How to Bet on Basketball 101: Master the Game and Bets!

Learning how to bet on Basketball, and actually make money, is surprisingly easier than you’d think. The action never stops either: you can bet on the NBA, college basketball (NCAA), and international leagues since the rules and game are pretty much the same across the board.

There are also tons of free resources you can learn from, so I’ve taken the liberty of filter all the trash advice out there to give you an actual guide a beginner can follow to make it in the world of Basketball Betting. Let’s begin!

Key Basketball Bet Types and Terms

I’m going to assume you’re a beginner, so I’ll cover all the key basketball bets, explain what they are and how they work with a real-world example. If you’re more into the deeper aspects of Basketball betting, feel free to check out our NBA strategy guide since it has practical advice and strategies you can use on your next betting spree.

For now, let’s start with Moneyline bets.

Basketball Moneyline Bets

Basketball Moneyline bets are all about picking a team you think will win. The odds will tell you what the payout is, and you’ll often find negative odds for the favorite and positive odds for the underdog. By the way, if you’re new to reading Odds, that’s ok, we got an in-depth guide on how to read Sports Odds that you can check out. In fact, I recommend you pause here, finish reading that and then we can resume, otherwise you might not really see what’s happening in each example.

That being said, let’s say we got a match between the Celtics vs. the Pacers, and the odds are -100 for the Celtics and +100 for the Pacers. Here’s how it breaks down:

Celtics at -100: The negative odds mean they’re the favorites. If you put down $50 on the Celtics and they win, you’d make a $50 profit because with -100 odds, the return is even money. You’d get back $100 total (your $50 bet + $50 winnings).
Pacers at +100: The plus odds show they’re the underdogs. If you bet $50 on the Pacers and they pull off the win, you’d also win $50. In this case, with +100 odds, your total payout would also be $100 (your $50 bet + $50 winnings).

We’re going to stick to basic odds since they’re easier to read and understand, but trust me, these can get pretty lopsided, and it’s where the big payouts are.

Basketball Point Spread Bets

Basketball spread betting takes things a bit further: now you’re not just predicting which team will win, but how much a team will win or lose by. A “spread”, which is effectively a handicap, gets applied to the final score to determine the winner. For example, if a team has a -6.5 handicap, they must win by 7 points or more to cover the spread. If you’re curious about how NBA spread betting works, we got a whole piece on that too.

In a nutshell, though, a favorite will have a spread they need to cover, and an underdog will have a starting advantage. This levels the playing field and turns typically lopsided matches into exciting nailbiters.

So, let’s use our Celtics vs. Pacers example. The spread is -7 for the Celtics, meaning they’re favored by 7 points. Here’s how it works:

Celtics -7: For your $50 bet to win, the Celtics need to win by more than 7 points. If they win by exactly 7, it’s a “push,” and you get your $50 back. But if they only win by 6 or less, or lose the game, you’d lose the bet.
Pacers +7: Betting on the Pacers means you’re giving them a 7-point head start. If they win outright or lose by less than 7 points, your $50 bet wins. Again, if they lose by exactly 7, it’s a push.

Basketball Over/Under Bets

Basketball over/under bets are also called a “Totals” bet, and all you gotta do is predict whether the total combined score of both teams will be over or under a set number. That’s right, you’re not betting on who wins, rather on what the score will be, which is easier said than done.
The sportsbook sets a line, and all we have to do is find the best line and odds for us and take a shot at predicting the result.

So, let’s say the Celtics vs. Pacers game has a total of 205 points:

Betting the Over: If you think both teams will combine to score more than 205 points, you’d bet the Over. So, if the final score is something like 108-100 (208 total points), you’d win. If it’s exactly 205, it’s a push, and you get your $50 back.
Betting the Under: If you believe they’ll score less than 205 points, you’d go with the Under. If the game ends 102-100 (202 total points), you win.

With the odds at -100, a $50 bet would return $50 in winnings if you’re right. Say what you want, but over/under basketball bets keep you glued to the screen even if you’re not rooting for a particular team.

Basketball Parlay Bets

Basketball Parlay Bets are like combo bets: you take two or more individual bets (which are called legs) and you roll them up into one combo bet. The catch is, you have to correctly predict all the legs if you want to get paid, but oh boy, is that payout nice and juicy!

We got a whole piece on NBA parlay betting that you can check out with an in-depth breakdown and tips you can use too.

Let’s say you’re feeling good about the Celtics vs. Pacers game and make a three-leg Parlay. Here’s how it might look:

Celtics to win Moneyline at -150
Celtics -7 Point Spread at -110
Over 205 total points at -110

Now, your $50 bet would only pay out if all three legs hit. If just one misses, the whole bet loses. But if you’re right on all of them, the payout can be pretty sweet.

The way the odds multiply, a $50 parlay with those odds could potentially pay out around $300 or more, depending on the exact math. It’s a high-risk, high-reward kind of bet—perfect for when you’re just in the zone and can feel the win coming.

