It is time for sports fans to rejoice, as the NBA season is upon us! The basketball season is one of the most exciting times in a sports fans’ life, as they get to follow their favorite teams and players closely as the season progresses. If you’re new to the world of sports betting, then it might be a little overwhelming to understand how to calculate betting odds for NBA games. Hopefully, with this article, you will have a better understanding of how to make the right wagers on NBA games and how to calculate odds accurately. Let’s get started.
The Basics Of Basketball
For those of you who are not familiar with the game of basketball, let’s give you a quick primer.
Basketball is a team sport played between two teams of five players each. The objective is for the team to score more points than their opponents across a series of regulation-time periods. These ‘periods’ of play are called ‘halves’ in basketball terminology. Each half is made up of four 10 minute periods of play, with a 5 minute break in between each period. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins!
In basketball, the objective is to score more points than your opponents across a series of regulation-time periods. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins!
Why Are Sportsbooks Necessary?
With every other sport, fans can sit back and enjoy the action from the comfort of their homes. But, as soon as the final buzzer sounds following a basketball game, the fun is over and they have to work to collect their winnings. In most cases, basketball games will end in a draw, which leaves room for disputes regarding the final outcome of the game. To avoid any misunderstandings and financial loses, sportsbooks were created.
In basketball, a bookmaker will take wagers on the game, offering a variety of wagering options, from money lines to totals. Wagers can be placed before, during or after the game, using a number of different avenues, such as phones, online accounts and even bricks and mortar locations, if you’re feeling lucky!
Because of the unpredictable nature of basketball games, and the fact that they can end in ties, it is essential to calculate the right odds for NBA games. Those who know how to do this are known as ‘odds calculators’ or ‘basketball statisticians’. These individuals ensure that all the numbers are managed properly and that money is kept on the right side of the ledger.
How Do I Calculate The Right Odds For A Basketball Game?
The first step is to identify the teams competing in the game. You will want to consider both the home team and the away team, as well as whether the game is expected to be close or not. You can use a wide variety of tools online, such as team capsules or even Wikipedia, to get information on the teams competing in the game.
Once you have obtained the necessary information, you can begin to calculate the odds for the game. If you’re analyzing a match between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees, for example, then you would begin by looking at these two teams’ overall records, along with their respective divisional records. You would then proceed to compare and contrast their stats, taking note of the current batting averages, runs scored, home runs, runs batted in and strikeouts for both teams. From here, you can determine the exact chances of this particular game ending in a specific way.
It is important to keep in mind that the outcome of a basketball game is inherently unpredictable, which means that even the most experienced and highly qualified oddsmaker will have a hard time calculating precise odds for the game.
What About Ties?
Another factor that can affect the outcome of a basketball game is a tie. In the event of a tie at the end of the game, there are several options open to the participants. Some bookmakers will simply declare the game a draw, refusing to take wagers on ties. Other bookmakers may offer ‘over/under’ options, where if the game ends in a tie, then the team with the most points at the end of the first half wins the game. Finally, some bookmakers will offer ‘goal’ (or ‘field goal’) betting options, where if the teams tie at the end of the first half, then each team is awarded one point, with no bookie taking a commission for the ‘goal’ or ‘field goal’ bets.
Making Sure You Keep On The Right Side Of The Ledger
To ensure that they keep on the right side of the ledger, sportsbooks must ensure that all their bets are properly recorded and paid out promptly. To that end, they will maintain full and accurate records of all the games they handle and will regularly audit those records, looking for potential errors or inconsistencies. Additionally, many bookmakers will refuse to take on new accounts, making sure to keep good relationships with existing customers, who they know will continue to come back for more.
While it is essential to have a good relationship with your bookmaker, it is just as important to stay on the right side of the law. In the United States, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was signed into law in 2006, making it a crime to run an illegal sportsbook. Those who are found guilty of running an illegal sportsbook can be fined up to $250,000 and imprisoned for up to five years. Additionally, each violation carries a maximum fine of $50,000 and incarceration of up to one year.
With all the legalities out of the way, let’s get back to the fun of betting on basketball!