How to Bet on Basketball Online 2026
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Last Updated: 17 December, 2025
Basketball betting gives fans a fast-paced way to stay locked into every play.
Whether you’re watching the NBA or college hoops, learning how to bet on basketball games can help you make smarter picks all season.
How to bet on basketball games: 5 steps to get started
Types of basketball bets
Whether you bet on basketball casually or every night, these are the core bet types you’ll use across NBA games.
Moneyline
The moneyline is the simplest basketball bet. You’re picking which team will win the game.
For example, if Duke is -150 and Syracuse is +130, you’d need to bet $150 on Duke to win $100.
If you bet $100 on Syracuse and they win, you’d profit $130.
There’s no spread to worry about, just win or lose.
Point Spread
The spread makes the matchup more even.
If the Celtics are -5.5 against the Bulls, they must win by 6 or more for your bet to cash.
If the Bulls are +5.5, they can win outright or lose by 5 points or fewer.
Most spreads also have a cost, usually -110 odds, meaning you risk $110 to win $100.
Over/Under (Total Points)
This bet is on how many total points both teams will score.
If the total is set at 212.5 and the final score is 110–105, the Over hits because the total was 215.
If it ends 106–100, the Under wins. Pace of play, defense, and injuries all influence totals.
Learn more here: Over/Under betting guide.
Prop Bets
Props focus on individual or team stats.
You might bet on LeBron to score 25+ points or a team to make 10 or more three-pointers.
These bets are especially popular in NBA games where star players draw more attention.
You can also bet on combo stats like Points + Rebounds + Assists (PRA).
Parlays
A parlay combines two or more bets into one.
All parts must win or the ticket loses.
For example, you could parlay Heat -3.5, Over 219.5, and a player prop.
If any leg fails, you lose, but the payout is much higher than a single bet.
Futures
Futures are long-term bets placed on outcomes that happen later in the season.
In the NBA, this includes betting on the title winner, MVP, or conference champs.
In college hoops, futures are popular around March Madness.
These odds shift throughout the season based on standings, injuries, and hot streaks.
NBA prop bets, futures, and niche markets
NBA betting goes well beyond the basics.
Props, futures, and specialty bets offer more ways to find value, especially if you follow teams or players closely.
Player Props
These bets focus on individual player performance, points, rebounds, assists, threes made, or steals.
Some sportsbooks offer combo lines like Points + Assists or PRA.
For example, if Jayson Tatum is listed at Over 26.5 points (-110), he needs 27 or more for the bet to win.
These props are great if you already track player trends or play DFS.
Team Props
You can also bet on team stats within a game.
Common bets include total team points, first team to 20, or total rebounds.
These are especially useful if you follow game tempo, team depth, or shooting matchups.
Futures
Futures let you place bets on season-long results.
In the NBA, this includes championship odds, division winners, or win totals.
You can also bet on award winners like MVP or Rookie of the Year.
Odds open before the season and update weekly.
For example, if the Bucks are +500 to win the NBA title, a $100 bet would return $500 profit if they win.
First Basket and Race Bets
These are fast-settling prop markets.
You can bet on who scores first or which team hits 10, 15, or 20 points first.
These markets are random and high risk, but the payouts can be big.
3-Pointer Props
Today’s NBA lives and dies by the three.
Props include made threes by player or total team threes.
You might bet Steph Curry to hit Over 4.5 threes at +110.
Teams that give up a lot of perimeter looks often drive value here.
Same-Game Parlays (SGPs)
SGPs let you combine multiple bets from a single game, like a spread, a total, and a player prop.
For example: Warriors to win, Curry Over 3.5 threes, and Over 228.
These bets are popular but volatile.
These are high-risk, high-reward and many NBA sportsbooks boost them with promo odds.
How does live betting on basketball work?
Live betting adds another layer to basketball wagering.
Odds update in real time based on what’s happening on the court, giving you a chance to react to momentum shifts, injuries, or slow starts.
