How To Bet On Basketball

Basketball betting is becoming increasingly popular in Canada, with many people looking to get in on the action. However, if you're new to basketball betting, it can be a little bit daunting.

That's why we've put together this handy guide, which will teach you everything you need to know about basketball betting in Canada.

How Do Basketball Betting Lines Work?

Basketball betting lines work similarly to those in other sports. The point spread, or line, is set by oddsmakers based on a number of factors including the relative strength of the two teams, previous matchups and public perception.

The point spread is intended to even out the betting so that both sides are drawing an equal amount of money. It's not meant to predict how many points one team will win by.

Oddsmakers will also set a total, or over/under, for the game. This is the combined number of points that they expect both teams to score. Again, the goal is for bets on either side of the line to be relatively even.

If you're not familiar with basketball betting, the easiest way to get started is simply betting on who you think will win the game. You can also bet on the point spread or total if you're feeling more confident.

What is a Moneyline in NBA Betting?

In basketball betting, the moneyline is the odds given to a particular team to win the game. The favorite will have negative odds (e.g. -200), while the underdog will have positive odds (e.g. +150).

Bettors will choose to either bet on the favorite or the underdog. If they bet on the favorite and they win, they will receive less money than they wagered. However, if they bet on the underdog and they win, they will receive more money than they wagered.

How To Read NBA Odds?

If you're looking to bet on basketball games in Canada, it's important to know how to read NBA odds. The vast majority of sportsbooks will use the American odds format, which can be confusing for Canadian bettors who are used to decimal or fractional odds.

Here's a quick guide on how to read NBA odds in Canada:

American Odds: Also known as moneyline odds, American odds are displayed as either a positive or negative number. A positive number indicates how much you would win if you bet $100, while a negative number indicates how much you would need to bet in order to win $100.

For example, let's say the Toronto Raptors are playing the Los Angeles Lakers and the odds are set at +200/-250. This means that if you bet $100 on the Raptors, you would win $200 assuming they won the game. Alternatively, if you bet $250 on the Lakers, you would need them to win the game in order to win $100.

Decimal Odds: Decimal odds are the easiest to understand, as they indicate exactly how much you stand to win for every dollar you bet. Using the same example as above, if the Raptors have decimal odds of 2.50 and the Lakers have decimal odds of 1.40, this means that for every dollar you bet on the Raptors you would win $2.50 and for every dollar you bet on the Lakers you would win $1.40.

Fractional Odds: Fractional odds are most commonly used in the UK and Ireland, but they can also be found at some Canadian sportsbooks. They are displayed as either a positive or negative number, similar to American odds, but they indicate how much you would win in relation to your stake.

For example, if the Raptors have fractional odds of 3/2 and the Lakers have fractional odds of 4/5, this means that for every two dollars you bet on the Raptors you would win three dollars, and for every five dollars you bet on the Lakers you would win four dollars.

Types of bets on NBA games

The vast majority of bets placed on NBA games are simple wagers on the point spread, moneyline, or total. However, there are also a number of alternative bets that can be made on NBA games. Here are some of the most popular:

Point Spread Bets

The point spread is the most common type of bet made on NBA games. In a point spread bet, you are essentially picking a team to win or lose by a certain number of points. For example, let's say that the Los Angeles Lakers are playing the Boston Celtics. The point spread might look something like this:

Los Angeles Lakers -5.5

Boston Celtics +5.5

In this example, the Lakers are 5.5-point favorites over the Celtics. This means that if you bet on the Lakers, they must win by at least six points for you to win your bet. If you bet on the Celtics, they can lose by up to five points and you will still win your bet.

NBA Totals Betting

Another popular type of bet is betting on the total, or over/under. In a totals bet, you are wagering on whether the combined score of both teams will be above or below a certain number. For example, let's say that the point total for a game is set at 200. If you bet the over, you are essentially saying that you think the two teams will combine to score more than 200 points. If you bet the under, you are saying that you think they will score less than 200 points.

Prop Bets

Prop bets are simply bets on anything that can happen during an NBA game outside of who will win or lose. For example, prop bets might include things like how many points a certain player will score, how many assists he will have, or whether a team will make a certain number of three-pointers.

