The mantle for which sports league is most popular with Americans outside of football is still up for grabs, but there's a good case that it's the NBA and basketball.
That, in turn, translates into pro hoops being one of the most popular sports to bet on. Betting on professional basketball is now legal in a growing number of states across the country.
One big key to staying profitable in NBA betting is to understand how the lines are made and what they mean. Staying sharp in this area will allow you to find spots where the lines are off and ready to be hammered, and also when to stay away, which is a big skill in keeping a good margin in NBA betting. Betting on the total points scored in a game is a very popular form of betting on basketball. Depending on the league or tournament, the number of points scored will vary significantly. In the NBA, point totals will land in the range of 180 to 220 points game to game, with the average in the mid 190 point range. NBA Betting Types. Knowing how NBA betting works is the most important aspect of NBA betting, as well as understanding how to bet NBA odds. It is also important to choose the correct NBA betting type, and seven of the most common types are listed below.
Read on for more information about NBA betting, where you can wager on NBA games, and more.
Where you can bet on the NBA in the US
Once upon a time, the only place you could bet on the NBA was in Nevada. Sportsbooks have been legal there for decades, and online sports betting has been legal for the better of a decade.
But betting on the NBA is now legal in a variety of states, and its list is growing rapidly.
Here is where you can legally bet on NBA games currently:
| State | Is sports betting legal? | Is online sports betting legal? |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | Yes | No |
| Colorado | Yes | Yes |
| Delaware | Yes | Yes, launch undetermined |
| Indiana | Yes | Yes |
| Iowa | Yes | Yes |
| Mississippi | Yes | Yes, on-property only |
| Montana | Yes | Yes |
| Nevada | Yes | Yes |
| New Jersey | Yes | Yes |
| New Mexico | Yes, at multiple tribal casinos | No |
| New York | Yes | No |
| North Carolina | Yes, pending launch | No |
| Oregon | Yes | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Yes |
| Rhode Island | Yes | Yes |
| Tennessee | Yes, pending launch | Yes, pending launch |
| Washington DC | Yes, pending launch | Yes, pending launch |
| West Virginia | Yes | Yes |
In some of those states, you have to visit a physical sportsbook in order to bet. But online basketball betting is becoming more common. Here's a look at where you can bet on NBA games via an app or website:
NBA betting in New Jersey
Betting on pro hoops is significant business in New Jersey. There are several teams that NJ residents root for: the Philadelphia 76ers, the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets.
New Jersey has an advantage over a lot of other states, as well: easy access to the New York City market. New York has legal sports betting only in upstate casinos, and no sports betting online. That means NJ sportsbook operators have sole access to people that live or work in NYC.
Here is a sampling of NJ sportsbook apps available:
NBA betting in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is the biggest state in terms of population that has legal sports betting apps. The Sixers are the main game in town here, and after years stuck in the bottom of the heap of the Eastern Conference, interest in the team has been on the rise.
Here are the current sportsbook apps available in PA:
NBA betting in Indiana
Indiana is one of the newest states with legal wagering; that includes both physical sportsbooks and sports betting apps available around the state.
Basketball of all types is big business in Indiana, from college to the NBA, with the Indiana Pacers in the state and the Chicago Bulls nearby. (For now, folks in the Windy City can easily cross the border and start betting online on NBA games and the Bulls.)
More info: Indiana sports betting apps.
NBA betting in West Virginia
There aren't any NBA teams in West Virginia, but the state is still hoops crazy because of West Virginia University. That should lead NBA betting to come in No. 2 behind the NFL in terms of the amount wagered in the state.
More info: West Virginia sports betting apps.
NBA betting in Nevada
Betting has been legal online in Nevada for nearly a decade, and as such, betting on basketball is already well established.
While there's no NBA team in Sin City, there's usually heavy action on the two nearby Los Angeles teams: the Lakers and Clippers.
Beyond that, the NBA is usually the king of betting in the city when football is not going (and outside of March Madness in college hoops).
