Best NBA Betting Sites 2024 – Where to Bet on Basketball in the US?
As the USA continues to roll out legalized sports betting, there has understandably been a meteoric rise in demand for NBA betting. After all, basketball is the second most popular sport in the country.
If you’re one of the many people looking to learn more, this comprehensive NBA betting guide is for you. We’ll explain how to get started with basketball wagering in the USA, as well as revealing our favorite sportsbooks. We’ll talk about betting lines, bonuses and even share our top tips for success.
Best Online NBA SportsBooks 2024
Before we get into the details, let’s first talk about the best NBA betting sites in the USA right now.
In the following table, you’ll find a selection of trustworthy brands that offer competitive odds on all kinds of lines. How do we know? Because our team of industry veterans has assessed each one to ensure that they’re up to scratch.
Code: BBCSUSA
1
First Bet
$1500
Paid Back
First Bet
$1500
Paid Back
99
points
Grab a First Bet Offer up to $1500
Excellent sports betting app available
Wide range of sports and betting options in the US
Okay, with our recommended sportsbooks out of the way, let’s get into the meat of our NBA betting guide. Here are the topics that we’ll discuss on this page.
First things first, we’d better define exactly what we mean by NBA betting. In this article, we’re addressing wagers on the outcome of basketball games, or specific events within these matches.
That includes traditional sports betting, as you would find at a physical retail venue in a casino or at a racetrack. But it also refers to online bookmakers, whether using a desktop computer or a mobile device.
What we are not talking about when we refer to NBA betting, is fantasy sports games. This is a different type of sports gambling entirely.
States Where Online NBA Betting is Legal
If you’re quickly wondering which states have full legality in regards to NBA betting either online or in retail locations, we’ve included a quickfire list for you to reference below.
Colorado
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Louisiana
Michigan
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wyoming
Please note that sportsbooks are always looking to expand, and while your state may not be listed yet, it may change in the future.
Understanding NBA Odds
Perhaps one of the most important topics to cover in this NBA betting guide is the odds. These are a visual representation of the probability of an event happening, but they also let us know how much we can win.
With the American odds format, a positive sign (+) shows what your profit will be for a $100 bet. While a negative symbol (-) illustrates what you would need to wager in order to make $100.
Let’s look at a hypothetical example of an NBA moneyline, to help us understand:
Golden State Warriors (+150) @ Boston Celtics (-200)
What does this mean? A $100 bet on the Warriors is going to return a profit of $150, for total returns of $250. Because of course, when your bet wins, you also get the stake back.
On the other hand, a $200 bet on the Celtics will make us a profit of $100, for a total return of $300. All clear?
Different Odds Formats
Don’t worry if you didn’t follow our example. The top NBA sports betting sites allow you to switch to more convenient formats. Decimal odds, which are favored in Europe, are extremely simple. While in the UK, they prefer fractions and in Asia they have their own systems entirely.
The below table outlines a few examples of how the various odds look in different global formats.
Stake
American
Decimal
Fractional
Malay
Indonesian
Hong Kong
Return
$10
+150
2.50
6/4
-0.67
1.50
1.50
$25
$25
-200
1.50
1/2
0.50
-2.00
0.50
$37.50
$40
+250
3.50
5/2
-0.40
2.50
2.50
$140
How are NBA Odds Compiled?
The process of setting the odds for an NBA game is complex. First of all, the compilers will have a statistical model which is kept a closely guarded secret. Various factors are fed in, including recent results, player fitness, the venue of the game and lots of other information.
The model will first generate some estimated probabilities of the possible outcomes, which can then be converted to odds. However, bookmakers don’t offer you the true odds. After all, they’re in it to make money. So they skim off a small percentage, which we call the “juice” or “vig”. This guarantees them a theoretical edge in the long run.
Popular NBA Markets for Betting
Below we will highlight some of the most popular betting markets for the NBA league.
Moneyline
The simplest and therefore easiest method of betting on NBA games, and indeed all sports, is the moneyline. It is literally just the odds of each team winning. All you need to do is choose which side you think will triumph. The favorites will naturally have shorter odds as their probability of coming out on top is greater.
Spreads
Sometimes we see an NBA game which is not evenly matched. If one team is struggling with injury problems and out of form, the other team is almost guaranteed a win. In that case, the odds are unappealing to bettors. So bookmakers try to even things up by adding a points handicap to the underdog’s score. The favorite now has to cover the “point spread” in order for a bet to win.
Totals
Most sports betting sites will offer totals on several markets. The most common is the total number of points scored in the game. They’ll give a figure, for instance 208.5 points, and you have to predict whether the real value will be over or under. So a scoreline of 103 to 106 would be a total of 209, which is over the bookmaker’s points total line. Therefore “Under” bets lose.
Player Props
You can bet on a whole host of individual player propositions both before the game starts and while in-play. A common prop is for a player to shoot a certain number of points in a specific quarter, half or the entire game. Others revolve around three point shooting, free throws, rebounds and assists.
