Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world because of its fast and exiting pace of play. In addition to having fast scoring, it is easy to learn and can be done indoor or outdoor. Needless to say, basketball is the third most popular sport to play in the world with 2.2 billion fans. Due to its popularity, there is also a lot of basketball betting being done on it. This sports betting tutorial will explain How to Bet on Basketball in a few simple steps.
The basketball season can be very profitable for basketball bettors no matter which league they bet on. Therefore, whether you bet NBA, or even Bet on the Seoul Samsung Thunders in Korea, there is something for everyone. The league or country does not matter as betting on basketball follows the same rules and principles.
How to Bet on Basketball – Reading the Basketball Betting Odds
The first step to basketball gambling is learning how to read the basketball betting odds. Here is what a typical set of basketball odds look like:
| Team | Point Spread | Total | Money Line |
| Detroit Pistons | -6.5 -110 | O 228 -110 | -240 |
| Boston Celtics | +6.5 -110 | U 228 -110 | +195 |
Point Spread Odds – A point spread is a bet on the margin of victory in a sporting event.
Total or Over/Under Odds – This is betting on whether the final score will be over or under a certain number of points.
Money Line Odds – This is a bet on basketball where you wagers on which team will win the game.
*The number at the end of the points spread and total odds is the commission the sportsbook charges. If the commission is -110, it means it charges 10%.
How to Bet on Basketball – Placing Your Basketball Bet
Betting on the Point Spread – When betting on the point spread, the sportsbook determines a favorite and an underdog. Afterwards, they assign each team with a point total. A bettor only needs to bet on the team they think can cover the spread.
For example, if you bet $100 on the Pistons on a -6.5 pointspread. To win the wager, the Pistons have to win by 6.5 point or more for you to win. If you win, you get $190 ($100 – the 10 percent commission plus your stake)
The underdog team is Boston with a +6.5 pointspread. You win your bet with them as long as they do not lose by more than 6.5 points.
as long as they o not lose by 6.5 points or more you win the bet.
Betting on the Total – This is simply betting on whether the final score of the game will go over or under 228 points. In this example, the commission is -110. This means if you win, you win $190 ($100 – the 10 percent commission plus your stake)
Betting on the Money Line – In this bet, you are simply betting on the who will win the game. Therefore, if you bet on Celtics who are the underdogs, you would bet $100 to win $195. However, to bet on the favorite you would bet $100 to win $40.
Learn more about sports gambling with our Sports Betting Tutorials
