Explore Online Betting on the NBA in 2024

Gambling on the NBA

The National Basketball Association, also known as the NBA, is the world's premier basketball league. Today, there are 30 teams; all of which you bet on at our top-rated sportsbook Betway.

Gambling on NBA games is hugely popular all over the world. Thanks to the launch of sports betting online, it's become possible to place bets 24-7 - and from the comfort of your own home. Start wagering today with our top recommendations that offer:

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  • Lots of available markets & great customer service
  • Wagering in Canadian dollars & fast payouts
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Get Started with NBA

Today, betting on NBA games is as easy as doing it all straight from your computer. No longer must you leave the comfort of your own home to find a betting agent – you have access to limitless information you need before putting your stake in. Need to know how a certain team or player has been performing throughout the basketball season? No need to scour through the newspaper; just open up a new tab and have the information on hand in a second.

When you use our recommendations list to find a betting site that works for you, all it takes to get started is to sign up and take full advantage of the deals and promotions. You could be betting on ten games at once and not even break a sweat – leave that to the players!

Taking your Shot

As in all other sports listed here, there isn't just one way to bet on basketball. Betting is like basketball – you have to adapt your technique to your ability. Here are just a few different ways you can bet on games:

Spread Bets / Point Spreading

Point spreading occurs when the bookmaker in charge of the betting artificially changes the odds to make the underdog team seem more attractive to bet on as the favourite would be.

As an example, Team Red is the overall favourite to win. For Team Blue to bridge the gap of 4.5 points, then they must win by at least 5 points in total. If you were to place a bet on Team Red, they would need to win by 5 points too, in order to match the points spread. The payout for this is determined by the moneyline, explained below.

Money Line / Line Betting

Line betting is where the bookmaker decides on an artificial margin to handicap a team's odds of winning. This is usually done to make a game equal, or appear as such.

This margin is called a “line”, and is only used in the case of win-or-lose outcomes. For example, if for some reason the bookmaker believes that Team Red is better than Team Blue by a 4 point difference, they can decide to handicap Team Red by 4 points to make them equal. In this circumstance, the line bet is for Team Red to win by more than 4 points over Team Blue, or for Team Blue to get within 4 points of Team Red. This makes both outcomes come to relatively equal odds.

Over / Under Bets

This kind of bet is very similar to “Total” bets in other games – but the Over/Under in basketball is a lot more general. To put it simply, you're betting on the total score between teams to be higher or lower than the proposed number. If the total score is higher than this number, then Over wins. If lower, then Under wins.

For example, the odds given for a particular NBA game could be -125 for over a total score of 25.5 (decimal so that the score doesn't fall exactly on a mark) and -105 for under 25.5, indicating the payouts for betting on either over or under for them.

First Half

First Half betting is for the stats purists out there – shorter term games yield results that are more indicative of the listed odds. A First Half bet is about betting purely on – you guessed it – the first half of the game.

For example, the odds for Team Red to be leading ahead of Team Blue by half time could be +125, meaning you'll receive a $125 return on top of your $100 stake if Team Red is leading by half time.

Your Basketball Betting Coach

Even with the types of bets aside, betting isn't as straightforward as the odds may suggest. Basketball is a sport played by humans, and is therefore unpredictable with outcomes caused by different aspects. Here are a few tips to help you make your first bet.

Expect the Unexpected

Never assume one team is a shoe in to win and bet huge amounts on them – it could always go either way. Stranger things have happened.

Home and Away Performances

Although it may seem like an inconsequential difference, teams playing away tend to play a lot worse than when they're home. The home team almost always has the edge, and that should factor in to who you're betting on.

Over/Undervaluing

The odds given to you by a bookkeeper isn't the actual odds affecting the universe – they tend to be artificially created. This is why odds are different with different betting sites – it's always useful to do the research yourself, and compare it against the given odds.

