• English (UK)
  • Deutsch
  • Suomi
  • Norsk bokmål
  • Svenska
  • 繁體中文
  • English (India)
  • English (Canada)
  • Russian (Ukraine)

NBA Betting

Established in 1946, the NBA is the world’s premier basketball competition comprising some of the sporting world’s best-paid athletes. The modern-day NBA league is split across the two divisions — the Western Conference and Eastern Conference.  Running from October to April, teams play 82 games over that period and the top eight sides qualify for the Conference Finals. There are a series of matches played to determine the respective Conference winners and the NBA Finals constitutes a best-of-seven contest. Basketball has grown inexorably in recent years, which is in part thanks to the legends that have graced the floor, including LeBron James and Steph Curry.

European basketball has taken off in recent years too and the Olympics represents the pinnacle for international basketball stars. In this guide, we will take you through the various strategies required to win money betting on NBA as well as draw attention to some of the more common NBA betting bonuses that will be advertised by bookmakers.

Top NBA Casinos for UK players

  1. 4/5 32Red Casino 100% Profit Boost
    • Easy registration
    • Same day payout
    • Great mobile app
    Bonus Sportsbook Review 18+. Available to new and existing customers when they place their first in-play bet at 32Red Sport. Opt in. Min. Odds Evs, Max. £10 stake, Max. additional profit £100. Skrill and Neteller deposits are not eligible. Click for full T&C's above. T&C Apply
  2. 4/5 BetVictor Casino Bet £5 & Get £30 bonus
    • Fast payouts
    • Live Casino
    • Top Bonus
    Bonus Sportsbook Review New Customers Only. Deposit via Credit/Debit card only and bet £5 at odds of Evens (2.0) or greater within 7 days of registering. Cashed out bets excluded. Get 2x £10 free bets, valid for set types (1 at odds 2.0+ or greater) and a £10 casino bonus, wagered 40x to withdraw. Bonuses expire in 7 days; Geographical restrictions apply. Click for T&C above.18+ www.begambleaware.org T&C Apply
  3. 4.3/5 Betway Casino £30 in free bets
    • 24/7 Support
    • Fast payouts
    • Free Spins
    • Special Bonus Offer
    Bonus Sportsbook Review New UK & Ireland customers only. Min Deposit: £10. First Deposit matched up to £30. 1x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bets. Credit Card, Debit Card & PauPal deposits only. Full Terms apply.
  4. 4/5 Genting Casino 'Welcome offer!
    • Live Casino
    • Sportsbook
    • Fast payouts
    Bonus Sportsbook Review New customers only. Offer is valid until 23:59 on 31/12/2019. A qualifying bet is a losing first settled real money single bet of at least £10 or more at odds of Evens (2.0) or greater (or a multiple where each selection is at odds of 2/5 (1.4) or more). Only losing win single part or an E/W bet will qualify. Free bet credited within 24 hours of qualifying bet settling and must be used within 14 days. Free bet stake not included in returns. T&C Apply
  5. 4/5 Grosvenor Double the Odds. Any sport. Any bet. Any odds!
    • Easy registration
    • Live Casino
    • Sportsbook
    Bonus Sportsbook Review 18+. Only New Customers. Offer applies to Sport bets only. Maximum total stake is £10. Each way bets are a maximum of £5 each way (£10 total stake). 'Double the odds' refers to fractional odds only. Customers have 60 days after registration to use the Odds Boost token. A maximum of 1 offer is available per person, household, IP, device, e-mail address or payment details. T&C Apply
  6. 5/5 Mr Green Casino £10 accumulator bet
    • sports & live betting
    • Sportsbook
    • Large selection of bets & odds
    Bonus Sportsbook Review T&Cs apply. New players only. Qualifying bet(s) must have minimum odds of 3/1 and must be settled before triggering free bet. Free Bet must be used on an accumulator with 3 or more selections. 18+. begambleaware.org. T&C Apply

Where can you place a bet on NBA and international basketball?

Despite the unsociable hours in which the NBA is broadcast in the UK, basketball is a high-intensity sport and is hugely enjoyable to watch. There is no shortage of good basketball betting opportunities and with over 1,000 games played across an entire NBA season, markets for bettors are plentiful. In the UK, basketball has become more readily provided by bookmakers. William Hill offers a live stream service where bettors can tune into games and keep abreast of the action. The NBA and international basketball can be profitable for seasoned bettors who can spot patterns during games as well as newcomers who are looking to get to grips with the sport.

Other bookmakers also excel in their market coverage. 888sport, for example, prides itself on providing the best in-play betting markets so bettors can cash out their winnings as and when they choose.

With the playoffs, market opportunities are rife. The playoffs represent the climax of the season and it is packed full of drama. Markets include, and are not limited to, series score and the top points scorer throughout the series.

As mentioned, most reputable bookmakers will list odds for all up and coming NBA games and these will have been recommended. Before placing a bet with a bookmaker, ensure you read reviews as you want to make sure you can find value bets.

How to bet on NBA and international basketball?

There is no shortage of ways to bet on NBA and International basketball. But to improve your chances of success, you must understand betting on NBA. Basketball lends itself to betting thanks to the fast-paced nature of the game, but depending on how familiar you are with the game, it will dictate what type of bet you will place.

For the novice bettor, it is advised to start with the Moneyline system as it offers a straight-up choice as to which side will win the match with no handicaps attached. So for example, if you were to put £10 on Denver Nuggets at 2/1 to beat Houston Rockets, you would receive £20 and the original £10 stake.

There are also player-specific markets for individual performances and this can cover points scored, rebounds or assists racked up. For example, a more experienced bettor could bet £50 on Kawhi Leonard to score 20 points or more during a match. If Leonard scored 21 or more points, then the bet would be settled as a winner.

There is no fool proof way to bet when it comes international basketball and NBA betting. However, for those feeling more adventurous, they can delve deeper and try the parlay. Very much like an accumulator, this means bettors can combine multiple NBA teams in one bet. Although the risk is higher, the rewards are also increased, meaning the potential for picking the right teams is considerable.

Alternatively, other long-terms markets may be more of an intriguing option for bettors. The NBA MVP award and the Rookie of the Year is always eagerly anticipated, with the latter market fluctuating heavily throughout the season.

How to find a good international basketball and NBA betting site?

There are innumerable factors that go into finding a good international basketball and NBA betting website. While it is easy to focus on aspects such as odds, so you get more value for the money you place on a stake, it is wise to check the integrity of a site. Is it well regulated and does it take customer security seriously?

Also, assess how good the website’s interface is. Is it straightforward enough for bettors to place a bet and can they navigate areas of the site they wish to comfortably?

International basketball and NBA betting bonuses

To understand international basketball and NBA betting, it is always vital to check out the bonuses and promotions you are eligible for. Bonuses and promotions can help increase your winnings and reduce the risks.

Some bookmakers, such as Sky Bet will offer a welcome bonus to new and registered users, while others such as Unibet will allow you to earn a weekly free bet if you bet on basketball in-play markets and stream the European league too.

Others offer great basketball accumulator bonuses. With some NBA selections, you can get free bets awarded in £5 increments and they work in conjunction and can be mixed with other sports.

Young businessman placing sports bet in office. Concept of NBA betting

Best strategy for NBA betting and international basketball betting?

To learn how to win NBA betting, some handy strategies should be adopted. Firstly, it is best to assess team performances. Some teams may perform better on the road than on home court. Home field advantage can count for a lot, but some teams are often overrated by bookmakers. Bettors should examine how a team is looking through pre-season, which could give a clue as to how they will perform in the regular campaign. The NBA season is a marathon and some teams will go through fits and bursts while others will be able to put together a long winning sequence. A team that is in peak condition will be more favoured than one that is out of sorts and struggling for form.