More info: Nevada sports betting apps.
NBA betting in Iowa
If you want to bet on the NBA legally in Iowa, you're in luck. The state has both physical sportsbooks and online betting options.
Sports betting currently isn't legal in any of the surrounding states, so NBA fans from beyond Iowa could make the pilgrimage to bet. (Illinois has legalized wagering, but it's not yet live.
More info: Iowa sports betting apps.
NBA betting in Oregon
The first state with legal sports betting on the Pacific Coast was Oregon, as of 2019. The Oregon Lottery offers a sports betting app in collaboration with SBTech.
Without top-level teams in most of the major pro sports leagues, the Portland Trail Blazers get an outsized amount of attention in Oregon. Betting on them could be the most significant single sector for online wagering in the state.
More info: Oregon sports betting apps.
NBA betting in Rhode Island
There is just one app in the state, via the Rhode Island Lottery, to use for betting. Like much of Rhode Island, fans look north to Boston for their fandom and usually root for and bet on the Celtics.
More info: Rhode Island sports betting apps.
Legal NBA betting options vs. offshore sportsbooks
The states above all have legal sportsbooks, albeit of varying levels of competition and quality, for NBA betting. There are also a variety of options offshore, from companies that flout both federal and state laws to serve the US market.
As a bettor, you often don't have to worry about legal issues regarding an offshore sportsbook, but legal sports betting does offer several advantages:
- If there are issues with a sportsbook on a bet or getting paid, you have recourse to state gaming regulators.
- Payments are safe through large companies and American banks.
- Revenue and tax money helps Americans and state residents.
Two of the states have monopolies on sports betting, meaning bettors in the state have only one option. Despite that fact, those sportsbooks, in Oregon and Rhode Island, are at least competitive with offshore sportsbooks.
NBA betting at sportsbooks vs. betting apps
If you want to bet on an NBA in states with legal sports betting, you have a couple of options: Head to a sportsbook near where you live or wager online. In the early days of the expanded US betting market, we know that about 80% of wagers for NBA and other sports come online, a percentage that is only going to rise.
Why? For many people, betting online is more convenient. With an app, you can bet wherever you want, including at home while watching a game. You could even bet while at a sportsbook if you wanted.
A sportsbook is a different type of experience. You make bets before you watch a game; then you sit and watch how the game turned out, and perhaps have some drinks and food. As more NBA games start, you could place more bets. You get a communal feel betting and watching at a sportsbook, as people are rooting on their favorite NBA teams, and their bets.
The significant advantage of betting online is live betting (or in-game betting), which is difficult to do or outright impossible, depending on where you live.
NBA sportsbook apps vs. websites
If you made the decision to bet on NBA games online, you usually still have a choice to make, but this one often isn't hard either.
US sportsbooks typically offer NBA betting both via a website and an app. The most convenient way for more bettors to get a wager down on the NBA is via a dedicated app. Apps will provide an experience that is tailormade for a mobile device, letting you bet anywhere you go.
Sportsbook apps are available for both Android devices (like the Samsung Galaxy) or iOS (iPhone and iPad). You can download Android apps from sportsbook websites; they are not available in the Google PlayStore. For iOS, apps are always available in the App Store.
Sports betting sites are certainly convenient if you are near or on a computer, but betting on a phone is generally more accessible and can be done anywhere.
How to bet on the NBA
Every state where it is legal will take action on the NBA. While some states have limitations on college basketball, those are nonexistent for the major pro sports in the US.
There are several common ways to bet on NBA games:
- Moneyline Bets on the NBA: Here, you pick a winner. The moneyline will be designated by a negative or positive number. The team with odds that have a negative number is the favorite; the positive number is the underdog. If a team is -120 on the moneyline, you would have to bet $120 to return $100 in winnings. For a +120 underdog, a bet of $100 would return $120 in winnings.