How Live Betting Works: Once the game tips off, you’ll see changing odds for the moneyline, spread betting, and total. You can also find live player props, quarter bets, or adjusted team totals. If a favorite starts cold or a key player gets hot, live odds adjust fast.
How We Use It: We don’t chase every run; we look for clear spots. If a strong team goes down early but looks sharp, we might take them at better value mid-game. If a total was high pregame but the pace slows, we’ll sometimes hit the Under live.
Stick to a Game Plan: Live betting is fast and tempting. Before the game starts, we set limits and watch for opportunities, not emotion. Tracking trends like foul trouble or pace of play helps make smarter live bets.
Use Sportsbooks with Good Live Tools: Some sportsbooks lag behind the action or freeze lines often. We recommend using platforms known for fast updates and a wide range of in-game options when betting on basketball live.
Get more information here: How to calculate sports betting payouts.
Basketball betting strategy: How we approach it
You don’t need to guess your way through basketball bets.
We use a few simple strategies that help us find value and stay consistent.
Shop for the Best Line: Not every NBA sportsbook offers the same odds. One book might have the Celtics at -4.5 while another lists -3.5. That extra point can be the difference between a win and a loss. Before placing a bet, we check a few apps to find the best line available.
Follow Injury Reports and Rest Days: In the NBA, especially, last-minute lineup changes can shift a game completely. If a star is ruled out or even just on a minutes restriction, it changes how we bet. This matters even more in back-to-back games when teams rest starters.
Know the Matchups: Some teams defend the paint well but give up a lot of threes. Others play fast and push the pace. We look at how teams match up based on their strengths and weaknesses, not just records. A great shooting team facing a weak perimeter defense is often worth backing.
Watch the Schedule: Back-to-backs, long road trips, and early afternoon games can affect how a team performs. We look for tired legs, travel spots, or letdown games after big wins. These spots don’t always show up in the odds, but they often show up on the court.
Track Line Movement: Sharp bettors often hit lines early. If a spread moves quickly after opening, it’s usually not random. We don’t blindly follow the public or the sharps, but if a line jumps from -2 to -4 overnight, we take another look at the matchup.
Stick to a Plan: Basketball seasons are long. We set a budget and track our results so we’re betting with a plan, not emotion. No one wins every night, but staying disciplined keeps us in the game long-term.
Frequently asked questions
You can view our dedicated page for more information on how we test and review sportsbooks.
Additionally, you can view all of our sportsbook reviews for the top platforms you can bet on basketball.
How to bet responsibly on basketball betting sites
Although knowing your sports helps, betting is primarily luck-based, so use these top tips to practice responsible gambling when placing a bet:
Limits: Betting sites allow you to set betting limits, i.e. limit how much you can bet in a day, a week, or a month.
Cashouts: You can withdraw your winnings quite easily from any betting site, which prevents you from spending all of your winnings.
Help & resources: Betting sites provide access to resources for problem gamblers and point them to organizations that can help with gambling addiction.
To help with gambling, we created a 'How To Bet On Sports' guide, that helps new sports bettors understand the industry better, to play safer and more securely.
Problem gambling organizations and charities in the US
Why you can trust us
At Sporting Post, we prioritize accuracy, objectivity, and transparency in every piece of content we write.
Our expert team conducts thorough, real-world testing of betting platforms, ensuring reviews and insights are unbiased and reliable from a human perspective.
We adhere to strict ethical standards, maintaining editorial independence and avoiding conflicts of interest, while regularly updating our content to reflect the latest trends and developments.
Our mission is to empower bettors with trustworthy information, backed by rigorous research and a commitment to responsible gambling.
You can trust us to provide clear, concise, and honest advice, helping you make informed betting decisions.
Editorial policy
Our editorial policy ensures thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content through strict sourcing standards and diligent review by top betting experts and seasoned editors.
This process maintains the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.
References
To test betting site products accurately, we dive into analytical research of the sports gambling industry, so we understand what features are best for you.
Below are some of the references we use when making such decisions: