Home Basketball Betting How to Bet on NBA Games in 2020-21

How to Bet on NBA Games in 2020-21

The 2020-21 NBA season is set to begin in December as the league has had to adjust its calendar due to COVID-19. Typically, the season would start in late October, but a late start will also mean a condensed schedule.

Each team will play just 72 regular-season games this season, and the entire schedule will not be released until later in the year. A play-in tournament for the final two seeds in each conference will also be used, similar to what took place in Orlando this summer.

The Los Angeles Lakers are the defending NBA champions, but there will be plenty of teams looking to knock them off in 2020-21. Even though there are several changes, betting on the NBA will still be extremely common and popular.

This guide will walk you through some of the best ways to bet on the NBA and discuss some of the sites that feature NBA betting. The season is just over a month away, and now is a great time to get your NBA betting plan ready. 

How to Bet on the NBA

The NBA is one of the biggest leagues in the United States and features some of the best basketball players worldwide. The NBA season typically runs from October to June, but the COVID-19 pandemic has forced some league calendar changes.

Usually, the NBA season is 82 games long, and then eight teams from each conference make the playoffs. This provides plenty of betting opportunities throughout the season.

Betting on single games during the NBA season is the most popular way to bet on the league, but bets can also be made on playoff series or future bets. Prop betting is another popular way to bet on the league, and the All-Star Game offers some unique betting opportunities as well.

The goal is that by reading this article, you will have a better understanding of how to bet on the NBA and will know where you can make these bets. 

NBA Betting Markets

Since betting on the NBA is extremely popular, sportsbooks continue to find new ways to offer bets. Basketball has several common betting options available, and all of these are great ways to win some money.

Here are the most common NBA betting markets that you will see with a quick explanation of what these bets look like.

Moneyline

A moneyline bet is the easiest type of bet to make, and it is also the easiest to understand. With a moneyline bet, you are merely picking which team will win the particular game. 

Here is an example:

  • Chicago Bulls -115
  • Miami Heat +125

The Chicago Bulls are the favorites in this matchup, and a $115 bet would win you $100. A $100 bet on the underdog Miami Heat would earn you $125 in winnings. 

Point Spread

Point-spread bets are also extremely common in the NBA, and these are generally featured on sports betting sites. Betting against the spread is similar to a moneyline bet, except you are more concerned with how large the margin of victory is.

Here is a brief example:

  • Chicago Bulls -6.5
  • Miami Heat +6.5

In this scenario, the Chicago Bulls would need to win the game by at least seven points to win the bet. The Miami Heat could lose the game as long as they kept the final score within six points for you to win your bet on them. 

Total or Over/Under

Another popular NBA betting market is what is known as a total or over/under bet. This type of bet does not focus on the winner or loser of a game but instead on the final score.

This type of bet gives you a chance to focus on the total number of points scored by both teams, and you don’t have to worry about picking a winner. You are simply choosing “over” or “under” the total amount of points set by the sportsbook for this bet. 

Futures

Futures betting markets are also available for the NBA season, and the most popular bet is on which team will win the upcoming NBA championship. Futures bets are also available on division winners, conference winners, and individual player awards.

Props 

Prop betting is extremely popular during the Super Bowl, but NBA prop betting is also available throughout the season as well. Prop betting gives some unique and exciting betting opportunities.

Most of the prop betting markets will focus on individual or team statistics, but there will be some obscure prop betting options.

Parlays

A parlay is just a combination of a bunch of smaller bets combined to form one large wager. The bonus of making a parlay wager is that there is a chance for a bigger payout, but the risks also increase when making this bet since if you lose one of the smaller bets, the entire parlay is a loser. 

Best NBA Betting Sites

Knowing how to bet on the NBA and what types of bets are available is extremely important, but you also need to know where to make these bets. The sports betting industry continues to grow, providing many new options when you are looking to bet on the NBA. You can find the best NBA betting sites with bonuses at safestbettingsites.com.

BetNow

BetNow offers a 100 percent first deposit match up to $1,000, which is a terrific offer. This operator also accepts credit cards as a form of payment, and it has some of the best parlay odds in the industry. 

MyBookie

If you are looking for a large variety of NBA betting options, then MyBookie is the site for you. MyBookie is currently offering a first deposit match of 100 percent up to $1,000, which would give you a great start in the industry. 

Bovada

Bovada offers a 50 percent first deposit match up to $250, but it also has one of the industry’s lowest rollover requirements. Bovada is popular with bettors from the United States, and it is an extremely trustworthy brand.

SportsBetting

SportsBetting offers new customers a 50 percent first deposit match up to $1,000, which is a terrific offer. One of the best things about SportsBetting is that a cryptocurrency is an acceptable form of payment. 

BetOnline

BetOnline is one of the most recognizable sportsbooks globally, and it is a great place to bet on the NBA. BetOnline offers a 50 percent first deposit bonus of up to $1,000 to get you started on the right track. 

Betting Tips and Strategies

Before you begin placing any NBA bets this winter, you must have a better understanding of how it all works. There are several NBA betting strategies to use, and this section will discuss some of the better ones that you can give a try. 

Bankroll Management Plan

The first thing you want to do is come up with a bankroll management plan that will help guide you as you start betting on the NBA. Several different factors should be included in your plan, but this plan will be different for everyone.

You first need to think about how much money you are willing to use when betting on the NBA, and then break that down to determine the size of your first deposit. You also need to determine the size of your betting “unit” that you will use.

A betting “unit” is the amount of money you wager with each bet, and it is highly recommended that you use the same unit every time. Again, the unit size will look different for everyone, but you need to choose one before you begin. 

Show Some Patience

Another critical strategy to use when betting on the NBA is to show some patience. Just because the NBA season is back in December doesn’t mean that you need to make a bet on every single game.

Not all games will offer good betting opportunities, and it will be in your best interest to take some time off. Search for the best NBA betting opportunities so that you are ready to bet when those games take place. 

Watch the Games

Another essential thing to remember when betting on the NBA is that you need to watch as many games as possible. Watching games is a great way to get a feel for each team, which will help you when going to make a bet.

If you aren’t a fan of watching the games, you will need to do some research to prepare to make a solid pick. Doing research is not a ton of fun, but it could be the difference between winning money or losing some. 

Choose a Betting Market

Choosing one betting market is another sound NBA betting strategy to use throughout this season. This doesn’t mean that you can’t bet with several different betting markets, but it would be smart to pick one and become an expert at it.

Moneyline, spread, and total betting are the three most common NBA betting markets available, and all of these focus on pre-game bets. There will be time to explore other betting markets throughout the season but become too familiar with each one of those. 

Final Thoughts 

The NBA is one of the most popular betting markets globally, but especially in the United States. The league has done a great job of promoting the sports betting industry, which has helped drive the industry.

There are many different ways to bet on the NBA, and each of these betting markets offers up a great chance to win some money. The season is long, and that gives you lots of chances to get in on the action.

If you plan on betting on the NBA, be sure to use one of the NBA betting strategies mentioned above to give yourself the best chance to win. If you plan on betting on the NBA, be sure to check out one of the betting sites above and take advantage of the generous welcome bonuses that each site has to offer. 

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