A Full Guide to Betting on Basketball (2022)

Basketball betting continues to steadily rise in popularity among punters. In this basketball betting guide, we will take a look at the best basketball betting sites and provide you with all the insight you need to bet on this thrilling sport.

Best Betting Sites for Basketball Betting

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Best Basketball Betting Sites Reviewed

Wondering which basketball betting site is right for you? Here’s a detailed look at three of the best:

bet365

bet365 basketball market*Odds correct as of 15:43 GMT on 22/3/2021

bet365 do not do things by half. Whether it is their offering for soccer, cricket or basketball, they are able to provide some of the most in-depth betting options available to bettors.

The basketball section can be found on the left-hand menu on the homepage under ‘basketball’. Clicking on this will bring up all of the available competitions that you can bet on. These include the NCAAB, the Basketball Champions League Americas, EuroLeague, Euro Cup and many more for a total of over 40 different competitions.

The available markets have been listed in a slightly different way to what you may be used to. Instead of clicking on your game of choice, click on the market itself once you have chosen your preferred league. This will then bring up all of the odds for this market in the available matches.

Markets include Game Lines, 3-way betting, Alternative Point Spread, Alternative Game Total, Race to 20 Points, Result and Both Teams to Score ‘X’ Points, Tied at End of Regulation, Winning Margin 3-Way, Team Totals, game props, and many more. You can also split your betting options even further by selecting the lines, props and futures tabs too.

Sportsbet.io

Sportsbet.io are a bookie that does a lot of things very well. Unlike other betting sites focus solely on the biggest sports, Sportsbet.io have been able to integrate a highly varied sportsbook alongside a range of markets for all of the sports they offer. 

To find their basketball section, click on the basketball option at the top of the homepage. This will bring you to all the available basketball betting options, including the relevant leagues and competitions along with options for in-play, next 24 hours, outrights, leagues and news.

You'll also find a section on the site that caters to all of your basketball needs, splitting basketball betting into smaller and more digestible sections.

Clicking on one of the available matches will show you a slew of options. You will be looking at markets allowing you to bet on the winner, handicaps, totals, 3rd Quarter, 2nd Half, odd/even scores, winning margins, Overtime, Race to 60 Points and Draw Bo Bet, among others. These markets come alongside different graphics that display the statistics of the encounter in question.

All this may seem a bit excessive to a casual basketball bettor, but more serious punters will find these features very helpful when making more informed bets. 

Unibet

Unibet Basketball Market

Unibet’s excellent sportsbook has seen the bookmaker go from strength to strength as it continues to grow. The basketball section is one we were very impressed with, and it is easily located. On Unibet’s homepage, scroll down on the left-hand menu and click on the basketball option. This will bring you to their dedicated section with highly extensive options.

The EuroLeague took pride of place when we visited the site, but this was not the only option. Indeed, the NCAAB sat just below it, while the ABA League and competitions from Argentina, Australia, Germany and more were all readily available to bet on. All in all, there were 16 different sections here.

Certain matches will have over 100 available betting options, and you will be able to wager on markets such as Including Overtime, Total Points, Total Points From a Certain Team, Result at the End of the Fourth Quarter, Total Points – Odd/Even, 1st Half, handicaps and many more. All in all, Unibet probably offer the most well-rounded basketball betting markets around, which is something they also boast as one of the best cricket betting sites too. 

Live Basketball Streaming on bet365

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How to Bet on Basketball

Basketball betting provides all of the intense action that we have come to expect on the court, along with the thrill of putting money on it. While the game itself is played all over the world, the NBA (the National Basketball Association in the USA) is considered the pinnacle. In Europe, the biggest competition is known as the EuroLeague, which is played across the continent. 

Basketball has become such a mainstay of elite sport that even the Olympics has a place for it, alongside the World Cup, which is held every four years.

With so much choice when it comes to basketball betting, we have listed below a number of key factors to look out for when using the best basketball betting sites.

Where to Find Basketball Betting Markets

Register or log into your bookmaker of choice and navigate to the homepage. The best basketball betting sites will usually have a menu on the left-hand side of the screen with all of their available sports on display. Here, you will need to either click on the ‘basketball’ option or select the image of the basketball itself, depending on the site you are using.

From here, you will have the opportunity to select any of the bookmaker’s available basketball betting options. The best sites will offer a wide range of competitions and tournaments, although some do lag behind, only choosing to offer the NBA and one or two others.

Which Basketball Markets Can You Bet on?

With basketball betting proving to be very popular with punters, the available betting options have increased. Of course, the types of betting markets you may be able to use often depend on the type of game and competition you are betting on. However, as standard, you will be looking at markets like Total Points, Match Winner, handicap markets, specific player specials, player points and match parlays.

Basketball betting is much like football betting in a sense, with a huge array of player and team betting options available. The only downside to this is that it can be difficult to work your way through all of the markets to find the one that provides the best value.

