Basketball betting, the easiest sport to bet on

As in football, basketball betting lines always include a point spread for betting on teams. That means that if you know how to bet on football, you basically know how to bet on basketball. As an example, if Los Angeles Lakers are favored over Sacramento and the point spread is 4, you would win your bet on Los Angeles only if they win by at least 5 points. If you are betting on Sacramento, they have to win the game or lose by 3 points, 2 points or 1 point in order for you to collect the winning. If Los Angeles will win by exactly 4 points, your bet will be considered as a push (it does not matter on what team you have placed your bet) and your stake will be refunded.

Also, you can bet on totals. This is a well known method in basketball betting. Another name for this type of bet is over/under. Basically, a total is the predicted combined score of the two teams that are playing. The bookmakers will predict a score and the tipsters have the option of betting on more than the predicted total score (this is called “over”), or less than the predicted total points (the so called “under”).

An example will be a game between the Bulls and the Celtics. The over/under number is 199. The people that will be on the over would win their bets if the total combined score will be 200 or higher, while tipsters placing a bet on the under would win their bets if the combined score will be 198 or lower. If the combined score will be 199, the bet will be considered a push (tie), and the stake will be refunded.
Another basketball betting method is the money line wagers. I will explain this type of bet having a hypothetical match between Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks.

Los Angeles Lakers -300
New York Knicks +240
This means that the tipsters who will bet on Lakers are asked to bet $30 in order to win $10, while those who will bet on the Knicks will risk $10 in order to win $24.

Parlays and teasers are also available in basketball betting. When you bet parlays, all of your teams must cover the spread so that you can win that bet. The odds are depending on what bookmaker do you choose and how many games  you are playing. As usual, when it comes to teasers, you have to play at least two teams.