There’s a reason why the payouts are so good though: getting all the outcomes right consecutively is tough.

Basketball Prop Bets

Basketball prop bets, also known as proposition bets, try to predict specific events or performances during a match. You can bet on all sorts of stuff, like how many points a player will score or whether there will be a triple-double, you can even bet on team-specific events.

Let’s see an example of a Basketball prop bet. We’ll keep using the Celtics vs. Pacers game as an example but we’re gonna make up the odds since these will also vary in real life.

Jayson Tatum to score over 25.5 points: -120
Celtics to make over 10.5 three-pointers: -110
Luke Kornet to grab 10+ rebounds: +150

Now, for your $50 bet, all three things have to happen for you to win. If Tatum scores 30 points, the Celtics knock down 12 threes, and Kornet pulls down 11 boards, you’re cashing in!

Since it’s a prop parlay, the odds would combine, making the payout way larger, it’d probably float around $250-$300 depending on the final odds. Not bad!

By the way, we got a whole piece on NBA prop bets and how you can make money off of these, so feel free to give it a read.

Basketball Teaser Bets

Basketball teaser bets are like parlays, but now you get to adjust the point spread in your favor to make things easier. The odds change and your payout is smaller, but it makes the prediction a little easier to nail, which sounds nice and all, but isn’t great in Basketball.

I’ve explained my thoughts on Teaser bets in our NBA betting strategy guide, but I’ve found that Basketball is too momentum-dependent for teaser bets. But, hey if you can make them work, then more power to you.

Let’s look at an example. Let’s say you’ve got the Boston Celtics at +2.5 against the Bucks, with odds of -110. That means the Celtics just need to lose by 2 or less, or win outright, for your $50 bet to win. But you’re thinking, “I’d like a little more cushion.”

So, you adjust the spread to +6.5 for the Celtics. Now they can lose by up to 6 points, and you still win. But since you’re making the bet more favorable for yourself, the odds will drop—maybe down to something like -150.

With these new odds, your $50 bet would win about $33.33, plus you’d get your original $50 back. You balance things out: lower risks, decent payouts, which is fair enough.

NBA Live Betting

NBA Live betting is a whole different beast and deserves its own in-depth explanation, but you’re basically placing bets while the game is happening. The odds and lines change in real-time as the match plays out, making them (almost) as volatile as the in-game momentum. You can jump in and bet based on the current action so It’s as thrilling as it gets.

Let’s imagine we’re watching the Celtics vs. Pacers game we’ve been talking about so far. The Celtics just won the championship and have a … very particular roster full of terrible looks and tremendous talent. Here’s what live betting would look like with $150 on the line (we’re gonna make the odds up as we go).

Celtics Moneyline (live): At halftime, the Celtics are up by 5 points, but you think they’ll pull away. The live odds are now -180 (since they’re leading), so you put $50 on them to win. If they hold on, you win about $27.78 plus your $50 back.
Over/Under (live): The total points for the game started at 215.5, but now, both teams are playing faster than expected, and the line shifts to 227.5. You think they’ll keep scoring, so you bet Over 227.5 at -110 odds. A $50 bet could win you $45.45 if they score more than 227 points.
Next team to score: The Pacers are closing in, and you feel like they’ll score next after a timeout. You find odds at +120 for them to get the next bucket. You place $50, and if they score first, you win $60.

With live betting, you’re reacting to the flow of the game, and that’s the fun part. You can adjust your bets based on how things are going, but you gotta act fast because those odds change constantly!

Basketball Future Bets

Basketball future bets are all about predicting an event or award that’s happening way down the road, like who’s going to win the 2025 NBA finals. You’re locking in that prediction way, way in advance too, so the payouts can be pretty substantial.

So, let’s say you’re looking at the Boston Celtics with +310 odds to win the 2025 Finals. If you place a $50 bet now, and they pull it off, you’d win $155 (because +310 means $310 profit on a $100 bet). Your total payout would be $205 ($155 in winnings + your original $50).
It’s a fun way to get invested in the season, and those odds can change as teams perform or get hit with injuries.

You can also bet on awards like MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year, so it’s not reserved to team awards. So, if you got your eye on a rookie, why not bet in advance?

Basketball Betting Lines

When people talk about Basketball betting lines, they’re referring to the different types of bets you can place on a game and, just as important, how sportsbook think the game will go. For NBA games, you’ll mostly see these lines:

Point Spread Betting Lines

This is the most common betting line. They add or subtract points to teams to even the playing field and keep the game interesting to bet on. If the Celtics are -6.5, they need to win by 7 points or more for your bet to cash. If they’re +6.5, they can lose by 6 or less, or win outright, for you to win.

Moneyline Betting Lines

This is just about picking who wins the game, no spreads involved. You’ll see odds like -200 for the favorite and +180 for the underdog.