Can You Live Stream Basketball Matches?

The short answer is yes. Many bookmakers will offer their customers the ability to watch live matches from the NBA or the US NCAA. To do so, you simply need to sign into a bookie that offers this function, and then go to their live streaming section. If basketball is included, you will usually need to have a positive account balance, have placed a bet in the last 24 hours or have an active bet on the game you want to watch.

Watching a game live can quite often make a huge difference to your basketball betting, as you will be able to see the subtle changes in the game that a text commentary simply cannot deliver. This can be the difference between nailing a big in-play bet and missing out completely. 

Why Bet on Basketball?

The fast-paced nature of basketball coupled with the high scoring matches will keep fans on the edge of their seats, whether they have a wager on the match or not. In fact, betting only adds to what is an already exciting sport. With this in mind, read on to find out what exactly makes basketball betting so thrilling. 

High-Scoring Matches

Basketball is renowned for being a very exciting game to watch and bet on, and this is partially down to the high-scoring nature of the game. With teams consistently attacking and looking to outscore the other, this often leads to games where winning margins are very slim, despite a lot of points being scored. 

As a result, point betting is very popular, especially as scores do often climb to dizzying heights.

Live Streaming Matches Is Possible

Having the ability to watch any type of sport is always far more exciting than following a live text commentary. It also allows bettors to watch events as they unfold, helping them to make shrewder wagers in the process.

Many bookmakers offer the ability to live stream sports, but be aware that just because they show certain games, this does not mean they will definitely offer basketball streams on their site.

Good Value

With so many top-quality basketball teams adorning the best leagues in the world, there can sometimes be good value in backing one of the bigger teams. This is quite unlike many other sports where a single team dominates. For example, New Zealand have dominated the world in rugby union for years, and are always the favourites to win, no matter who they face off against. This means that the teams they play against will offer good value, but they will rarely have a real chance of winning.

In basketball, all the big teams regularly trade blows with each other. With so many points scored in a match, along with the all-action nature of the sport, an upset could really be on the cards – especially if the favourites do not hit the ground running

Depth of Markets

Basketball betting markets provide a wide variety in the type of bets they cover, including Overtime, Handicap Including Overtime, Total Points, Match Winner, Next Team to Score, and more.

Basketball Betting Tips

Basketball betting, like any other type of betting, is something that takes time and practice. Below, we have compiled a number of useful tips you should keep in mind, even when betting with the best basketball betting sites.

  • Find value – This is often far easier said than done, but it is always important to find bets that offer value. Backing a big odds-on bet may provide you with the most likely winner, but you will receive very low winnings if your bet comes off. This means you will have to wager a lot to get anything of value back. You then run the risk of the risk of your bet outweighing the potential reward.Finding value in your bet does not mean you are guaranteed to win, but it does give you a higher chance of being profitable in the long run.
  • Don’t be led astray by emotions – This is incredibly important, and can be the difference between you stopping when the time is right and betting far more than you are comfortable with. Don't let your judgement be clouded by disappointment if your bet loses, and don't chase your losses by immediately placing another bet.This can be dangerous and potentially lead to considerable debt. Always bet with a clear mind. Take a step back from betting if you have suffered a few losses, and only start again after you've calmed down.
  • Check form – While the form of a team will not always dictate how the result will go, it is a good barometer of what you can expect. If a team goes into the game on a 10-match winning run and they take on a side that have not won once all season, then the smart money would be on the former. While the form will not definitively show who will win, it will at least show you why the odds have swung the way they have, and why people are backing certain sides.
  • Do your research – Like any other sport, you should always try to be armed with as much knowledge as possible before you start betting. Wagering on the biggest names in the game may be the way many people bet, but this is not the best betting strategy.Instead, look up historic results between teams, how they play at certain venues or how they perform in a semi-final, for example.

Best Markets for Basketball Betting

Basketball Betting Best Markets: Moneyline/Match Winner

Depending on your location, this one will either be called the Moneyline market or the Match Winner market. The latter is far more self-explanatory, and it reveals exactly what this market allows you to do: wager on the team you think will win the match. This type of market will not always offer a huge amount of value but, like the Total Points market, it is easy to understand.

Best basketball betting site for Money Line/Match Winner: bet365

Basketball Betting Best Markets: Total Points

The total points market is exactly what it says on the tin. Here, you will be looking to wager on the amount of points that are scored in the match. As previously mentioned, basketball is an exceptionally high-scoring game, meaning that the total points market is very popular. You will often come across options like ‘Total Points – Over/Under 157.5′. This is another straightforward market, ideal for newer bettors.

 Best basketball betting site for Total Points betting: Unibet 

Basketball Betting Best Markets: Half-Time/Full-Time

This market will see bettors wagering on what the result will look like at half-time and full-time in the game. Unlike the standard Match Winner market, which simply asks you to predict the winner at the end of the game, you are required to choose the result halfway through the contest, meaning both parts of your bet must be correct for you to win any money.