Team Props
Much like individual player betting, it’s also possible to wager on team propositions. That might be something like the total number of points or rebounds scored by one team in a given quarter. Or it could revolve around milestones during the contest, like the first team to hit 20 points.
Futures
Real NBA experts can make profits from predicting the long-term outcome of events. Betting opportunities such as Rookie of the Year, Season MVP or the outright championship winners are all common markets. You can find great value odds, because it’s so tough to guess what will happen weeks and months down the line.
Live Betting
No NBA betting guide would be complete without talking about in-play, or live betting. Gone are the days when you could only bet before tip-off time. Now if you missed the start of the game, there’s no problem. Simply load up your favorite sportsbook and head to the live betting section.
Top bookmakers will not only provide you with a wide range of live NBA betting markets. The very best sites will offer you all kinds of in-game statistics, to give you the best possible chance of winning.
Many modern sportsbooks even offer live streams of the action, so you can watch without paying for expensive subscription packages. Simply place a bet and enjoy the game!
Popular Live NBA Betting Markets
Here are some examples of common in-play basketball lines.
Race to X: Your job is to guess which team will hit the designated target first. If it’s a “Race to 20”, whichever team scores 20 or more first wins. The live betting market will then change to a new total, for instance “Race to 40”.
Quarter betting: A selection of betting lines including spreads, totals and moneyline, but for each specific quarter rather than the entire game.
Half betting: As above, but for the first two quarters combined, as well as the third and fourth quarters.
Next to score: Bet on which of the two teams will score the next point. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a free throw, a three-pointer or a regular bucket.
Mobile NBA Betting Apps
In our high-tech modern world, almost everyone has a smartphone or tablet device. We’ve become used to on-demand entertainment, whether it’s streaming music and movies, or playing computer games on the go. The gambling world has not been left behind in this regard.
All of the best online sportsbooks in the USA now offer a mobile betting app. And one of the key components of such software is the ability to place NBA bets. An app is tailored to your specific device, for a completely optimized experience. This means it will more than likely run much more quickly and smoothly than simply betting through a browser. What’s more, they can save you data when not connected to Wi-Fi, as well as other convenient features.
Our Top 5 NBA Betting Tips
Okay, we’re now about to share some expert advice to help improve your results when betting on the NBA. Apply these tricks to your betting strategy and in the long run, you’re sure to see improvements.
Tip 1: No Slacking
Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts to success in life, and sports betting is no different. You simply must put in the effort to study the form, stay on top of the latest player news and do your research.
If you can learn how to create your own odds, even better, as this will help you to spot pricing errors. Be wary of tipsters who try to sell you guaranteed winners, as they will invariably cost you in the long term.
Tip 2: Ignore the Pundits
When you see the likes of Shaq and Chuck talking on the television, remember that it’s purely entertainment. They might have played at the highest level, they may know a lot, but it doesn’t mean they’re betting experts.
Often, personalities in the media simply have to fill air time or newspaper columns. They are paid to have opinions, even if they don’t really have any. Often, they say things just for the sake of it. So try to block out such noise and make your own decisions.
Tip 3: Be Selective
During the regular NBA season, there are just so many games on which to bet. If you back a loser, you don’t need to immediately chase those losses the following game. Betting is a long-term process and you must be patient.
Similarly, you don’t actually have to bet. If you look at a matchup and can’t see a clear value bet, then don’t place any wagers! Tomorrow is another day and better opportunities will arise.
Tip 4: Shop For Value
If you see some sneakers on sale for $20 less in another shop, why are you buying the expensive pair? Betting is exactly the same. If the Lakers are +180 with one site and +200 with another, where are you placing that bet?
If you don’t open accounts with multiple sportsbooks and compare odds, you’re losing money even when you win.
Tip 5: Avoid Parlays
If you’ve identified more than one possible selection, resist the temptation to parlay them up. Yes, it’s true that you’ll gain a bigger return if they all win. That’s because you’re multiplying the odds. But in reality, it’s much harder to land a parlay.
Imagine you place six individual bets and five of them win. You’re looking at a nice profit. But what would have happened if you’d parlayed them? There will be no returns at all.
Interesting NBA Facts
The National Basketball Association, or NBA, was formed in 1946 as the BAA, or Basketball Association of America. Three years later, the name changed after a merger with the rival National Basketball League (NBL).
Today, the competition is made up of 30 different teams, with each one playing 82 matches in the regular season.
The most successful franchises are the Celtics and the Lakers, who both have 17 championships each. In the 2022 season, Boston had the opportunity to make it 18, but lost out in the Playoff Finals to the Golden State Warriors.
Historically, the Eastern Conference has been marginally more successful, producing 40 championships to the West’s 35.
