Types of Basketball Bets

Whether you enjoy watching NBA games or you like watching professional European leagues, there are plenty of global opportunities to wager on basketball.  Basketball is a fast-paced game, and offers many fun betting opportunities both beforehand and in-play.  Here are some of the most common types of basketball bets:

• Point spread.  This is a type of handicap wager.  One team has points added for a head start, while the other may have points taken away.  That way both teams have odds which are roughly even, even if there is a clear favourite and a clear underdog.  This is the most popular way to bet on basketball games.  When you make this type of wager, it is extra important to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal on the point spread.  Coming up with your own point spread (Link to: Why Make Your Own Point Spreads?) before you examine the betting lines can help.

• Match outcome.  This is a simple wager where you say which team you believe will win.  With basketball in particular, this type of wager is not as popular as point spread betting because you can end up with very short odds. 

• Total points.  With this type of wager, you try to predict how many points will be scored in total during a game.  Usually this takes the form of an over/under bet, not one where you have to state an exact number.  With this type of wager, as with the point spread bets, you will want to do some shopping to ensure that you are receiving the best odds.  This is a very popular type of bet. 

• Team to score first basket.  This is exactly what it sounds like.  Try to predict which team will be the first to score a basket.  If you know that a team is a fast or slow starter, and you know the other team is the opposite, that is exactly the sort of time when a bet like this could be quite profitable.  Remember, you can place a bet like this and also still wager on the total points or the point spread too, so all the action need not be over right away in the beginning of the game. 

All of these different types of basketball bets are very fun ways to get more involved in your favourite sport.  Basketball’s fast-paced action can be addicting to watch.  When you put some money down on the table, the excitement doubles.  If you do a great job following the sport and analysing team and player performance over the course of the season, it can also be a profitable activity.  Don’t overlook NBA betting just because you are in Europe, and don’t forget that there are European teams you can follow and wager on as well.  Also check out college basketball.  It is more popular to wager on in the USA, but it can be a lot of fun, and another great moneymaker!