Betting on basketball is not a complicated thing. However, you need at least basic knowledge of the sport and how sportsbooks work. Placing basketball bets online that ultimately yield a successful balance require at least some basketball betting tips. Below, we will share the most important thing about basketball betting. This will help you create winnable bet slips.
Basketball Betting Terms
Money Line – This is an American sports term simply meaning ‘to win’. If you are backing a team on the money line then they must win for your bet to come in.
Point Spread – This is a handicap system based on points, and works the same as handicaps in football betting. For example, a Miami Heat -2.5 point spread means they must win the game by 3 clear points or more for your bet to come in, with the opposite being the case for a +2.5 point spread. If the spread is a whole number and the team end up winning by or losing by exactly that number, then the bet becomes a push and your money is refunded.
Alternative Point Spread – This is the same as a standard point spread but with a different number of points. Not many bookies offer this market but some do and if you search properly, you can find some fantastic offers.
Game Totals – This is simply betting on the total number of points scored in a game. This might look like: Indiana Pacers @ Miami Heat – Over/Under 195 =. This means you need 196 or more total points in the game to win the Overs and 194 or less to win the Unders. If the game total is a whole number and ends up being the same as the total points scored then your bet becomes a push and your stake is refunded. Note that all of the above includes overtime!
Alternative Game Totals – This is the same as ‘game totals’ but with a different number of points. Again this can be found on some bookmakers, under the alternative game totals tab.
Handicap Betting
The handicap markets can be used both pre-game and in-play. This means you get extra trade-out opportunities which increase your chances of making a profit. That’s why Asian handicap is very popular when it comes to sports betting. Here are some of the benefits bettors get from Asian Handicap markets:
- Even if the team you backed loses the game, there is a chance that your bet can still win or at least become void, where you get your stake back. This means that the risk of losing your money is much lower, compared to a traditional 1X2 bet. For example, if you bet on the underdog through a + 1.5 handicap, you would still win even if said underdog loses the game 1-0.
- Most professional bettors prefer Asian Handicaps to any other market because it offers better value.
- The betting margins are lower since the option of a draw is removed. This increases the chances of maintaining a solid profit over time.
- Since the handicap removes the obvious difference in quality between two teams, it gives bettors a chance to get increased value when betting on highly favored teams.
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