Basketball betting is a great way to get closer to the action if you’re looking to put your knowledge to the test – and potentially win some profit too!
The sport provides thousands of data points alongside all the drama, so there are plenty of ways you can bet.
From betting on basketball teams’ chances of winning or losing, to how many points are scored, who scores them, and everything in between – this sport is perfect for betting. What’s more, you can live stream basketball and bet alongside all the action by following the latest odds.
However, if you’re new to the world of sport betting then it’s understandable if you’re unfamiliar with what basketball bets are all about.
Paddy Power is here to help with our quick guide to betting on basketball!
What is basketball betting?
Basketball betting is where you place money on an outcome happening in a basketball game or season. You take a risk in placing the bet, and your payout (if the bet wins) is relative to the size of the risk.
For example, you bet on the Lakers to beat the Bulls in an NBA game. The Lakers win, so you get your money back PLUS whatever profit you earn, based on the odds. If your bet loses then the site that accepted the bet – called a bookmaker – keeps the money.
What are basketball odds?
We mentioned basketball odds in the above section, so let’s look at these in a little more detail. Basketball odds show how much money you stand to win as profit, relative to your stake.
There are three odds types: decimal, fractional and American. Here at Paddy Power, we offer decimal and fractional odds to our players.
Let’s use the Lakers and Bulls game for our example of basketball odds in action:
- Decimal Odds: These show how much you earn back from your bet in total (stake + profit), relative to a £1 stake. Say the Lakers are 3.00 to beat the Bulls and you bet £1 on Los Angeles. They win, so you earn £3 (your £1 stake PLUS £2 profit).
- Fractional Odds: These show how much profit you win relative to your stake. The figure on the left of the slash is the profit, and on the right the relative stake. Say the Lakers are 2/1 to beat the Bulls and you bet £1 on Los Angeles. They win, so you earn £2 profit PLUS your £1 stake = £3. If you bet £2, then you’d have won £4 profit PLUS your £2 stake back = £6.
There are thousands of basketball betting odds at Paddy Power
How can I bet on basketball?
You can bet on basketball at Paddy Power in a few simple steps. Here’s the process:
- Step 1 – Sign up to Paddy Power
Join Paddy Power today by clicking on the Join Now button on Paddy’s homepage or downloading the Paddy Power app.
- Step 2 – Enter your details
Enter your details. You must be aged 18 and over. Set bet limits and deposit limits and complete your account.
- Step 3 – Make a deposit
Next, make a deposit using a debit card (other deposit methods are available). If you deposit the right amount then you may trigger a welcome bonus.
- Step 4 – Check out the basketball odds
Head to the Paddy Power main page and click on the ‘basketball’ tab to go through to our basketball betting hub. From here you can select the league or games you want to bet on, and browse the odds.
- Step 5 – Place your bet
Once you find a bet you want to back, click on the odds and it’ll open the bet slip. From here you can enter your stake, double check you’re happy with the bet and the potential payout, before clicking Place Bet.
What basketball leagues can I bet on?
There are plenty of basketball leagues to bet on at Paddy Power, including:
- NBA – The National Basketball Association is the biggest basketball league on the planet, and covers teams in the USA (and Canada’s Toronto Raptors). You can bet and live stream NBA with Paddy Power throughout the season, and access thousands of in-play odds.
- WNBA – The Women’s NBA is the biggest women’s basketball league in the world, and consists of 12 teams – all located in the USA.
- EuroLeague – A cross-European league that is similar to football’s Champions League. EuroLeague offers the highest standard of basketball outside of America.
- Liga ACB – Spain’s basketball league is the hotbed of the European game, where some of the best players learn their trade before heading to the NBA. Barcelona and Real Madrid regularly contest the title (as they do in football!).
- BSL – Turkey’s Basketball Super League is followed religiously by its teams’ supporters. If you’re looking to bet on basketball for the first time then this is a good place to start, as the game isn’t as fast as the NBA.
What are the best basketball bets?
If you’re new to basketball betting then it’s understandable if you don’t know every bet available in the Paddy Power sportsbook. The best place to start is with simple bets that you can learn to perfect before you branch out into finer detail.
With that in mind, here are three of the best basketball bets to get you underway…
- Match betting
Bet on which team will win a match. There aren’t really any draws in basketball, so you can bet on one team or the other to win. Remember, the higher the odds the more profit you win if the bet wins, but the less likely it is that your bet will win.
- Points betting
Bet on the total number of points scored in a game. This is a great way to follow a basketball game without needing to support a team. At Paddy Power you can bet above or below a points total. For example, you might bet on a game between the Bulls and Cavaliers totalling +235.5 points.
- Player points betting
Players score one point for a free throw (like a penalty in football), two points for scoring within the two-point zone directly under the basket, and three points for scoring a basket outside of the two-point zone. Paddy Power offers odds on NBA players scoring above a set number of points in a game. For example, you might back a Pistons player to score 20+ points in a game against the Mavericks.
Now you know how to bet on basketball, why not check out the latest odds at Paddy Power!
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO SAFER GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW