Basketball Betting Sites

Whether it’s the Lakers versus the Warriors on Christmas Day, Duke against UNC in the last week of March, or game seven of the NBA Finals in June, basketball betting apps rarely have a shortage of game lines, player props, and short-term promotions on offer. The best basketball betting sites do all of the above except better, with less juice, more markets, and bigger bonuses.

Read on to see which basketball sportsbooks scored three-pointers and which air-balled.

Best Basketball Betting Sites

As the online sports betting industry matures, we continually monitor the latest developments and revisit the nation’s most popular sportsbooks to see which excel in terms of basketball odds, bonuses, market depth, and other critical features. Naturally, there will be some betting apps that we feel are ahead of others.

#1. Caesars Sportsbook

I use the app frequently during the regular season and playoffs, and have to highlight Caesars excellent rewards program.

Besides offering extensive betting markets on NBA, WNBA and college basketball games, Caesars has plenty of pro betting tools. I will occasionally try out a teaser bet or round robin on numerous games, but am also happy to form simple parlays. I bring up the parlays simply because Caesars regularly gifts parlay boosts and insurance deals, so it is highly worth combining your bets into multiple seleciton wagers.

After forming my bet, I can always review my bet slip on the betting app to confirm the details, and top up my funds swiftly if I don’t have cash in my account.

Caesars is definitely my personal top pick for basketball betting due to the fantastic features and odds they have. I find it really easy to place a bet on their site and can usually find odds for all of the games I want to bet on. Damjan Jugović Spajić (Sports Editor)

#2. Bet365 Sportsbook

According to betting veterans worldwide, Bet365 is the best online sports betting company. The Bet365 app covers basketball extensively, including popular European leagues and competitions from Asia. What really impressed me was the in-play basketball betting product.

Bet365 provides lots of in-game stats and HD live streams of basketball games. The platform is robust, and you will feel it when you open the betting markets during a game. The odds are constantly changing, with little to no interruption, and there are many thought-provoking market to test your basketball knowledge.

So, if you are a basketball fan looking for a sophisticated betting app to place live bets on the NBA, college games, and Euroleague matchups without missing a moment of the action, Bet365 is your best bet.

#3. BetMGM Sportsbook

BetMGM claims that it understands the unparalleled passion that drives NBA fans, and this is clear when you visit the app. The operator has excellent odds boosts and significant college basketball coverage. When March Madness comes around, I always go to BetMGM first to check out what bets are on offer. The sportsbook has one of the most advanced bet slips, allowing bettors to place teaser bets, round robins, and all kinds of parlays.

BetMGM also offers basketball bettors lots of unique and innovative live betting markets. When watching an NBA game, I always have my BetMGM app at the ready, and frequently check what new bets pop up during the game. The platform has a very organized, neat feel to it, which is exactly what you need if you are like me and want to place quickfire in-game bets.

The odds, while very good, are not always on par with the likes of FanDuel and BetMGM. I don’t mind a little extra juice in my bet though, if the betting app has so many choices and tools with which I can personalize my betting selections. I highly recommend you try out the NBA teaser bets or see what types of round robin bets BetMGM covers.

• Standout Feature: Advanced Parlay Options
• Features: 3/5
• Odds: 3/5
• Basketball Promos: 4/5

#4. FanDuel Sportsbook

FanDuel is one of the biggest names in US sports betting. Regarding the NBA, the operator provides comprehensive coverage of regular and post-season NBA matches with several live betting options and the easy-to-use FanDuel cash-out feature.

I’m always up for a good parlay, and FanDuel is one of the best sportsbooks for longshot bets. I have formed my multiple selection bets on phone and desktop with ease. The betting app lets you create your big parlays, with as many as 25 selections in a single bet.

There are several wagering options, such as NBA over/under and NBA future on FanDuel. Additionally, the app looks great, and the odds are competitive. The diverse range of betting markets is easily accessible through the FanDuel betting app. It is also very efficient with in-game bets and offers live game stats.

