Out of all the major four sports in America, basketball is one of the easiest and most fun to bet on. If you know how to bet on football, soccer or hockey, you will already have a grasp on how to bet on basketball. But for those who want the lowdown on basketball gambling, allow us to explain.  Here are the alternative forms of bets that you can currently place on basketball events. 

Play the Spread

The most common method involves betting on the point spread – otherwise known as the handicap (read more about what is handicap betting). Handicap in regards to sportsbooks impose on one team to make both teams equal in strictly betting terms. In this scenario, the team that is expected to win will be titled as the favorite, while the team expected to lose will be called the underdog. 

As an example, if the Lakers were playing the Kings, the Lakers would be expected to win, and people would rightly place bets on them as the betting favorite. In that case, the Lakers might be named as a 10-point favorite, which would mean that they would have to win by 11 or more points for its bettors to win their bet. On the flip side, those who wagered on the Kings would win their bets if they won the game or lost by less than 10 points. 

Play the Totals

Another very popular form of betting when it comes to Basketball is totals. This is when a punter wagers how many points will be scored by either one team or both teams. Total scores can vary wildly, so this can be a very unpredictable market. But, by the same token, it also means that you can win big if you guess correctly. Track what teams average over time, understand their tendencies, and give yourself a great chance of winning big. 

Betting on Popular NBA Teams

Just as people love an underdog, they also love the popular, glamourous franchises. Nowhere is this more obvious than in NBA basketball, where popular franchises Lakers, Celtics, Warriors and Bulls will command huge amounts of wagers – regardless of who they are playing against. 

The most popular team to bet on is the LA Lakers schedule, for obvious reasons (they’ll win a lot). However, this can sometimes mean that you can get good odds on whomever they are playing, as a lot of casual players will simply bet on them regardless of their form or quality. Yes, they have a good team, but they are likely to lose a lot more than punters think they ultimately will. 

NBA Odds Explained

There are three main odds types, they are: 

• Decimal odds
• Fractional odds
• Moneyline odds

Many of you reading this article will be familiar with moneyline odds. However, a lot of sport betting guides will display odds in the decimal format. This is chiefly because they are much easier to work with than American and Fractional odds.

As with any sport, understanding betting odds is crucial to profitable NBA betting. If you don’t understand how betting odds are formulated, you’re going to have a difficult time at the bookies when it comes to sporting events. It isn’t just in basketball where an intimate knowledge of all odd types will come in handy. 

In combat sports such as MMA and boxing, decimal, fractional and moneyline odds can all be used – as bouts are happening all over the world. So, the sooner you become familiar with these terms, the easier it will be for you to adapt.

How Smart Betting Guide Can Help

If you still feel unsure about where to start, let Smart Betting Guide lend a hand. The site is tailored towards helping punters negate the often confusing and disorientating world of online sports gambling. The site has sections and pages which can point you in the right direction, and help you find the best basketball betting sites.

Find the Right Bookmaker

Once you feel ready and prepared to start placing bets on basketball, the next important step is to decide which site and platform you should use. One of the best available is Megapari, which offers a wide range of basketball markets and alternative betting lines. As you might expect, NBA markets receive the greatest number of bets, but you can also have a flutter on the Euro League, as well as other smaller regional basketball divisions – if that is your preference. 

Mistakes to Avoid

By now, you probably feel ready to get started. But there are still some mistakes that you will want to avoid when betting on basketball. For instance, it is probably wise to ease your way into it by initially aiming to win often rather than win big. Build some early confidence first before you set about creating large accumulators. When gambling on a new sport, there is often so much to learn and to become familiar with. Therefore, give yourself plenty of time to get accustomed to the environment and trends first. 

Along very similar lines, another possible pitfall is over-complicating bets. You don’t need to try and outsmart the bookie from the outset with scientific formulas. Once again, build some confidence first, and look to get a good run going before you attempt anything that only a seasoned veteran would try.

Why Leagues Should I Bet On? 

In terms of which teams or leagues you should bet on, there isn’t a correct or straight forward answer. Sure, some leagues may offer better odds than others, but if you know very little about them, the added value is virtually pointless. Realistically, you only want to gamble on games/leagues that you have an intimate knowledge of – for which you have a good idea of what might transpire. 

For some players, that may be the EuroLeague; for others, it will instead be the NBA. Don’t be afraid to try a few out, but if you are far more passionate and knowledgeable about one, in particular, don’t be afraid to stick with it just because other markets offer marginally improved value. 

Summary

Basketball continues to be one of the most popular sports in the world, and in that sense, it is surely no surprise that many people still choose to place bets on basketball events. Although there is always some level of risk involved, if you follow some of the advice and tips in this piece, you can most certainly find some success when gambling on the sport in the future. So, why not turn your love for all things hoop into a convenient money-maker today?