Another good aspect to measure is the effectiveness of a team’s shooting. It is particularly important to look at an individual or the team’s three-point average. Some players are renowned for their long-range shooting and go through consistent spells during games. More points can be racked up in the third and fourth quarters, so perhaps don’t be conservative in the markets you play.

Thirdly, keeping a record of all your NBA betting slips. To understand how to win NBA betting, you should have a record of your bets which includes types of bet placed. The review process is vital to help improve as a bettor and to increase your capacity to generate more profits over the long term.

Also, don’t be over-ambitious in the markets you play. To maximise your chances of success in the long run, limit yourself to just a select few markets. Once you have established yourself as a specialist in one market, you can try out other areas. By branching out, you will find your betting experience more enriching. Smart bettors never stand still and will always look for new ways to beat the bookies.

Finally, check out what the tipsters are saying. Some bookmakers have great blogs that will keep you up-to-date with roster and injury news, and from there you can make your mind up rather than blindly making a bet. Finding a stable of reliable tipsters will help bettors build their betting bankroll quickly.

How NBA and international basketball betting odds work

Virtually every bookmaker will provide NBA Championship odds. Some bookmakers offer an each-way bet on NBA Championship winner odds, which means that if your team doesn’t win the NBA Championship, but still reaches the NBA Finals, then the bettor won’t have completely lost out.

Odds typically change throughout the season depending on the fortunes of a side. When it comes to the business-end of a campaign, odds will shorten on specific teams to make the playoffs, while odds will also lengthen for those sides that aren’t in the mix.

Where can I find the best odds for NBA and international basketball?

When betting on basketball, you have to be canny. There are comprehensive comparison tools online that line up each bookmaker and will give you a better idea of which site is best for international basketball and NBA betting. Of the most well known in the UK, Oddschecker is superb. Here, bettors can see which odds are the most competitive, so it is a reliable source. Ultimately, the amount of coverage that a bookmaker dedicates to covering the NBA or international basketball will go some way to deciding which is the best bookmaker that bettors should use.

Most importantly, it is essential to read the reviews of other bettors, which will address common issues they have experienced with different sites. In turn, this will influence which bookmaker to choose.

Find an operator where you can locate odds quickly. As a bettor, you will want to find an app that is easy to load and doesn’t crash when you click on a link. Every serious bookmaker will offer competitive odds on a wide range of markets and the odds will be detailed on the betting slip.

Popular betting markets for NBA Basketball

Popular Markets
Method Description
Moneyline This method relies on bettors choosing which team will win. Sometimes, the teams that hold the ‘favourite’ tag don’t offer as attractive a return for bettors who are considering choosing the underdog. As mentioned, home-court advantage can count for a lot, but a head-to-head record can influence betting decisions.
NBA futures and outrights Another popular betting avenue. There is a multitude of specials that bettors can feast on, including the Eastern and Western Conference Winners as well as the NBA’s MVP. Part of the reason behind the popularity of this type of bet is that even if you don’t have a bet on a game on a given day, it will keep you interested in other teams until the end of the season.

Cash out on NBA Basketball

What it is

Cashing out is a popular feature on sports betting websites and it goes hand in hand with live betting. It relates to the amount bettors can settle on a bet before an event finishes. For basketball, it can cover most wagers, including single and multiple bets.

How to do it

Many NBA bettors love cashing out because it gives them more control over their bets. If a price changes or a market is suspended, then the cash out option may not be available. However, to cash out, all bettors need to do is click on the ‘Cash Out’ button of their chosen bookmakers and you can cash out the full amount of the bet placed.

International basketball and NBA betting FAQs

There are no restrictions on international basketball and NBA betting in the UK, but bettors need to be aged 18 or over should they wish to bet online.

Live betting is the most exciting form of betting as NBA and international basketball bettors can keep tabs on the action as it unfolds. Bookmakers reflect the odds as they change and fans can see a breakdown of the stats between quarters.

UK online bookmakers accept a wide variety of deposit options, including Visa, Mastercard and Skrill.