 Best betting site for Half-Time/Full-Time betting: 888sport

Just like any of the other biggest sports, basketball provides a huge number of tournaments and events to enjoy. Below, we have listed some of these competitions for your reference.

The NBA

Despite the prestige of the FIFA Basketball World Cup, many see the NBA as the very top competition in basketball. This event oversees an 82-game season that includes incredibly fierce playoffs, with the winner usually seen as the ‘world champion’ in America and Canada.

Many of the greatest players ever to grace a basketball court have made their names in the NBA, such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Michael Jordan and the late Kobe Bryant.

The Olympics

Basketball has featured prominently in the Olympics, first appearing in 1904. However, it would not be until 1936 that it would be contested as a medal event. Women’s basketball made its debut 40 years later at the 1976 games in Munich, Germany.

The USA are the most successful side in the history of the Olympics, with 15 gold medals, while they also hold the incredible record of remaining unbeaten between 1936-1968. The USA women’s team has won the gold medal eight times, boasting an enviable unbeaten record that dates back to 1996.

FIBA Basketball World Cup

Originally known as the FIBA World Championship between 1950-2010, the FIBA Basketball World Cup is the biggest event in international basketball. Currently contested by 32 teams as of 2019, the World Cup has seen Yugoslavia and the USA dominate proceedings, winning five times, while the Soviet Union has three titles, with Brazil and Spain taking home the trophy on two occasions.

The competition has seen some of the great names in the game come together to do battle and, while the NBA may still be the household name in basketball betting for many, the World Cup is the pinnacle of the sport.

UBA Pro Basketball League

The United Basketball Alliance is the top men’s professional basketball league in India. With eight teams competing for the title, the competition has been running since 2015, a year which marked the first time a professional basketball league had started in India.

The league is split into two divisions, with the North Division contested by Haryana Gold, Punjab Steelers, Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Challengers, and the South Division taking place between Pune Peshwas, Bengaluru Beast, Chennai Slam and Hyderabad Sky.

There have only been four seasons of this league so far. Chennai Slam won the first and second iteration of the competition, while Pune Peshwas and Mumbai Challengers have won once apiece, with the latter currently holding the coveted crown.

Super Basketball League

The Super Basketball League (SBL) is the top tier semi-professional men’s league in Taiwan. Founded back in 2003, it is seen by many as the successor to the Chinese Basketball Alliance.

The Bank of Taiwan, Kaohsiung Jeoutai Technology, Taiwan Beer, Taoyuan Pauian Archiland and Yulon Luxgen Dinos are the five sides in the league at the time of writing, while former clubs include the Dacin Tigers and the Taipei Fubon Braves.

The Yulon Dinos were the winners of the first iteration of the competition, and they made it three in a row as they continued to dominate. While they were the team to beat in the league's opening years, they have only been able to add one more title to their haul in that time. They were defeated in the 2019/20 iteration of the competition by Taiwan Beer, who currently hold the trophy.

Basketball Betting FAQs

Which are the best betting sites for basketball betting?

Any of the 10 basketball betting sites mentioned above will provide you with the features that you need when it comes to wagering on the sport.

However, if you are looking for the very best experience, then we would bet365, Sportsbet.io or Unibet as the very best. The trio have shown their pedigree in sports betting in India, as well as worldwide, and have now carried this into their basketball betting offering. They're also considered to be the best football betting sites.

With competitive odds, a range of markets and coverage of an array of leagues and competitions, alongside great features like live streaming, bet builders and a selection of payment methods, customers have just about everything they need with the above-mentioned bookies.

Can I watch and bet on basketball at the same time?

Yes, you can watch and bet on basketball simultaneously. Certain bookmakers will offer their own live streaming function, including the best in play betting sites. To able to live stream, you will need to have a positive account balance, have made a bet in the last 24 hours or have made a bet on the event in question.

Which are the best markets for basketball betting?

Each bettor tends to have different preferences when looking for their ideal markets. Some will be after a market that provides easy wins (when a market only has two results possible, for example), while others will want a market offering excellent value in any of the available results.

Join bet365 to Watch Basketball Live!

Geo-restrictions apply. You must have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours

CricketBettingAdvice Final Say

Basketball is proving to be one of the fastest growing and most popular sports to bet on. The prevalence of the NBA in the USA, along with big leagues across the world, have only helped to increase its fanbase. Although basketball betting may seem confusing at first, if you do your research and take note of the different markets, you'll soon grow to enjoy it as much as watching the sport itself.

 

Further Reading

  1. Betting on the Super Basketball League: Tips & Advice (2022) The Super Basketball League (SBL) is the top tier semi-professional...
  2. Betting on the NBA: Full Guide & Tips (2021) Read on for our guide to NBA betting, which will...
  3. Tokyo Olympics 2020 Betting Guide After a one-year delay, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is set...

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