Season
Winners
Runners-Up
Series Result
2022
Golden State Warriors
Boston Celtics
4-2
2021
Milwaukee Bucks
Phoenix Suns
4-2
2020
Los Angeles Lakers
Miami Heat
4-2
2019
Toronto Raptors
Golden State Warriors
4-2
2018
Golden State Warriors
Cleveland Cavaliers
4-0
2017
Golden State Warriors
Cleveland Cavaliers
4-1
2016
Cleveland Cavaliers
Golden State Warriors
4-3
2015
Golden State Warriors
Cleveland Cavaliers
4-2
2014
San Antonio Spurs
Miami Heat
4-1
2013
Miami Heat
San Antonio Spurs
4-3
Common NBA Bonuses and Promotions
We’ve reached the point in our NBA betting guide where we deal with promotions. You’ll find all kinds of different basketball betting bonuses, particularly around the time of the NBA Playoffs. Let’s take a look at the most common offers.
NBA Free Bets
Players can earn free bets in many ways. It might be issued as part of a new player signup incentive, or it could be a loyalty reward. However you earn it, a free bet is just what it sounds like. You’ll receive a betting token and when you use it, you may keep any profits made. But if your bet goes down, it’ll cost you nothing.
Risk-Free NBA Bets
Not to be confused with a free bet, the risk-free bet is sometimes called a “No Sweat Bet”. The premise is simple. Place a real money wager, but if you lose, there will be some sort of compensation waiting for you. It’s usually a free bet worth the exact same amount as your real money stake. That way, you effectively receive a refund for a second shot at glory. Hence the “risk-free” element.
Deposit Match Bonuses
These are often used for welcome offers. In that case, when funding a new account for the first time, you’ll receive a bonus worth a percentage of that deposit. For instance, let’s say the offer is a 100% deposit match. When you fund the account with $50, you’ll receive an additional $50 in bonus bets.
NBA Bet and Get
Place a certain number of bets and you’ll receive a free bet as a reward. This type of deal is common during the regular NBA season. You may be required to place something like three $10 bets to earn one free bet worth $10, for example.
How To Start Betting on the NBA
If you’ve made it this far into our guide to NBA Betting, you’re probably already very keen to get started. But if you’re still a little uncertain about how to get going, simply follow the below steps. This basic walkthrough will have you off and running in next to no time!
1: Choose a Betting Site
First of all, you’ll need to choose the right bookmaker for you. We recommend that you pick from our list of suggestions at the top of this page. That way, you’re sure to be playing at safe and legal sportsbooks, with generous odds and rewarding bonuses.
2: Register With the Bookmaker
Next you’ll have to find the button which triggers the registration process. Usually they are marked very clearly as “Join Now”, “Register” or similar. You’ll likely spot this button positioned towards the top of your screen. Click on it and complete the simple signup form.
3: Claim Your Betting Bonus
At this point, depending on your NBA betting site, you may be offered a choice of welcome bonuses. If applicable, pick your favorite from the list or enter the relevant promotion code. Some bookmakers will ask you to enter the bonus code when making a deposit. Which leads us nicely to our next step!
4: Make a Cash Deposit
Once your account is open, it’s time to make a real money deposit. Head to the cashier section of the bookmaker and pick your ideal banking method. Any minimum and maximum deposit limits will be displayed on screen, so pay attention. Don’t forget to enter that deposit bonus code if relevant!
5: Place Some NBA Bets
That’s really all there is to it! You are now in possession of a fully funded sportsbook account and it’s time to place a few NBA bets. Navigate to the basketball section of the online bookmaker, choose the NBA and peruse the many different betting lines. Click on the odds you like the look of to add them to your betslip and build your first wager!
Conclusion
That brings us to the end of this complete NBA betting guide. We hope that you enjoyed reading and are able to take something away that will improve your basketball betting results.
If you’re ready to jump into the action, be sure to check out one of the highly rated NBA betting sites named in this article. When it comes to generous odds, dozens of betting lines and fantastic welcome offers, every one of them is a slam dunk!
FAQs
Is NBA Betting legal in the United States?
That depends on where you are. At the time of writing, sports betting is legal in over 30 states and counting. Some of these allow online sportsbooks, others only retail. But either way, you can bet on NBA games in such cases.
What are the best NBA betting sites in the USA?
To see our recommended online basketball betting sportsbooks, simply scroll to the top of this NBA betting guide. Our expert panel has assessed each and every bookmaker to bring you the best sites with generous odds and tempting promotions.
How can I win more when betting on NBA games?
You can find our top tips to improve your NBA betting performance elsewhere in this article.
What is moneyline NBA betting?
The moneyline is the most simple way to bet on a basketball game. It tells us the odds of either team winning the game and all we have to do is predict the right outcome. See further up the page for how to calculate moneyline returns.
How do I bet on the NBA?
If you’re not sure how to start betting on the NBA, this guide is here to help! We’ve written a step-by-step guide to get you going, as well as sharing some tips to help you succeed.
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