• Standout Feature: Competitive Odds
• Features: 3/5
• Odds: 4/5
• Basketball Promos: 4/5

#5. DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings is the first app that comes to my mind when anyone asks me which betting app should they use for basketball betting. The operator is known for its daily fantasy sports contests and also offers a plethora of betting options for major domestic and international sports. For basketball, the DraftKings app runs special promos during the NBA finals.

The odds on the bets are always competitive, but for NBA Finals and playoffs, I can always find even better prices for the bets. DraftKings makes it easy to place an NBA bet thanks to its user-friendly layout and huge range of markets. DraftKings prop betting options are also some of the best in the business, especially when it comes to betting on basketball.

An easy user experience, when it comes to making payments and forming bets, is paramount to any good NBA betting app. The iOS and Android DraftKings mobile apps are extremely reliable, and it has quick customer support. With a plethora of payment methods, I can confidently recommend this versatile sportsbook to any basketball bettor who wants a premium betting app.

• Standout Feature: Regular odds boosts
• Features: 4/5
• Odds: 4/5
• Basketball Promos: 4/5

Must-Consider Factors for Basketball Sportsbook Apps

While the selection of great basketball betting sites has never been better, there are still many factors you should consider before choosing between online betting sites.

1. Legal States

To be able to create an account at your sportsbook of choice, you first must ensure that the online sportsbook in question is available in the state where you reside. Not every basketball betting site is available in every state, so always check the availability before making your decision.

That is not to mention those states where there are college basketball betting sites, but you cannot make wagers on in-state teams or place player bets.

Legal Status of Basketball Betting Across US States
State	Online Basketball Betting (NBA, WNBA, other professional leagues)	College Basketball Legal Status (Any Conditions)	Legal Betting Age
Alabama (AL)	❌	–	–
Alaska (AK)	❌	–	–
Arizona (AZ)	✅	✅ (No College Player Props)	21
Arkansas (AR)	✅	✅	21
California (CA)	❌	–	–
Colorado (CO)	✅	✅ (No College Player Props)	21
Connecticut (CT)	✅	✅ (No In-State College Teams)	21
Delaware (DE)	❌	–	–
Florida (FL)	❌	–	–
Georgia (GA)	❌	–	–
Hawaii (HI)	❌	–	–
Idaho (ID)	❌	–	–
Illinois (IL)	✅	✅ (Only In-Person Betting at Retail Locations)	21
Indiana (IN)	✅	✅ (College Player Props Only as Pregame Bets)	21
Iowa (IA)	✅	✅ (No College Player Props)	21
Kansas (KS)	✅	✅	21
Kentucky (KY)	✅	✅	21
Louisiana (LA)	✅	✅	21
Maine (ME)	✅	❌	21
Maryland (MD)	✅	✅	–
Massachussetts (MA)	✅	✅ (No In-State College Teams)	21
Michigan (MI)	✅	✅	21
Minnesota (MN)	❌	–	–
Mississippi (MS)	✅ Limited	✅ (Retail Only)	–
Missouri (MO)	❌	–	–
Montana (MT)	✅ Retail Only	✅ (Retail Only)	–
Nebraska (NE)	✅ Retail Only	❌	21
Nevada (NV)	✅	✅	21
New Hampshire (NH)	✅	✅ (No In-State College Teams)	18
New Jersey (NJ)	✅	✅ (No In-State College Teams)	21
New Mexico (NM)	❌	–	–
New York (NY)	✅	✅ (No In-State College Teams)	21
North Carolina (NC)	⏱️	–	–
North Dakota (ND)	❌	–	–
Ohio (OH)	✅	✅	21
Oklahoma (OK)	❌	–	–
Oregon (OR)	✅	✅ (Only In-Person Betting at Retail Locations)	21
Pennsylvania (PA)	✅	✅ (No College Player Props)	21
Rhode Island (RI)	✅ Limited	✅ (No In-State College Teams)	18
South Carolina (SC)	❌	–	–
South Dakota (SD)	❌	–	–
Tennessee (TE)	✅	✅ (No College Player Props)	21
Texas (TX)	❌	–	–
Utah (UT)	❌	–	–
Vermont (VT)	⏱️	–	–
Virginia (VI)	✅	✅ (No In-State College Teams or Player Props)	21
Washington (WA)	❌	–	–
West Virginia (WV)	✅	✅	21
Wisconsin (WI)	❌	–	–
Wyoming (WY)	✅	✅	21
Washington D.C. (DC)	✅	✅ (No In-State College Teams)	21