Over/Under (Totals) Betting Lines

This bet is on the total combined score of both teams. If the line is set at 220.5, you’re betting on whether the final score will be over or under that number. Since you’re learning how to bet on basketball, I’d start with understanding the spread, dabbling in a few bets here and there to get an idea of how they work. The rest will mostly fall into place. Further down, we’ll offer some newbie tips and some of our NBA betting guides so you’re ready for the action.

How to Bet on Basketball: Practical Tips

Right, now that you got your Basketball ABCs all set up and (mostly) memorized, it’s time to look at some practical tips you can apply from day one.

Let’s start with working on your NBA Betting Strategy

Follow a Clear NBA Betting Strategy

NBA Betting Strategies can get pretty complex (especially if they have a very systematic approach), but some are very beginner-friendly. We recently went over our favorite NBA betting strategy and what separates a good Basketball betting strategy from a crappy one, so I’d highly recommend giving that a read before you even place a bet.

You don’t have to completely internalize all that we recommend from day one, but the sooner you work on your fundamentals, the stronger and richer an overall gambler you’ll be.

Learn About Line Movements

Line movements are affected by a bunch of factors, from lineup choices, team traveling conditions, recent match history, injuries, etc. You’ll not only learn about all the intricacies of making smart, data-driven bets, but also how it affects odds in different stages of the match.

It’s a fundamental skill you should work on from day one, and the sooner you start seeing things with the “gambler’s eye”, the sooner you’ll make decisions that lead to big payouts.

Learn How to Shop for Lines

A lot of newbies don’t realize that different sportsbook can have different spreads, totals or Moneyline odds. They might not differ that much, but once you learn the ropes you’ll realize that even small spread differences and odds can massively impact your payouts, taking a losing bet to 5 figures payouts.

Once you have your sportsbook catalogue, start looking at lines and how they differ. You might find there’s a sportsbook that’s better for the NBA, while other offers better odds for NFL bets. Take your time and thank me later.

Expand your Horizons

If you want to learn how to bet on Basketball, then you need to look past the NBA for betting. A lot of players forget that you also got:

College Basketball (NCAA) Betting

March Madness is huge, and offers some phenomenal betting opportunities for gamblers with an eye for talent. Many of NBA’s stars made their breakthrough appearances in College Basketball, so you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the game and future stars just by following these games. You’ll also notice that the way you bet for College Basketball is completely different from how you’d bet on NBA matches.

EuroLeague and International Competitions

Don’t disregard European leagues and their incredibly talented rosters. The action can get pretty crazy on these matches, with riches waiting to be made for avid Basketball fans that understand the game and want to make money off their insight. The FIBA World Cup is also fantastic, especially if you already know players outside the NBA.

WNBA Betting

This is a growing market and betting on these games can be highly profitable. If you love the game and the thrill of a good bet, then you’ll find many opportunities here.

Master Bankroll Management

This is another fundamental skill you need to master, and I don’t say this lightly: bankroll management. It’s not enough to make the right bets, you also need to manage your money responsibly if you’re in it for the long haul.

First, understand how to divide your bankroll into units (units typically should be anywhere between 1-2% of the whole), and manage your bets accordingly. Don’t blow your whole bankroll on one bet, even if it feels like a sure thing. Spread your bets out to limit losses and guarantee your money remains under your control.

Don’t stretch yourself thin by betting on every game, focus on games where you’re confident you have a strategic advantage and superior insights. This also includes avoiding bets where you have a personal preference or bias for players or teams that cloud your judgement. Focus on the information, objective insight and the odds.

Chasing losses is another way to spread yourself thin, so don’t. Stick to your staking plan at all times, even if you’re going through a bad streak. Bankroll management has a big portion on discipline and impulse control, so exercise both at all times.

Something to Keep in Mind:

When learning How to Bet on Basketball, it’s all about understanding the game and your options. Sure, some bets are less risky, but here’s the golden rule: never wager more than what you’d be comfortable losing. The goal is to enjoy the thrill, not to chase losses and wreck your bankroll!

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Bet on Basketball

1. What is the best type of bet for beginners?

Moneylines are great entry-level bets. Teasers, on the other hand, are probably one of the worst options for beginners. With moneyline you just pick a winner and that’s it.

2. How do I find value in basketball betting odds?

Value betting is all about noticing a (positive) unbalance between the odds and actual probability of the event occurring. There are no shortcuts: you need to do your research on the teams and understand the game to make a good judgement.

3. Is live betting more profitable than pre-match betting?

Live betting can be super profitable if you’re fast on your thinking and decision making. But it’s also risky due to rapid changing odds. It’s better suited for veterans and not beginners.

4. Should I bet on college basketball or the NBA?

Both leagues offer unique advantages. The NBA is more predictable due to consistent schedules and high-profile players, while college basketball can provide value in betting on lesser-known teams or finding mismatches during tournaments.

5. How can I avoid common betting mistakes?

Stick to a solid bankroll management plan, avoid emotional betting, focus on a few well-researched games, and make use of basketball betting tools to gain insights. Avoid betting on your favorite team without considering the odds and matchups objectively.