Basketball is one of the most popular and closely followed international sports, making it a great opportunity for sports bettors. But how can you as a sports enthusiast and bettor get more from basketball betting?
1. Decide Where To Bet:
Before you can place any bets, you first need to determine where you would like to place your bets. There are two forms of betting: online and in-person. In-person betting is the least efficient and effective form of betting, as you need to physically find a shop or facility that allows you to place bets, whereas the alternative, online betting, is more efficient and effective, as everything is at your fingertips. However, there is a downfall if you live in a state where online betting has not been legalized. So, you need to find a sportsbook that is legal in your state.
2. Types of Betting:
Determine the type of betting you would like to take part in. Moneyline, spread, and total are the most common betting types in basketball.
- Moneyline: Moneyline is when you pick a winner between the two competing teams with the odds for each team. However, there are no set points the team needs to score to win, they simply need to win the game.
- Spread: Spread betting is similar to moneyline, with close to even points of -110 for both teams. However, the sportsbook can assign a set amount of points a team needs to score or cover to win, for you to win the bet.
- Total: With total betting, you’re either betting on the total points a team scores during the game or you’re betting on a specific team. Similar to spread betting, total betting also focuses on close to even odds of -110 on either over or under. So, you’re betting on the combined score of both teams or the team total-specific total, where you’re betting on the number of points a specific team will score at the end of the game.
3. Promo Codes and Bonuses:
The majority of online sportsbooks offer more than one betting promo, so always look out for the platforms that offer the best promo codes on basketball wagering. Some sportsbooks mainly focus on new bettors, so they offer promotions such as welcome bonuses, while others will focus on both new and existing bettors to keep you coming back for more. By taking advantage of promos and bonuses bettors can reap hefty rewards so be sure to check out what is available before placing your baseball bets.
4. Shop Your Odds:
Whether it’s a single bet or part of a parlay, you should always shop around for odds (look into different sportsbooks before deciding on a bet). There’s not really a huge difference, but some sportsbooks offer slightly better odds, so look for one that offers you the most value for money. The most important odds to shop for are parlay odds, as no sportsbook offers the same odds. By doing a little research before betting and shopping around you can save yourself money in the long run and enjoy your betting experience even more.
5. Focus on Current Trends:
You should put a lot of focus on current trends, but not too much on past performances. Basketball is a very fast-paced game and things can drastically change in a split second, giving one team the advantage over the other. By looking at the current trends, you can potentially predict which team will win a game. Also, keep track of injury reports, as this fact will give you insight into which team will have the upper hand. Bettors who keep an eye on current trends are more likely to win big, plus, you’ll be more immersed in the sport experience and have a great time.
6. Take Advantage of Live Betting:
Because basketball is such a fast-paced sport with a swing of momentum (runs), live betting is something you should consider. Live betting is where you place your bets during the game, based on the teams’ performance. There are some rules that bettors should follow when live betting:
- Place your bets during commercial breaks or stoppages.
- Analyze live bet injuries
- Calculate the number of possessions for live totals
- Use the game volatility to your advantage
- Learning rotations is the key to successful betting
- Being consistent is the best advantage to becoming a long-term winning bettor
7. Place Your Bets Early:
To help give yourself a competitive edge, you can place your bets as early as possible. Information is released and made available to oddsmakers closer to tip-off, so when you place your bets early, you can capitalize on the mistakes made by the initial lines the oddsmaker released before they made corrections.
8. Track Your Bets:
The main aim of sports betting is to become a profitable and long-term winning bettor. One of the best ways to achieve this is to keep track of your bets. So, whichever sportsbook you use, make sure to get their mobile app. With the app, you can keep track of your return on investment (ROI) for each wager type. It also allows you to identify your strengths and weaknesses and also helps to recognize your betting patterns.
