whole team. Those team members that are playing say, their third or fourth game in a row may very well start showing it!
Arguably some of the greatest of the great in this picture.
You see what five of them have in common, right?
Rules of The NBA
You probably already know the rules of basketball. Just in case you don’t or need a refresher, once again, just take a look at this link here, or just scroll some. We’ll go through some of them real quick here.
For some super quick basics:
The team consists of 5 players and points are awarded for achieving the following scores.
- if someone shoots within the 3-point line (2 points)
- if someone shoots outside of the 3-point line (3 points)
- shoooting a free-throw if a violation occurs (1 point)
The two teams will be offensive and defensive depending on which has the ball. While offensive, NBA teams must shoot the ball within 24 seconds. Going over this time will forfeit to the offensive team.
“Dribbling”, (bouncing the ball up and down) is required to advance the ball. If a player stops dribbling, they may not resume. They must shoot or pass to another player. If they were to move with the ball without dribbling they will give up the ball.
After a team score, possession of the ball is given to the other team. They are now offensive and have 5 seconds from the sideline to pass to a teammate.
Four, 12-minute ‘quarters’ make up a game. This game cannot end in a tie. If both teams have the same score at the end, the game will continue in overtime until new points determine a winner.
There are 30 teams altogether which play 82 games per season and out of 30, 8 teams with the best winning record will go on to the playoffs and compete for the NBA Championship.
Conclusion
A picture of the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
sigh
It’s nicer than any trophy I’ve won.
One of the most essential stages of sports betting is stats analysis and putting in your own homework to make the best decisions, not just to go out and bet on your favorite mascot.
Luckily for everyone, the information about any team and the individual members is very, very easy to obtain.
This makes your betting choices very easy and even inexperienced bettors can get a look at the statistics and figure out:
- Which of the two teams has performed better in the past
- What is any given teams strengths?
- What are their weaknesses?
Taking in that information you should be able to make some good, educated bets.
Do some homework to really take a deep look and you should be good to really go out and make some dough with your bets!
The super, most important thing you can do?
Always make your bets at Sportsbooks that are safe and legitimate and will pay you when you win. It’s your dough, don’t give it to just anyone!
And Make Sure That You Also Take A Look At These As Well