The most exciting ways to enjoy basketball are through betting, where you have the opportunity to make money knowing different aspects of the game. In order to be successful in undertaking a basketball bet, you first need to understand some of the basketball betting rules and strategies that will help you increase your chances of winning. Jilibet will take you through key basketball betting rules and outline the best strategies you could adopt.

Understanding Basketball Betting Rules

Before discussing any betting strategy, you have to understand the Basketball Betting rules. The rules are slightly different for every bookmaker; however, there is generally a similar way they tend to frame bets on the major basketball leagues like the NBA and NCAA, among other several major international events.

Table of Contents

1. Point Spread Betting

The most popular type of basketball wager is, of course, point spread wagering. The bookmaker will give a points handicap to one of the teams to make the contest even. That is to say, a team that is favored to win by, say, -5.5 points must win by 6 or over points for your wager to be considered successful. If you bet on the underdog (+5.5), they will have to win the game or lose by less than 6 points.

2. Moneyline Betting

Moneyline betting is the art of simply betting on which team will win the particular game, where no point spreads are taken into consideration. These bets are usually more popular with games that are considered close since determining the winner directly becomes the primary aspect of interest.

3. Over/Under (Totals)

The Over/Under bet, also referred to as Totals, is a wager on the combined score of both teams. The oddsmaker sets a line, and you must predict if it goes over or under that number in points during the course of the game. This market allows bettors to take a look at the game flow instead of the outcome.

4. Quarter and Half Betting

Many sportsbooks also offer markets on just a single quarter or half of the game. You can even bet on the performance of teams within specific parts of the game. Using this as an example, you can predict which team will have a higher score at the end of the first quarter of that game, or which team will be leading by half-time.

5. Prop Bets

Propositions, or prop bets, are an entertaining and multifaceted way to bet on sporting events unrelated to the actual final score or outcome. Prop bets can range from the realm of a single athlete performance scoring down to game aspects such as three-pointers attempted to be made by a team.

6. Live/In Play Betting

Live betting lets you make your bets during the gameplay. Being a dynamic market, the odds fluctuate rapidly depending on what is taking place on the court. To find value in in-play betting, one needs to be quick in their reasoning and proficient with the know how of the game.

Example of Moneyline Betting

For instance, let’s say that you watch a game in the Philippine Basketball Association or more commonly known as PBA and is between the San Miguel Beermen and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. The bookmaker has set the following odds:

San Miguel Beermen: -180
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel: +160

You’d have to wager ₱180 to get a profit of ₱100 if the favorite is to win in this case, by the San Miguel Beermen. You could get a possible profit of ₱160 on a ₱100 bet for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel since they’re the underdog.

Then, let’s say you put ₱180 on the winning team – San Miguel Beermen. You win – you will have a profit of ₱ 100.00. This means your payout is ₱280. If you place a bet of ₱100 with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, you get a profit amount of ₱160. The total payout you get will be ₱260. This is a very straightforward bet, as you only wager on which team will win the game, without regard for a point spread.

Remember the Basketball Betting Rules and the best strategy

You take developing an understanding of the Basketball Betting Rules, smart strategies, and common mistakes to avoid while doing so. Thorough research on teams, players, and trends, along with data-driven strategies such as line shopping and regularly betting against the public, will create the best chance of success. Otherwise, always remember to bet responsibly, but the most important is to enjoy your game.

One of the most thrilling ways to enjoy basketball is through betting on it; just like with any form of gambling, one needs to have a clear strategy and as much knowledge of the market as possible.