If your state does not permit basketball betting online, there are a couple of options:

• Fantasy Pick’Em Apps: Fantasy pick’em apps offer more/less predictions on single-player stats like points scored, rebounds, assists, three-pointers, free throws, and more for fixed payouts. It’s a lot like online basketball betting except every lineup must contain at least two athletes, and it’s legal in more states. For example, you might select Minnesota’s point guard to score more than 13.5 points and Golden State’s small forward to record fewer than 6.5 rebounds. If you get both predictions right, you win a cash payout.
• Sign Up Today, Bet Tomorrow: If you travel often or live near a state with legal online sports betting, it’s worth signing up for an online sportsbook account right now. You can register, deposit funds, browse the lines, and plan your bets from any state. Then, when you visit a supported state, all you need to do is log in and place your bets. Even if you return to your home state before all your wagers have settled, you’ll still be able to withdraw your winnings.

2. Basketball Coverage

The NBA is not the only league that offers high-level basketball. Basketball is extremely popular all over the world, and there are many other leagues that provide high-quality matchups worthy of your attention.

WNBA, NCAA Basketball, Euroleague, EuroCup, Liga Endesa, Turkish Basketball Super League, the Greek A1 League, and the French LNB Pro A are just a few of the other competitions that provide fans with high-quality basketball. Overlooked basketball leagues can be full of advantageous betting opportunities due to the lack of attention they receive from bettors and oddsmakers.

3. Basketball Odds Boosts

Basketball odds boosts temporarily enhance the payouts on select markets, occasionally turning negative/neutral wagers into value bets. For example, your sportsbook might boost tonight’s OKC moneyline from +325 to +425.

The best basketball betting sites offer frequent odds boosts to incentivize their customers to stay active, encourage brand loyalty, and occasionally to rebalance the action on a heavily-bet market if they’re overexposed on one side.

Odds boosts are a welcome sight wherever you bet, but they’re even better at sportsbooks that already offer competitive lines. This is just one more advantage the best basketball betting apps offer over all the others.

4. Betting Opportunities (Market Depth)

Betting market depth is one of the crucial factors when choosing where to bet on basketball online. The best basketball sportsbooks offer hundreds of betting markets daily during the NBA/NCAAB seasons.

Moreover, they cover a wide variety of leagues and tournaments, each with varied bet categories (part-time outcomes, player props, head-to-head player props, series outcomes, team futures, etc.)

Basketball Leagues and Events to Bet On

When is the best time to start betting on basketball online? Here is a rundown of all the competitions and leagues that I like to bet on, and where you can bet on them.

NBA

The NBA is by far the most popular basketball league in the world, however, the highest level of basketball excitement kicks in in April with the start of the NBA playoffs. The NBA playoffs are the postseason tournament in which the best eight teams from both the Western Conference and Eastern Conference compete in the well-known best-of-seven elimination tournament.

The reach of the NBA extends far beyond the stadiums and courts. Michael Jordan, the GOAT (Lebron fans, calm down), has obviously achieved massive success with his Air Jordan sneakers, with rumors the Joran brand is even looking to move into English soccer by linking up with a Premier League team.

This basketball event not only provides fans with the highest level of quality known in basketball but also provides sports bettors with an extensive selection of various lucrative betting opportunities. The games from the NBA playoffs are available for betting at any licensed online NBA betting site in the country, and the list of betting options seems to be getting longer and longer.

