Basketball is a hugely popular sport around the world and it’s gaining popularity in the UK too. It’s already popularised such sports as three-point shooting, slam dunks and high-velocity drives – the type of things that make sports fans proud to call themselves basketball fans! One of the most popular betting sites for basketball is Bet365. Below, we’ll examine how betting on sports works at the prestigious online bookmaker and whether you should consider putting a bet on NBA games this year.
What Types of Bets Can I Place On Basketball?
The good news is there’s plenty you can put a bet on when it comes to basketball. Whether you want to make a quick, easy profit or are looking to win some money back from your favourite basketball team, there’s always something available at Bet365. Below, we’ll discuss the different types of bets available at the bookmaker and whether they are suitable for a first-time gambler.
Basketbola
Yes, you read that right. That’s a real thing and it’s what you might call a ‘long shot’ bet. Essentially, if you think that a particular team is going to win an event, you can back that team to score more points than the other team. The catch is you need to bet a massive amount – thousands of pounds – to make a profit. Basketbola is one of the more popular sports betting options in the UK due to the fact you can place high-quality bets on events with relatively low odds. Most people wouldn’t expect much in return for their investment aside from maybe some match footage. Still, it’s all about the psychology behind the bet. Are you confident that the home team is going to win? You might as well bet on it!
Handicap System
Not so happy now? You likely have a significant advantage here. Handicap is a common word in sports, primarily used in horse racing and golfing. It basically means ‘even odds’. So if you’re putting a price on an event, such as the winner of a basketball game, you can effectively ‘handicap’ the bet by making it even money. Handicap betting works a bit like basketbolla – you’re simply matching up the points scored by the two teams in the game. It’s a simple enough system to get the hang of, however, it can be tricky to find an effective handicap option if you’re not familiar with the game or the rules of the sport. In that case, you might as well place a straight bet on the game. It’s what we call a ‘no brainer’. You’ll know what the outcome will be before the game starts!
Over/Under
Remember those old-school, ‘flip a coin’ type of bets? Over/Under is a modern spin on that concept. Essentially, you’re predicting the total number of points scored by both teams in a game. So if you think the total will be under 21, you can put a bet on it. Similarly, if you think it’ll be over 21 points, you can also place a bet on it. It’s a popular option with fans of the sport who want to bet on the total number of points scored in a game. You’ll find a variety of choices with over/under betting at most bookmakers, it’s a safe bet.
Point Spread
Ah, the ever-popular point spread. Essentially, the point spread is the amount by which the predicted score of an event is favored by the odds. For example, if you think a basketball game is going to be close, you might want to bet on it being under 105 points. In that case, you’d need to bet £100 to make £5 return. For a small-time gambler, it’s generally not recommended to put a bet on the point spread. It’s too much money and you won’t likely win enough money back to make up for the investment. Still, if you’re expecting a blowout, you might as well go for it!
Pro-Tip
Like with all sports, when it comes to basketball, you’ll often find different opinions on how to play the game. One of the most popular ways of gaining an advantage on your opponents is to ‘pro-tip’ them. This essentially means giving them some helpful advice or guidance on how to play the game better or more effectively. You might tell them, for example, to keep their eyes on the basket or that they should rotate their defender more quickly. In return, you’d expect them to do the same for you when you’re on the court playing against them. It’s a sort of gentleman’s agreement that leads to healthy competition and even more exciting games!
Odds
Last but not least, we have the odds. The odds are essentially the current price that you’ll need to pay to win. They’ll be displayed in the form of (wager x2 if you want to win on a half-time or overtime event). For example, if you think the over/under on a particular game is going to be 5 points, you may want to bet £100 on that game and the odds will be (5×2)=10 to win £200. It’s also possible you’ll see odds specifically for handicap and point spread bets too. Remember, if the game is spread across several bookmakers, it’s important to look for the best odds available. Nobody wants to bet on a losing proposition!
Hopefully, this article gave you a good understanding of how betting works in basketball. If you’re a fan of the game, you might want to consider giving it a try yourself. Betting on sports can be a fun way to make profit or simply to indulge in your favourite team. Just make sure you do your research first and avoid any illegal bets if you’re entering a country other than the UK.