Basketball is one of the most popular sports around the world, with an estimated 2.5 billion people playing at least once a week. Like many other sports, the appeal of basketball is in part due to the skills needed to play the game and in part due to the fact that it’s a bit more laid back than other sports—it doesn’t hurt to “just have fun” while playing basketball!
While the basic idea behind basketball betting is simple—you predict the winning score for each team in a given game, and you predict the total number of points that will be scored—the skill involved is quite complex. In order to be successful at basketball betting, you have to understand a number of things, including:
The Odds Versus The Over/Under
Basketball is typically played in a league format, with games being held several days a week. Most sportsbooks offer betting on these games, with the usual betting options including:
- Odds (also known as “line”)
- Over/Under (O/U or “point spread”)
- Winner (sometimes known as a “push” or “pull” bet)
- Half time/Full time
- First half/Second half
- Auction
- Parlay
- Double digits (i.e. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, etc.)
- Head-to-head (H2H)
- Half/Full court
- All or none (A.N.)
- Inside/Outside
- Team/Player
- Regional/National Pride
- Proprietary/Generational Pride
- Future/Past Games
- Fun vs. Profit
Each of these options has its perks and drawbacks. The odds are generally the most popular option, with odds being offered for all sorts of games, from football to baseball to basketball. The drawback is that if you’re not familiar with the odds for the various games, it can be difficult to know what they mean. The other popular option among sports bettors is the over/under option. This allows you to make a wager on the total number of points that will be scored in a given game. The over/under option is widely available in sportsbooks, and it’s simple to understand—you make a wager on either half of the points scored or on the total number of points scored, whichever is greater. The advantage of using the over/under option is that since all games are fairly similar (two teams competing for a common goal, and lots of scoring), you can often find good odds for this type of wager. But, again, if you’re not familiar with the odds for a given game, it can be difficult to know what they mean.
What Are Penalties For Betting On Illegal Games?
If you bet on illegal games, you’re doing something illegal. Most sportsbooks and online betting sites will not allow this, and it’s against the law to bet on illegal games. The fact that you’re breaking the law makes you a target for criminal prosecution, and you should know that.
Illegal gaming is a big issue in the sports betting world, and the fact that it’s against the law to bet on these games makes it difficult for law-abiding citizens to enter the market. If you want to continue betting on sports, then you’ll have to find a way to do it legally. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid detection when betting on legal games. You just have to know how and where to look. The key is to understand the difference between legal and illegal sports betting, and to make sure that you’re always betting on legal games.
How Do I Bet On A Game?
The first step to betting on a game is to determine whether it’s legal to do so. Most states have legislation that allows for sports betting, but it varies from state to state as to which sports are considered “sportable.” In most cases, just about any game played in a league is considered legal to bet on. Football, baseball, and basketball are usually the most popular legal sports to bet on. It is also usually legal to bet on a game that is televised.
Once you’ve confirmed that it’s legal, you can move on to the next step—finding a place to bet. This can be done online using a sportsbook or via a landline phone call to a bookmaker. Be wary of places that are extremely transparent about what they are and aren’t allowed to do, as well as those that require you to verify your age—the minimum age to bet is generally 18 or 19 in most states. (The legal age to gamble varies from state to state, however, and it’s often less than 21.)
After you’ve found a trustworthy source of information, you can place your bet. Just make sure that you do so legally, and remember to have fun!