NBA Awards Prop Bets

The NBA offers numerous awards that honor outstanding individual achievements and contributions to the basketball world – which also provide extensive betting opportunities. Here are the most prominent ones.

• Most Valuable Player (MVP) – Given to the player considered most crucial for their team’s success in the regular season.
• NBA Finals MVP – Given to the player who demonstrates exceptional performance and influence throughout the NBA Finals series.
• Defensive Player of the Year – Presented to the player who stands out in defensive abilities and makes the highest impact on their team’s defensive performance.
• Rookie of the Year: Awarded to the best-performing first-year player.
• Sixth Man of the Year – Awarded to the best-performing player coming off the bench as a substitute.
• Most Improved Player – Awarded to the player who displays the most improvement in their performance from the previous season.
• Coach of the Year – Presented to the head coach who has made the most notable contributions to their team’s achievements.

WNBA

The Women’s National Basketball Association has seen a massive surge in popularity over the past years. I have followed the games myself for a while now, and have won lots of wagers on this competition. Placing live wagers on this competition is extremely exciting, and equally dramatic, but always a good experience. The regular seasons start in May and last until September, and are followed by the WNBA Finals, which start in September and end in October.

If you are not familiar with the WNBA, then it is high time to check out the action. Some of the WNBA teams have direct male counterparts, so if you are a fan of the Indiana Pacers, LA Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets or Phoenix Suns, you can support the Indiana Fever, LA Sparks, Minnesota Lynx, NY Liberty or Phoenix Mercury, respectively. Otherwise, check out Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Dallas Wings, Connecticut Sky, Las Vegas Aces, Seattle Storm, and Washington Mystics. The teams have some world-class basketball prospects.

That said, it doesn’t matter if the sportsbook has epic bonuses if you can barely make a moneyline bet on WNBA games. The best betting sites have 30 + betting markets for all WNBA games, including moneyline, spread, totals, correct score, first-half winner, winning margin, first-to-score, and more. They also offer live betting markets for all games, including the WNBA playoffs.

March Madness

Whether betting or not, every basketball fan will assure you that there aren’t many sporting events around the globe that can match the thrill of March Madness. This basketball event hosts the top 68 college teams from all over the country in a single-elimination tournament that produces some of the most heart-stopping basketball moments.

Every game is “win or go home.” Therefore, March Madness guarantees to produce thrilling moments and dramatic finishes, making it attractive to bettors. Christian Laettner’s game-winning shot against Kentucky in 1992, Steph Curry’s 33 points against Wisconsin, Jimmer Fredette’s dismantling of Gonzaga, Gordon Hayward’s half-court heave that almost went in, and Kris Jenkins’ buzzer-beater to secure the victory for Villanova are just some of the memorable March Madness moments from the past 30 years.

College basketball betting sites recognize the popularity of March Madness and will go the extra mile to make their offers as attractive as possible. During the tournament, it’s common to see more frequent odds boosts, bigger bonuses for new users, better promos for existing customers, and expanded wagering markets.

NBA All-Star Game

Every February, NBA fans are presented with a unique chance to watch 24 of basketball’s most outstanding superstars as they go head-to-head in an exhibition game full of some of the deepest 3-pointers caught on camera and some of the most mind-blowing slam dunks.

The NBA All-Star games are available at any licensed online basketball betting site in the country, providing bettors with a wildly entertaining sports betting experience. These games are known as high-scoring affairs, so they are popular among fans who like to bet on totals.

Euroleague’s Final Four

Euroleague is the most elite basketball competition in the old continent. It features the best 18 European basketball teams. This competition is formatted in a way in which each team plays two regular season games against every other team. The top eight teams progress to the playoffs, and then the four best teams advance to the pinnacle of the competition, the Final Four.

All the games of the Final Four get hosted on the same weekend, which makes the whole event a true basketball betting spectacle full of lucrative betting opportunities. The Final Four usually takes place in the last week of May.

