What are the Types of Basketball Bets You Can Make?

Basketball offers diverse betting opportunities, with options ranging from straightforward game outcomes to more complex statistical props. When you get into wagering, whether you bet on college basketball or the NBA, or other professional leagues, you need to know what your options are with the types of basketball bets you can make.

Each wager type carries a different level of risk. For instance, moneyline bets are low-risk bets but have lower rewards compared to parlays. These are high-risk, high-rewards wagers. So feel free to explore all your options when it comes to basketball betting.

Types of Basketball Bets You Can Make

The most basic type of basketball bet is the moneyline, where bettors simply select which team will win the game outright. This is particularly popular among newcomers due to its simplicity. You’re just picking the winner, regardless of the margin of victory.

Point spread betting adds another layer of complexity and is arguably the most popular form of basketball betting. In this type of bet, the favored team must win by more than a specified number of points (the spread) for bets on them to pay out. Conversely, bets on the underdog win if that team either wins outright or loses by less than the spread. For example, if the Lakers are -5.5 against the Celtics. They need to win by 6 or more points for Lakers bettors to win their wagers.

Then you have Over/Under (totals) betting, which focuses on the combined score of both teams. The sportsbook sets a number, and bettors decide whether the actual total score will be higher or lower than that prediction. This bet type allows people to wager on the game’s overall scoring pace without necessarily backing either team. Basketball’s fast-paced nature and high scoring make totals betting particularly engaging.

Other Basketball Bet Types

Here are other bets that you can make when it comes to betting on any basketball game that your sportsbook offers you:

1. Quarter and half betting breaks the game down into smaller segments. Bettors can wager on which team will win a specific quarter or half. Or they can bet on what the point spread or total will be for these shorter periods. This creates opportunities for those who notice teams that typically start strong or finish well. Its also a good option for those who can identify specific patterns in how games flow. These types of bets are very common in live betting, something that you need to know when you start an NBA sportsbook.
2. Player proposition bets (props) have become increasingly popular with the rise of statistical analysis and fantasy sports. These bets focus on individual player performance metrics such as points scored, rebounds, assists, three-pointers made. It could also be a combination of these statistics. For instance, you might bet on whether a player will score over or under 25.5 points in a game. Here are some basketball player prop bet guides to help you.
3. Parlay betting allows combining multiple bets into a single wager for a potentially larger payout. While the odds of winning increase with each added selection, all picks must be correct for the parlay to pay out. A bettor might combine a point spread bet with an over/under and a player prop, creating a more challenging but potentially more rewarding wager.
4. Live or in-game betting has revolutionized basketball wagering by allowing bets to be placed while the game is in progress. Odds update in real-time based on the current score, time remaining, and game flow. This dynamic betting environment enables bettors to react to how the game is unfolding, potentially spotting opportunities based on momentum shifts or matchup advantages.
5. Future bets focus on longer-term outcomes, such as which team will win their division, conference, or the championship. These markets also include regular season win totals, where bettors predict whether a team will win more or fewer games than a predetermined number, and individual awards like MVP or Rookie of the Year.

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