It might come as a surprise to some to learn that basketball is one of the most bet on sports in the world, despite the fact that the majority of games take place within the United States. In fact, over the last ten years, basketball betting has spread rapidly across the world, and is quickly becoming one of the most popular pastimes of the modern era.
Betting on basketball tends to be as simple and as straightforward as betting on any other kind of sport, but it’s still a good idea for a bettor to have a solid understanding of how everything works. This can include knowing the various kinds of bets that are commonly offered to those that are betting on basketball games and tournaments.
1. Spread Bets
Spread bets can be somewhat confusing to those that are brand new to basketball betting, but once a bettor has some experience, these can be fun and often profitable wagers. Before the start of a game, a sportsbook will determine a set number that they predict the score of the game will be.
The bettor will then put money down based on which team they believe will outperform this score by the time that the game has come to an end. The great thing about this bet is that even if the chosen team actually loses the event, as long as they reach a specific goal before the timer comes to an end, the bet will be successful. This is a great alternative to the more popular money line bet that we will look at below.
2. Money Line Bets
The money line is by far the most popular in the betting scene and couldn’t be simpler to use. The bettor will need to put money down on the team or individual that they think will be successful during a game. It’s the kind of bet that most bettors will want to begin their wagering career with, and it’s offered by just about every bookmaker in the world.
The great thing about the money line bet – apart from the fact that it’s easy to use – is that it’s applicable to just about any sport imaginable. This means that a bettor can use a money line bet on baseball or football just as easily as they do for basketball and the latest MLB picks, making it a truly universal bet.
3. Total Bets
Also commonly known as the over/under, the total bet is among the top five most popular in the exciting world of sports betting. If there are two teams, along with a projected number that they are expected to earn by the end of the game, the bettor then needs to either bet on the over or the under.
Here, the over is bet on if the bettor thinks that the score will be greater than the total, while the under is the complete opposite, so it’s a good idea to do a bit of research before making this wager.