- Point Spread Bets on the NBA: You bet on whether a team will cover a point spread set by the sportsbook. The favorite must win by more than the set number of points, and the underdog must win or lose by less than the spread.
- Over/Under Bets on the NBA: You bet on the total number of points that will be scored in a game. It is either under or over a total set by the sportsbook.
- Parlay Bets on the NBA: Parlay betting means linking two or more bets together for an increased payout. You could bet the point spread in multiple games, and get a much larger return on your wager. These are usually much riskier than any of the straight bets above.
- Proposition Bets: Prop bets are usually of the yes-or-no variety, such as whether LeBron James will score more than 30 points in a game, or if Joel Embiid will have more than 15 rebounds.
- Futures Bets: You bet on future events, such as the winner of the NBA Finals, or how many games a team will win in the regular season.
- Live Betting: You can bet on any number of things while games are going on, including moneylines, point spreads and props.
To bet on the NBA at US online sportsbooks, you need to have a way to deposit online. Several options are available, depending on where you are, including PayPal, Neteller, e-checks, Play+ cards, and credit and debit cards. The options vary by state and by sportsbooks.
If you're betting at a physical sportsbook, you will usually have to use cash to wager.
NBA live betting
One of the fastest-growing segments in NBA betting is live betting or in-game betting.
One upon a time, the only way to bet on NBA games was before they happened, or if you were placing a futures bet. Now, those limitations have been eliminated, at least in states with online betting.
NBA futures and pro betting
Here is a sampling of what you can bet on at some legal US sportsbooks:
- Bet on who will win the NBA title.
- Bet on NBA division winners.
- Bet on if a team will make the NBA playoffs.
- Bet on NBA win totals.
- Bet on NBA MVP / Rookie of Year / Defensive Player of Year / Coach of Year / Sixth Man.
- Bet on the NBA All-Star game.
- Bet on the NBA 3-point shootout.
- Bet on the NBA dunk contest.
- Bet on the NBA draft.
- Bet on the NBA lottery.
NBA Betting FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions (and answers) about betting on the NBA:
Is it legal to bet on the NBA in the US?
Yes, you can bet in several states, including:
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Indiana*
- Iowa*
- Mississippi
- Nevada*
- New Mexico
- New Jersey*
- New York
- Oregon*
- Pennsylvania*
- Rhode Island*
- West Virginia*
* Online betting is allowed statewide.
It will be legal in more states in short order.
Without top-level teams in most of the major pro sports leagues, the Portland Trail Blazers get an outsized amount of attention in Oregon. Betting on them could be the most significant single sector for online wagering in the state.
More info: Oregon sports betting apps.
NBA betting in Rhode Island
There is just one app in the state, via the Rhode Island Lottery, to use for betting. Like much of Rhode Island, fans look north to Boston for their fandom and usually root for and bet on the Celtics.
More info: Rhode Island sports betting apps.
Legal NBA betting options vs. offshore sportsbooks
The states above all have legal sportsbooks, albeit of varying levels of competition and quality, for NBA betting. There are also a variety of options offshore, from companies that flout both federal and state laws to serve the US market.
As a bettor, you often don't have to worry about legal issues regarding an offshore sportsbook, but legal sports betting does offer several advantages:
- If there are issues with a sportsbook on a bet or getting paid, you have recourse to state gaming regulators.
- Payments are safe through large companies and American banks.
- Revenue and tax money helps Americans and state residents.
Two of the states have monopolies on sports betting, meaning bettors in the state have only one option. Despite that fact, those sportsbooks, in Oregon and Rhode Island, are at least competitive with offshore sportsbooks.
NBA betting at sportsbooks vs. betting apps
If you want to bet on an NBA in states with legal sports betting, you have a couple of options: Head to a sportsbook near where you live or wager online. In the early days of the expanded US betting market, we know that about 80% of wagers for NBA and other sports come online, a percentage that is only going to rise.