Types Of Basketball Bets

Nearly all types of basketball bets fit under one of the following categories.

Moneyline Bets

Moneyline bets are also simple wagers in which you pick which team will win a game. The difference is that the oddsmakers do not adjust the points for each team. Instead, they adjust the payout odds for the favorites and underdogs.

If you want to place a wager on the favored team in a matchup, you will have to risk more money than you stand to win. If you place a wager on the underdog team, you end up risking less money than you stand to win. The idea here is to make both sides of the bet equally attractive in the eyes of the bettors.

Point Spreads

The point spread is one of the most basic and common types of basketball bets. This is a wager in which you place a simple wager on the team you think will win the game. Bookmakers give and take points from the teams as a handicap to help make the games more even.

In most cases, one team is viewed as the superior team and will have to win by a certain number of points for wagers on that team to be considered winning wagers. On the other hand, the underdogs can either win the game or lose by a few points and still be considered winners for betting purposes.

Basketball Over/Under Bets (Totals)

Over/Under bets are one of the most popular Basketball betting options which can be found on almost all basketball betting sites. When placing an Over/Under bet, the bettors are gambling on the combined amount of points scored in the game. The basketball betting sites set a projected number, while bettors try to predict if the total amount of points scored in the game will be higher or lower than that number.

The over/under betting odds provided by the sportsbook will fluctuate from game to game depending on team characteristics such as how strong or weak an offense or defense is for the NBA teams that are participating in the game, the availability of key players, whether the game is being played during the regular season or the postseason, and/or more factors.

Placing Over/Under bets is the go-to sports betting market for many ball fans. However, there is no magical NBA betting strategy that can help bettors win money on Over/Under bets in basketball. For players to put themselves in a position to make profits, they need to read and understand data. Luckily for bettors, they can find all the valuable data they need in the recent results of the two teams from the game they are looking to bet.

Before placing an Over/Under bet, each bettor should see the average points each team has scored in recent away and home games and check the number of points scored in their most recent previous matchups.

Futures

Futures are basketball bets that take longer to resolve than average bets. For example, the most common futures bet in basketball is a prediction on who will win the next championship game. These wagers are open all year round at most basketball betting websites.

Basketball Prop Bets

Basketball prop bets are wagers that cover a wide variety of topics. These bets have less to do with which team will win and more to do with how the game will be won. A couple of common prop bets in basketball are which team will score first and which team will be leading after a certain amount of time.

In-Play Basketball Betting

Live NBA betting adds to the excitement levels by allowing users to respond directly to the progression of the game in real-time.

The odds will be adjusted frequently as the game progresses, and now props will appear throughout. Standard bets such as spread, totals, and moneylines will open and close during the game. This gives the betting app time to readjust the odds or avoid a risky betting line entirely.

Some examples of NBA live bets include:

• Will a player score 50 points?
• Which team will score the next three-pointer?
• Which player will make the next steal?

NBA live betting will appear the same to anybody who has placed a pre-game wager on a sports betting app. In-play markets will be easy to find on any basketball betting app listed on this page.

Live Basketball Betting Strategy

Now, live betting is not an exact science; however, knowing certain concepts can give you as a bettor an advantage and increase the likelihood of winning your bets. Here are some tried and trusted live betting methods to ensure you win more.

• Make the closing line your marker – The closing line is the last before the betting market closes before the opening tip. According to some research, the closing line predicts a game’s final score most accurately.
• Note any in-game injuries in the NBA teams – Keep an eye out for players who sustain injuries throughout the game as it presents possibilities to profit from changes in the live odds.
• Follow team rotations – It is important to understand how teams rotate their players because NBA games last for a total of 48 minutes. That means the team’s best players and starters aren’t on the court for some time. With the closing line as a marker, the fact that the leading team has a double-digit deficit, for example, early on in the second quarter of an NBA game, is not always indicative of the outcome.