Futures Bets

You can also bet on things that will happen down the road, such as who you think will win the MVP or which team will win the NBA Championship. These are known as futures bets, and they can be a lot of fun.

Parlays

A parlay is simply a bet that combines two or more individual wagers into one. For example, let's say that you wanted to bet on the Lakers and Celtics game mentioned earlier, but you also wanted to bet on the total. You could combine those two bets into one parlay bet. If both of your individual bets won, you would win the parlay.

Quarter/1st Half Lines

Another type of bet that you can make is called a quarter or first half line. These are essentially bets on how a team will do in a specific quarter or half. For example, let's say that you want to bet on the Lakers to win the first half of their game against the Celtics. The first half line might look something like this:

Los Angeles Lakers -2.5

Boston Celtics +2.5

In this example, the Lakers are 2.5-point favorites to win the first half. If they do, you will win your bet. If they lose or if the game ends in a tie, you will lose your bet.

Live Betting

Live betting allows you to bet on games that are already in progress. For example, let's say that you want to bet on the Lakers game from earlier, but you don't want to bet on who will win or lose. Instead, you want to bet on how many points will be scored in the first quarter. You could do this by placing a live bet.

How to Bet on NBA PlayOffs?

There are a few things to keep in mind when betting on the NBA playoffs. First, remember that the better team does not always win. In fact, upsets happen all the time in the playoffs. Second, pay attention to how teams are playing heading into the playoffs. Often, teams that are hot heading into the postseason can make a deep run. Finally, don’t get too caught up in one game or one series. The playoffs are a long and grueling slog and anything can happen.

Betting on the NBA Finals in Canada

The National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals is the championship round of the NBA playoffs. The annual seven-game series determines the league champion, and is played between the winners of the Eastern and Western Conference Finals.

In order to bet on the NBA Finals in Canada, you will need to find an online sportsbook that offers betting lines on the NBA. There are many reputable online sportsbooks that serve Canadian customers, so finding one should not be difficult. Once you have found a suitable sportsbook, you will need to create an account and deposit funds into it.

Once you have deposited funds into your account, you will be able to place bets on the NBA Finals. To do this, simply find the betting line for the series and place your bet. You can bet on who you think will win the series, or you can bet on individual games.

Handicapping Basketball Bets

There are a few things that you need to keep in mind when handicapping basketball bets. The first is that the home team tends to have an advantage. This is especially true in the NBA, where home teams win about 60% of the time. That means that if you're betting on the underdog, you'll need them to be even better than they appear on paper in order to have a chance at winning your bet.

Second, remember that scoring in basketball can be streaky. A team that has been shooting well might suddenly go cold, while a team that has been struggling might suddenly get hot. Try to identify which teams are more likely to experience these kinds of swings and bet accordingly.

Finally, pay attention to the betting lines. The odds-makers are very good at what they do and they often know things that the general public doesn't. If a line looks too good to be true, it probably is. Conversely, if a line looks too bad to be true, there might be value there.

Five Tips for Betting on the NBA

1. Do your homework

It is vitally important that you do your research before placing a bet on any NBA game. There are a number of factors that can affect the outcome of a game, such as player injuries, team form and motivation levels. By familiarising yourself with these factors, you will be in a much better position to make an informed betting decision.

2. Shop around for the best odds

Once you have done your research and know which team you want to bet on, it is important to shop around for the best odds. Different bookmakers will offer different odds on the same event, so it pays to compare them before placing your bet.

3. Consider alternatives to traditional betting markets

If you are looking to add some excitement to your NBA betting, then you may want to consider some of the alternative markets that are available. These can include things like player props, first half bets and live betting.

4. Manage your bankroll carefully

It is important to always remember that gambling should be treated as a form of entertainment, and not a way to make money. As such, you should only ever bet with money that you can afford to lose.

5. Have a lovely time

Ultimately, the most important thing is to have fun when betting on the NBA. If you are not enjoying yourself, then it is time to stop.

Basic NBA Rules

In order to be eligible to play in the NBA, players must be at least 19 years old and one year out of high school. Although there are a few exceptions that allow players to enter the NBA Draft without meeting these criteria.

The NBA season is 82 games long, with each team playing 41 home games and 41 away games. The regular season starts in late October/early November and ends in late April/early May.

