Read on to see which basketball betting sites scored three-pointers and which ones air-balled.
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 at the TD Garden, this sport has the power to produce whirlings of confetti in the minds of every fan.
The number of top-notch online sportsbooks is constantly increasing, and bettors from all over the country are getting new lucrative opportunities to reap the fruits of the plethora of basketball bonuses and various betting types and promos.
So let me take you through all your options, to help you find the best sportsbook for you. After you have checked our list, I will run through each sportsbook comprehensively, highlighting everything you should know about each.
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Best Basketball Betting Sites
- Great Mobile App
- Brilliant Welcome Bonus
- Range Of Bet Types
- Great Welcome Bonus
- 20+ Sports to bet on
- Been operating since 2000
- Accepts deposits as low as $5
- Hefty welcome and referral bonuses
- Available in 22 US States
- Superb range of sports
- Enticing rewards program
- Extensive catalogs of betting markets
- Massive Choice of Sports
- Daily Odds Boosts
- Convenient Banking
All of the betting sites I have reviewed are fully legal in the United States, though they do not operate in all the states where sports betting is legal. Also, for you would-be college basketball bettors, you should know that you cannot bet on NCAAB games in every state.
Our Best Basketball Betting Sportsbooks
#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.
- Great Mobile App
- Brilliant Welcome Bonus
- Range Of Bet Types
#2. 🥈 bet365 Sportsbook
According to many betting veterans from all over the globe, bet365 is the best online sports betting company. It has an outstanding collection of basketball bets, even covering popular European leagues and competitions from Asia. What really impressed me was the live betting options.
Bet 365 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 lots of thought-provoking options to test your basketball knowledge with.
So if you are a basketball fan looking for a sophisticated betting app to place live bets on NBA, college sports, and Euroleague games without missing a moment of the action, head to bet365 and start your betting journey today.
If you’re yet to try out bet365 you seriously need to. They have a great live-streaming future that allows you to watch basketball games while you bet on them. This is great so you can keep track of a game and place a bet with the run of play.
- Great Welcome Bonus
- 20+ Sports to bet on
- Been operating since 2000
#3. 🥉 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
I’ve always had a great experience with DraftKings sportsbook and you can tell it’s been around for years due to how refined it is. I like to use DraftKings to place futures bets on things like MVP of the season or NBA winner.
- Accepts deposits as low as $5
- Hefty welcome and referral bonuses
- Available in 22 US States
#4. 🎖️ 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
Using BetMGM’s website and extremely easy to do, all of the sports are easy to find and basketball will always be near the top of the list. When you go into the basketball section you’ll find NBA odds but also a huge selection of college basketball odds that you can place if that’s you’re thing too.
- Superb range of sports
- Enticing rewards program
- Extensive catalogs of betting markets
#5. 🏅 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
FanDuel is extremely accessible, and is just as popular with newcomers as it is with pro bettors. The basketball offering is extensive, and there are lots of nifty tools with which you can personalize your bet. The Parlay Hub is also a great feature, and always worth checking.
- Massive Choice of Sports
- Daily Odds Boosts
- Convenient Banking
Must-Consider Factors for Basketball Sportsbook Sites
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.
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 |
I would not be too worried if online sports betting was not available in the state I was playing in, as there are ways around this. For example, you could travel to another state to place your bets, which is something I have done before. I also signed up for Daily Fantasy Sports sites, and entered basketball competitions when I could not access my top basketball betting sites.
My top two DFS apps, which I still use to this day, are FanDuel and DraftKings, but there are plenty more that I have tested and reviewed. If you are interested in DFS, you can check out our page on Fantasy Sports.
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 bet.
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. These leagues can be full of great betting opportunities, so make sure to choose a basketball betting site that lists them as available and offers various betting markets for them.
Basketball Odds Boosts
Odds Boosts are one of those promotions that basketball bettors seem to love. With these promotions, the best basketball betting sites provide higher odds for particular betting markets to stimulate their users to place more bets.
Odds Boosts can be an exciting way for players to move away from the traditional moneyline bets and win more by making the most of the enticing betting odds of these promos as most online sports betting sites, such as FanDuel Sportsbook, offer odds boosts on Player Prop bets. Top NBA betting sites will always have competitive NBA odds and a range of promos such as odds boosts.
Betting Opportunities
The betting market availability is one of the crucial factors when choosing a sportsbook. Top sportsbook operators usually offer hundreds of betting markets that are available daily, which provide endless betting opportunities. Moreover, they cover a wide variety of leagues and tournaments, as well as various betting types.
Basketball Events You Can Bet Online
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.
NCAAB 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 odds boosts and special bonuses, while there is also a broader range of props and futures 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 the bettors fond of the Over/Under betting type.
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.
Basketball Betting Tips & Opportunities
We like to think we know a thing or two here about how to get ahead of the game when wagering. We have placed all kinds of NBA bets and know exactly what to look out for when looking at NBA online betting sites. Betting online and strategically betting online isn’t the same thing. Anyone, not just NBA bettors, can set a large wager at basketball sportsbooks, but using the tools provided by betting sites can help you win more often than you lose. We have placed enough bets to know you should always use the tools at your disposal.
Same-game Parlays
Not many basketball betting experiences can compare to the thrill of hitting a four-leg same-game parlay. However, to do so, you must understand all the nuances of this sports betting type and avoid some of the most common mistakes.
One of the most common mistakes inexperienced bettors make when betting on same-game parlays is placing bets that contradict one another. There is no point in backing the Dallas Mavericks if you also plan to bet that Luka Doncic will go under his projected points for the night.
The bettors interested in same-game parlay bets should always try to assemble parlays with complementary bets. This strategy is known as correlated parlay betting. In the case of a correlated parlay bet, you have a parlay with two or more bets that are connected together in a way in which if one of the bets wins, the chances of hitting the other bets will significantly increase.
Live 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.
Basketball Live 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.
Over/Under
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.
Player Props
With the incredible rise in popularity of Daily Fantasy Sports, Basketball Player Props betting became one of the most favored betting options in almost every basketball betting site. By placing a Player Prop bet, bettors are gambling on the possibility of a particular player achieving a predetermined number of specific statistics.
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.
Point Spread Betting
A basketball point spread is a bet on the margin of the win in a basketball game. By placing a Point Spread bet, bettors are gambling on the difference between the winning and the losing team in a basketball game.
There are many strategies gravitating around Point Spread betting, with the most notable being the one that suggests avoiding blowouts. Although we’ve witnessed numerous blowouts in which the favorites won by high margins, betting your money on -19.5 favorites is not the brightest idea.
The basketball season is long, and the schedule can be quite draining. Thus many NBA teams considered favorites would rather rest their players in the 4th quarter when leading instead of pushing up the tempo and increasing their winning margin even further.
Matchups against teams from the bottom of the table can be an opportunity for top NBA teams to rest their star players, so betting on potential blowouts should not be among your favorite betting strategies.
Other NBA Betting Systems
There are several other popular NBA betting systems that any NBA bettor can use. While no system guarantees success, these strategies provide a structured approach that some find helpful.
The Injury Betting System
The basketball 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.
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. By betting against the public, you can find value in the lines offered for underdogs or 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.