The History of Nets in the Great North

NBA action first came to Canada in 1995 with the launch of expansion franchises the Vancouver Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors. The Grizzlies didn't last long, however, making the move to become the Memphis Grizzles in 2001.

The Raptors remain in Toronto. They have won three divisional titles over the years, but are yet to claim an NBA Championship title.

Start Betting in the Right Place

Once you've found an online gambling website you like the look of, it's time to properly put it to the test. We do this by checking out every aspect, from how regularly the odds are updated to the dedication of the customer support team.

Competitive Odds - Some betting sites might be able to give better odds for your bet on the NBA than others – make sure you find the best odds you can before committing to your bet!

Free Bets - If you've never placed a bet on the NBA before, chances are you're a little unsure about committing real money to betting on the sport. Even if you are familiar, you might need a little enticing before using the betting site – some sites offer a promo of free bets, so you can try before you buy.

Variety of Sports - If you're not too locked into betting on the NBA, it's always great to keep your options open. Make sure the betting site you're using helps you find other sports to dip your toe into.

Regularly Updated Stats - There's no point in committing to a betting site that lists NBA players who have long since retired – it absolutely doesn't help you decide your bet and can easily confuse it. Make sure your betting site is fully up to date with current games and teams.

Compatible Apps - It's never fun when you want to bet on the NBA, only to find out the app you've downloaded isn't compatible with your device. Ensure your betting site has applications that's tailor made to your phone.

Canadian Dollars Accepted - A lot of the NBA takes place outside of Canada, you might find that the site you're using might not accept Canadian Dollars. Check in the terms of the betting site that you can bet with your own currency.

After you've checked out all of these features, and made sure that the online sportsbook has them, you can feel safe knowing that you're joining a top quality website.

Make a Start & Bet Today!

Real money sports betting can be enjoyed in Canada, with the regulatory powers in the hands of the 10 provinces to determine what's allowed and what isn't.

One thing to bear in mind is that you are currently not allowed to bet on single sports events. Only bets on two or more sporting events are allowed, though there is a challenge to that law in the form of a bill being pushed.

FAQs

  • Can Canadians bet on the NBA?

    Yes they can, and they do!

    Betting on the NBA is widely accessible to people in Canada. To research specific laws, you'll need to reference the province in which you live. All 10 provinces have the power to make decisions on gambling legislation.

  • How does NBA betting work?

    NBA betting can take lots of forms. The most common bet would be on the result of a game, but there are many more markets to consider. Everything from predicting a team's highest points scorer, to betting on which teams will make the play-offs is an option in a sport that lends itself to prolific stats and analysis.

  • What types of bets exist?

    Point spreads are very common in NBA betting.

    This is where the bookmaker sets a line and you decide which side of the line to bet on (more on the line coming up). Moneyline bets are where you simply take the odds offered on a team winning and go in on it. Over/Under bets are where you predict the total number of points in a game. Parlay bets involve wagering on multiple events together to increase your odds and potential payout.

  • What are betting lines?

    Betting lines represent the number set out by the bookmaker for a predicted score in a game.

    It's your job to figure out which side of the line to wager on. Let's say the betting line has the Clippers to beat the Cavs by 10 points, at -10. If you think the Cavs will be by at least 30, go big that way!

  • How much can be won gambling on the NBA?

    It depends.

    The answer, of course, depends on the amount you're prepared to stake and the odds in question. Wins in the hundreds of thousands or even higher are possible if you bet big on long odds, or your stake is suitably huge to begin with.

  • Can it be profitable?

    Very much so, but you'll need to do your research and be prepared to take some losses along the way.

    Nobody wins on 100% of the bets they make, and you'll need a bankroll to keep you going through the down times. The lucky few can bet on the NBA for a living, but maybe a more realistic goal is to fund your occasional trip to a game in person!

  • How should I start?

    To get started you'll need to pick your NBA betting site and register for a real cash account. Once that's done, you'll be free to place bets and watch the winnings roll in.

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