Why? For many people, betting online is more convenient. With an app, you can bet wherever you want, including at home while watching a game. You could even bet while at a sportsbook if you wanted.
A sportsbook is a different type of experience. You make bets before you watch a game; then you sit and watch how the game turned out, and perhaps have some drinks and food. As more NBA games start, you could place more bets. You get a communal feel betting and watching at a sportsbook, as people are rooting on their favorite NBA teams, and their bets.
The significant advantage of betting online is live betting (or in-game betting), which is difficult to do or outright impossible, depending on where you live.
NBA sportsbook apps vs. websites
If you made the decision to bet on NBA games online, you usually still have a choice to make, but this one often isn't hard either.
US sportsbooks typically offer NBA betting both via a website and an app. The most convenient way for more bettors to get a wager down on the NBA is via a dedicated app. Apps will provide an experience that is tailormade for a mobile device, letting you bet anywhere you go.
Sportsbook apps are available for both Android devices (like the Samsung Galaxy) or iOS (iPhone and iPad). You can download Android apps from sportsbook websites; they are not available in the Google PlayStore. For iOS, apps are always available in the App Store.
Sports betting sites are certainly convenient if you are near or on a computer, but betting on a phone is generally more accessible and can be done anywhere.
How to bet on the NBA
Every state where it is legal will take action on the NBA. While some states have limitations on college basketball, those are nonexistent for the major pro sports in the US.
There are several common ways to bet on NBA games:
- Moneyline Bets on the NBA: Here, you pick a winner. The moneyline will be designated by a negative or positive number. The team with odds that have a negative number is the favorite; the positive number is the underdog. If a team is -120 on the moneyline, you would have to bet $120 to return $100 in winnings. For a +120 underdog, a bet of $100 would return $120 in winnings.
- Point Spread Bets on the NBA: You bet on whether a team will cover a point spread set by the sportsbook. The favorite must win by more than the set number of points, and the underdog must win or lose by less than the spread.
- Over/Under Bets on the NBA: You bet on the total number of points that will be scored in a game. It is either under or over a total set by the sportsbook.
- Parlay Bets on the NBA: Parlay betting means linking two or more bets together for an increased payout. You could bet the point spread in multiple games, and get a much larger return on your wager. These are usually much riskier than any of the straight bets above.
- Proposition Bets: Prop bets are usually of the yes-or-no variety, such as whether LeBron James will score more than 30 points in a game, or if Joel Embiid will have more than 15 rebounds.
- Futures Bets: You bet on future events, such as the winner of the NBA Finals, or how many games a team will win in the regular season.
- Live Betting: You can bet on any number of things while games are going on, including moneylines, point spreads and props.
To bet on the NBA at US online sportsbooks, you need to have a way to deposit online. Several options are available, depending on where you are, including PayPal, Neteller, e-checks, Play+ cards, and credit and debit cards. The options vary by state and by sportsbooks.
If you're betting at a physical sportsbook, you will usually have to use cash to wager.
NBA live betting
One of the fastest-growing segments in NBA betting is live betting or in-game betting.
One upon a time, the only way to bet on NBA games was before they happened, or if you were placing a futures bet. Now, those limitations have been eliminated, at least in states with online betting.
NBA futures and pro betting
Here is a sampling of what you can bet on at some legal US sportsbooks:
- Bet on who will win the NBA title.
- Bet on NBA division winners.
- Bet on if a team will make the NBA playoffs.
- Bet on NBA win totals.
- Bet on NBA MVP / Rookie of Year / Defensive Player of Year / Coach of Year / Sixth Man.
- Bet on the NBA All-Star game.
- Bet on the NBA 3-point shootout.
- Bet on the NBA dunk contest.
- Bet on the NBA draft.
- Bet on the NBA lottery.
NBA Betting FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions (and answers) about betting on the NBA:
Is it legal to bet on the NBA in the US?
Yes, you can bet in several states, including:
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Indiana*
- Iowa*
- Mississippi
- Nevada*
- New Mexico
- New Jersey*
- New York
- Oregon*
- Pennsylvania*
- Rhode Island*
- West Virginia*
* Online betting is allowed statewide.
It will be legal in more states in short order.
How do NBA spreads work?
Sportsbooks will set a number of points that one team will win by; for instance, the Lakers could be favored over the Sixers by 3 points. If you bet on the Lakers (-3), they would have to win by 4 points or more. If you bet on the Sixers (+3), they have to either win the game outright or lose by 1-2 points. If the Lakers win by 3 points in this situation, bettors will get their wagers back.
How does over/under work in basketball?
For an over/under bet, also known as a totals wager, sportsbooks will set the number of points that will be scored in a game. You can bet over or under that total. For example, for a game between the Lakers and Sixers, the total could be set at 240 points. If you bet the under, you are saying the combined points will be under that total. If exactly 240 points are scored, the bet is a 'push,' and a sportsbook will refund your money.
How are NBA spreads and odds created?
Sportsbooks will set initial lines, sometimes days before a game takes place. They will do this based on how they rate the teams involved, or perhaps by the early lines set by other sportsbooks. Sportsbooks will then take bets on the games, and they could move the line on the game based on how much money is coming in on one side or the other.
For instance, in a game where the Lakers are favored over the Sixers by 3 points, a sportsbook might move the line to 4-5 points (or perhaps more) if a lot of money comes in on the Lakers to cover.
Can you bet on the NBA draft?
Well, it depends on where you are. Different states have various regulations about whether you can bet on things other than the outcomes of games. In some states, you can place limited wagers on when players might be drafted. Betting on the draft is a fairly limited form of wagering in the US.
How to read NBA Odds—Lines, Spread and Totals
If you check out the free NBA odds comparison page or at a specific sports book and have any questions about what you are looking at then this is the perfect article for you. In this article, we'll explain each part of an odds listing for professional basketball. Once you know what each number relates to in NBA odds and how the lines are set up, you'll find that you'll be able to understand the odds on each and every game that's posted.
We'll cover the rotation number, point spread, moneyline and over/under. Be aware that these elements go by other names. The rotation number may be called the rotation mark or number, the point spread is the spread or is often referred to as the line. In fact, sometimes odds themselves are generally called the line. When it comes to the over/under a common term you'll find is the total.
Whatever sportsbook you go to all NBA odds are listed in a fairly similar manner. However there will be minor variations in how teams are posted. Many books will give you the odds on a game with one team on top of another, while others may list one team on the left and the other on the right. How to win big on penny slots. Whatever the case may be the first team listed is always the visitor and the second is the home club.
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The first thing you'll see will be the date and time of the game. This is on the far left of the odds listing. Just to the right are the names of the teams that are playing. In between the date and time and the team names is the don best rotation number.
The numbers run sequentially. If the Boston Celtics are playing the Miami Heat in Miami, and the Celtics, who are listed first as the visitor, are number 101, then the Heat will be 102. In the next game that's listed on the odds sheet, the teams will be 103 and 104 respectively. The sequence of games continues for that day with each team in a game being given a rotation number.
| Date/Time | Rotation Number | Team | Point Spread | MoneyLine | Total |
| Jun 12th | 101 | Boston Celtics | +2.5 | +120 | 186.5 |
| 7:00 | 102 | Miami Heat | -2.5 | -140 | 186.5 |
These numbers are universal. That means that every sportsbook will list the Celtics and Heat with the same rotation numbers. This makes it easy to identify what team a bettor is going to wager on, especially when placing your bet at a land-based book or over the phone. It serves as a type of shorthand for bettors and bookies alike as you refer to the number and not the team name when making your wager.
Thus, the first parts of the line read from left to right in the following manner—date and time of game, rotation numbers and the teams. These establish the game on which you are going to bet. Everything to the right of the team names is related to the actual odds on the game. To the right of the game, in this order, you'll find the point spread, moneyline and over/under.