At the end of the regular season, the top eight teams in each conference (Eastern and Western) qualify for the playoffs. The playoffs are a best-of-seven series where the higher-seeded team hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 (if necessary), while the lower-seeded team hosts Games 3, 4, and 6 (if necessary).

The NBA Finals is the championship series of the playoffs. The Eastern Conference champion plays the Western Conference champion in a best-of-seven series. The team with the better record in the regular season has home court advantage, meaning they will host Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 (if necessary).

In order to score points, players must shoot the ball through the hoop from anywhere on the court. The game is divided into four quarters, each lasting 12 minutes. At the end of each quarter, the team with the most points is declared the winner. If the score is tied at the end of regulation time, then overtime periods are played until a winner is determined.

A player fouled while shooting the ball is awarded free throws. If a player is fouled while not shooting the ball, they are awarded possession of the ball.

Timeouts are called by either team when they wish to stop the game clock. Each team is allowed six timeouts per game, three of which can be carried over to overtime periods if necessary.

Common Betting Mistakes

Betting on the NBA can be a great way to make some extra money, but only if you know what you're doing. There are a lot of common betting mistakes that people make when betting on the NBA, and if you're not careful, you could end up losing a lot of money. Here are some of the most common betting mistakes:

1. Not Doing Your Research

This is one of the most important things to do when betting on any sport, but it's especially important when betting on the NBA. You need to make sure you know everything there is to know about the teams and players involved in every game before placing your bets. If you don't do your research, you could end up making some very costly mistakes.

2. Betting on Your Favorite Team

Just because you're a fan of a certain team doesn't mean you should bet on them every time they play. In fact, betting on your favorite team can be one of the worst things you can do. You're more likely to make emotionally-driven bets that aren't based on any logic or reason. If you want to bet on your favorite team, only do so if you think they have a good chance of winning.

3. Making Parlay Bets

Parlay bets are when you bet on two or more teams to win in order to get a higher payout. While parlay bets can sometimes be profitable, they're usually a bad idea. The reason is that you have to win all of your bets in order for the parlay to pay off. This means that even if you have only a few losing bets, your entire parlay will be a loser.

4. Chasing Your Losses

One of the worst things you can do when betting on the NBA is to chase your losses. So you start off by losing a few bets and then try making up for it by betting even more money. This is a dangerous cycle to get into and it can lead to some very costly mistakes. If you find yourself losing a few bets in a row, it's best to just walk away and come back another day.

5. Making Impulse Bets

It's important to always think about your bets before placing them. You should never make an impulse bet, as this is almost always a recipe for disaster. If you have any doubts about a bet, it's best to just avoid it altogether.

NBA Terms

Dunk: A dunk is a type of shot in basketball in which the player attempts to make a basket by jumping.

Jump Ball: A jump ball is a method used to begin or resume play in basketball. Possession is awarded to one team when the official tosses the ball up between two opposing players who try to gain control of it.

Free Throw: A free throw is a shot that each player is entitled to attempt during foul shots.

Foul Shots: Foul shots, also called free throws, are shots that are taken from the foul line after a player has been fouled.

Personal Foul: A personal foul is a physical or non-physical infraction committed by a player against another player in basketball.

Technical Foul: A technical foul is any infraction of the rules that does not involve contact with another player, such as unsportsmanlike conduct or delaying the game.

NBA History

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a men's professional basketball league in North America, composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). It is widely considered to be the premier men's professional basketball league in the world.

The NBA is an active member of USA Basketball (USAB), which is recognized by FIBA (also known as the International Basketball Federation) as the national governing body for basketball in the United States.

The NBA's regular season runs from October to April, with each team playing 82 games. Its playoffs extend into June. NBA players are the world's best paid athletes by average annual salary per player.

The league was founded in New York City on June 6, 1946, as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). The league adopted the name National Basketball Association on August 3, 1949, after merging with its rival National Basketball League (NBL).

The league's several international as well as individual team offices are directed out of its head offices located in Midtown Manhattan. NBA Entertainment and NBA TV studios are directed out of offices located in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Bet on the NBA Responsibly

As you bet on the NBA, it is important to do so responsibly. This means knowing your limits and sticking to them. It also means being aware of the risks involved in gambling, and making sure that you are comfortable with those risks before placing any bets.