How to Bet on Basketball Online 2025
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Last Updated: 22 July, 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
How to Bet on College Basketball
Types of basketball bets
Whether you bet on basketball casually or every night, these are the core bet types you’ll use across both NBA and NCAA games.
Moneyline: This is a straight-up bet on which team wins. If Duke is -150 and Syracuse is +130, you’d bet $150 to win $100 on Duke or $100 to win $130 on Syracuse.
Point Spread: The spread levels the playing field. If the Celtics are -5.5, they must win by 6 or more. If the Bulls are +5.5, they can win outright or lose by 5 or fewer.
Over/Under (Total Points): You’re betting on the total points scored by both teams. If the line is 212.5 and the game ends 110–105, the Over hits.
Prop Bets: Props are wagers on specific player or team stats, like LeBron to score 25+ points or a team to hit 10+ three-pointers. These are especially popular in NBA betting because of the focus on individual stars.
Parlays: A parlay combines multiple bets. All must win for a payout, but the odds multiply. For example, you might pair two spreads and a total in one ticket for a bigger return.
Futures: Futures let you bet on long-term outcomes, like who will win the NBA title or which player will take home MVP. You’ll also find futures in NCAA betting, especially around March Madness.
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 Prop Bets
These bets are tied to individual performance. You can bet on things like:
Total points, rebounds, or assists
Combined stats like Points + Assists or Points + Rebounds + Assists
Made 3-pointers, blocks, or steals
Example: Jayson Tatum Over 26.5 points (-110) means he must score 27 or more for your bet to win.
These props are popular among DFS players who already study stat lines.
Team Prop Bets
These focus on team milestones during a single game. You might bet on:
First team to reach 20 points
Total team rebounds or turnovers
Will the game go to overtime?
They’re quick-hitting and useful for reading momentum or early pace.
First Basket and Race Bets
Niche props like First Basket Scorer or Race to 20 Points offer fast results.
You’re betting on who scores first or which team hits a scoring milestone first.
These markets are unpredictable, but odds are high and payouts can be strong if you’re right.
3-Pointer Markets
In today’s NBA, three-point betting is huge. Common bets include:
Over/under on a player’s made 3s
First player to hit a 3
Total team 3s
Watch matchups, teams that defend the arc poorly can create value.
NBA Futures
These are long-term bets on season outcomes. Popular futures include:
NBA champion
Conference and division winners
Regular-season win totals
MVP, Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year
Odds change throughout the season.
We look to place these early before injuries or big win streaks move the lines.
Same-Game Parlays
Same-game parlays let you combine props, spreads, and totals into one bet.
For example: Steph Curry 4+ threes, Warriors to win, Over 230.5 total points.
These are high-risk, high-reward and many NBA sportsbooks boost them with promo odds.
How does live betting work in basketball?
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, 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 wide in-game options when betting on basketball live.
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:
https://wsb.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Beggy_2023__Betting_Kelly.pdf
https://sc.edu/uofsc/posts/2024/01/stephen-shapiro-sports-gambling.php
https://thesportjournal.org/article/nba-gambling-inefficiencies-a-second-look/
https://www.academia.edu/35396754/NBA_Parlay_Betting_Explained
Contributors
Bradley Gibbs
Author
With over 12 years of experience, Bradley Gibbs is a seasoned sports betting writer and analyst specializing in uncovering value bets across football, horse racing, tennis, and golf.
His extensive coverage of these sports has been featured on numerous websites and in The Racing & Football Outlook, a renowned UK betting publication.
Bradley's expertise lies in identifying betting edges and delivering insightful, data-driven content for informed wagering.
Josh Miller
Reviewed By
Josh Miller, Sporting Post’s Sports & Casino Editor, brings over five years of experience in feature writing, blogging, and SEO.
With a strong background in football coverage and sports betting, his work has been featured in VAVEL.
Josh also writes extensively about online casinos, providing expert insights into games, bonuses, and gambling trends.
His engaging and informative content makes him a reliable resource for Sporting Post readers.