The point spread is designed to, in essence, make it tougher for bettors to make the right choice on a game and to even out the odds. In a big mismatch between a top team and bottom team chances are 4 of 5 times most of us can pick the outright winner. With the spread, a team either has to win by a certain number of points to payoff or it can lose by a certain number of points and still pay the bettor.
Spreads work in the following manner—the favorite team is listed with a negative number and the underdog has a positive number. The Boston and Miami matchup may be listed with the Celtics at +2.5 and the Heat at -2.5. Simply put Boston is a small dog and Miami is a small favorite. If you wager on Boston, you'll make money if they win outright or lose by two or less. Bet on Miami and you'll make cash if they win by three points or more.
More times than not a spread will be listed as a fraction or decimal. This is to prevent a tie in the spread, which would result in a push where all bets are off and all money is returned to the bettors. In our example if the spread has Miami at -2.0 and the final score was Miami 102 and Boston 100, the result would be a push.
The stake, the amount of cash you have to bet when the spread is in effect, is usually the same for both clubs and looks like this: -110. This tells you how much you have to bet to win $100. With the spread, you usually have to wager $110 to win $100. This can be translated into other wagers. If you bet $11, you'd win $10 or $220 to win $200.
Although many people contend the spread bet pays even money, it does not. If it did, your $110 wager would payout an equal amount, but instead if pays $10 less (10%). That means a spread bet is not an even odds wager, which would be shown as 1:1. It has less than even odds and is actually 0.90:1.00. Where does that 10% go? It is taken by the sportsbook in the form of a commission, which is known as vigorish or vig.
To the right of the spread you may see the moneyline (some sites list moneylines separately from the point spread). With the line, the team that wins the game outright pays off. Instead of using a spread, the bookmaker charges more to bet on the favorite and pays out less and less to wager on the dog while paying out more.
Using the Boston and Miami game, the moneyline would have the underdog Celtics at +120 and the Heat at -140. This line directly corresponds to the 2.5 point spread. With the moneyline, if a team is listed on the plus side that tells you how much you will win on a $100 wager. When a club is posted in the negative that tells you how much you have to bet to win $100. With Boston at +120, you would bet $100 to win $120 and with Miami at -140, you must wager $140 to win $100.
The moneyline and point spread have a direct correlation to one another. Below a chart lists the point spread and moneyline equivalents from 2.0 up to 10.5.
Point Spread Moneyline
| Point Spread | Money Line |
| -1 | -120/+100 |
| -2 | -130/+110 |
| -2.5 | -140/+120 |
| -3 | -155/+135 |
| -3.5 | -175/+155 |
| -4 | -200/+170 |
| -4.5 | -220/+180 |
| -5/-5.5 | -240/+190 |
| -6 | -270/+210 |
| -6.5 | -300/+220 |
| -7 | -330/+250 |
| -7.5/-8/-8.5 | -360/+280 |
| -9/-9.5 | -400/+300 |
| -10 | -450/+325 |
The final number you'll see in a NBA odds listing is the over/under or total for that game. Again, to prevent a push, this number will usually be expressed as a fraction or decimal and not as a whole number. The over/under is a projection of the total number of points that will be scored in the game by both teams. The sports bettor is wagering on the point total for that game as either being over or under the number on the odds listing.
In the Celtics/Heat game, the total could be listed around 186.5. If the total is 187 or better, then the over wins, if it is 186 or lower, that mean the under is the winner. Bookmakers create the number based on various criteria related to recent matchups between the teams, the points for and points against each team has averaged and other factors. Like the spread, this is a number that is not merely made up; it's based on past performance and projected outcomes.
How To Bet On Nba
When you look at odds, the date and time, the rotation number and the team names establish the game on which you're going to bet and the point spread, moneyline and over/under are the three basic bets related to that game. These are the basics of any NBA odds listing that you need to know and understand before you place a wager.