Basketball Player Props

With the rise in popularity of daily fantasy sports, player props have become one of the most heavily-bet markets at licensed basketball betting sites.

The most common basketball player prop bets are about the number of points a player will score in a game. To put yourself in a position to gain profits from this type of bet, you need to dedicate significant time to research and develop a high-level understanding of the game.

Some of the most common tips involve paying attention to previous head-to-head matchups between particular players, taking advantage of certain matchups, and always being up to date with all the latest news regarding the players you want to bet on.

Avoid These Basketball Betting Mistakes

Turning a profit betting on basketball is hard, but improving your results is easy. If you’re new to basketball betting, try to think in terms of plugging leaks rather than making money. It’s tough to fill a bucket with water if there’s a gaping hole in the bottom. Plus, reducing mistakes increases the likelihood of ending any given day, week, or month in the black.

Stacking Heavily Correlated Same-Game Parlays

One of the most common mistakes bettors make is stacking heavily correlated legs into their SGPs to gain an edge. Combining player over points + team to win + over total points isn’t as wise as it seems because online sportsbooks already bake in correlations into their SGP pricing algos. This is especially true for basketball, where one player’s performance can have an outsized impact on the game.

When you combine heavily correlated into your SGPs, you’re not getting true parlay odds. You can see it for yourself if you build an SGP at any basketball betting site, check the betting slip to see the payout odds, and compare that to the results you’d get if you plus those same wagers into a generic parlay calculator online.

For example: Here’s an SGP I constructed at an online sportsbook alongside the odds of each individual wager:

• Cleveland’s shooting guard to score over 30.5 points (-105)
• Cleveland to win at -7.5 (-110)
• The game to go over 229 points (-112)

The sportsbook priced that SGP at +440. If I plug those odds into a parlay calculator, it returns true parlay odds of +606. That’s a significant difference. A $100 bet would return:

• $540 at +440
• $706 at +606

Underestimating Player Prop Volatility

Another common basketball betting mistake is underestimating player prop volatility. Bettors tend to forget just how often players fall short of their averages on stats like three-pointers, rebounds, blocks, etc. when placing player props. Parlays and SGPs magnify this mistake even more.

In basketball especially, player props are highly sensitive to the matchup, game schedule, and foul trouble. Bettors must account for those factors when selecting player props.

Overvaluing Outdated Trends

Trend stats like “this team is 10-2 ATS in their last twelve road games” might be worth noting, but the vast majority of bettors overvalue these trends. That’s because rosters and play styles change frequently, and NBA coaches adapt quickly.

These trends often have no predictive value today. Instead, bettors should focus on more matchup-specific angles, changes in both coaches’ strategies, and motivation factors (e.g., one team in the matchup just clinched a playoffs berth and is resting its starters).

NBA Betting Systems

While no system guarantees success (or even necessarily improves bettors’ odds), these strategies provide a structured approach that some bettors may find helpful.

The Injury Betting System

The injury betting strategy focuses on monitoring reports of injuries and taking advantage of line movements caused by significant player absences.

When key players are sidelined or playing with injuries, odds may shift, providing value on the opposing team or altering the expected point totals. This system requires staying up to date with injury reports and acting quickly when opportunities arise.

Although the speed at which sportsbook operators and the public receive injury updates today renders this system useless in isolation, but it’s still critical to pay close attention to injury reports as a part of any basketball betting strategy.

The Contrarian System

The NBA contrarian betting system involves going against popular public opinion and betting on teams that are receiving less attention or have lower public support.

The idea is that the general public tends to favor a popular NBA team, leading to inflated odds on the opposing team. The logic goes that by betting against the public, you can find value in the lines offered for underdogs and less popular teams.

The Underdog Moneyline System

The premise of the underdog betting strategy for the NBA focuses on betting on underdogs to win outright rather than covering the spread.

Underdogs often have higher odds on the money line, meaning a smaller wager can lead to a larger payout if they win. This system requires careful analysis of matchups, injuries, and other factors that can lead to unexpected upsets.