If talking about betting on the NBA, there are those that are used more often. Some of them offer more risk but also offer the potential for higher rewards, while others are less risky but have lower potential payouts. In this article, we’ll tell you in detail how to make an informed and competent decision about your bets.
How does betting on basketball matches work?
The three common types of NBA bets are the point spread, moneyline and total. The pros for each type vary depending upon what you’re looking to achieve from your wager but they all have their own set drawbacks which should also factor into any decision before placing it.
Let’s take a look at each type of bet in more detail.
Point spread
This is the most popular bet among all basketball fans. Its principle is quite easy to understand. You just have to bet on whether the selected team will score more than a certain number of points in the game, and if so, by how many points.
People prefer the point spread for different reasons:
- It’s usually easy to predict which team will win a basketball game.
- The point spread offers a low-risk, high potential reward if you’re right in your prediction.
However, there are also some downsides:
- The point spread can be a confusing topic for bettors. Sometimes the favorite doesn’t always cover, but that’s just gambling!
- Some people may be more willing than they think to take a risk with their finances and end up losing all the money that was put into it.
Moneyline
It’s a bet on which team will win the game, regardless of how it ends up. It can be seen as one that has more risk but also potential for bigger payouts in case your picks turn out well.
The main advantages of betting on the moneyline are:
- It’s relatively simple to understand and there is no need to worry about spreads or points.
- The odds are usually not as bad as they are for other types of bets.
The main disadvantages are:
- It usually require you to risk more money in order to win less.
- There is a larger chance of losing your bet.
Total
The final type of bet that can be placed on an NBA game is the total. This wager depends upon how many points each team scores, so it’s always difficult to predict which side will win this kind easy money.
As for pros of this type of bet, they’re the following:
- It’s relatively easy to understand — you’re predicting whether the two teams will score more or less than a certain number of points.
- The chances of winning are typically not as unfortunate as for other kinds of bets.
And the cons:
- Just like with the point spread, it can be very difficult to predict the total for a basketball game.
- It offers relatively high risk and low potential rewards — if you’re incorrect in your prediction, you can lose a lot of money.
Tips for placing a winning bet on the NBA
Let’s take a look at some prompts that can help you win your bet:
- When you’re preparing for a game, do your research. You need to know everything about the teams that are playing and their strengths/weaknesses as well as recent form so it will be easier to beat them.
- The lines vary from bookie to bookmaker, so it’s necessary for bettors must shop around before choosing a line.
- Lines are always shifting in the basketball betting world. Don’t bet on your favorite team just because it’s a stable line, or you might end up regretting that decision when another team blows out their opponent.
- Chasing losses is a big no-no in gambling. If you’re down, don’t bet more to try and make up for it — instead just stick with your original plan of play so that way there’s less risk involved!
- Manage your bankroll and don’t exceed what you can afford to lose. Be sure set up a budget before playing so that it becomes easier for both players, as well as staff members who need money from betting wins or losses incurred by the player’s unlucky streak.
So there you have it, our complete guide to betting on the NBA. We hope that this has answered all of your questions and cleared up any confusion. Remember, betting should always be considered entertainment and not taken too seriously. Have fun with it!
And as always, if you have any questions or want advice on specific bets, feel free to reach out to us. We’re happy to help!