BetMGM
The NBA has a strong following, and so does BetMGM. If you want to have all of the options when you bet on the NBA, plus have easy access to streaming the games you wager, BetMGM is the best sportsbook for you.
- Offers a complete betting experience with parlays, futures, and live events
- The number of promos and NBA odds boosters that they offer is greater than anyone else
- Customer service is fast and easy
Bottom line:
BetMGM has the name, the reputation, and the product to match both. It has been in the gaming industry for decades, and the sportsbook’s experience shows with its easy to use NBA offerings, and attractive streaming service.
Why we like BetMGM
Simply put, this is the best NBA sports betting app available today. You can easily build your NBA bets, tap into BetMGM’s streaming service, and there are always new promos to take advantage of as a new user.
What BetMGM offers you
- Live Streaming of NBA Games: If you want to place in-play wagers [betting on games already in progression], or you just want to watch the game in which you bet, you can stream almost every NBA game.
- Bet Building Made Easy: When it comes to building single bets, parlays, or in-play wagers, the BetMGM system is one of the simplest to use due to the easy to use surface layout.
- Rotating Promotions: Continually keeping the promotions fresh and finding new and interesting ways to boost your basketball bets is a specialty of theirs.
- Customer Service Done Right: Be it email, live chat, phone, or just their huge library of help articles, if you encounter a problem with your BetMGM account, it gets solved quickly and easily.
DraftKings
NBA and college basketball bets are popular on sites like DraftKings. They have been a popular choice for many years due to the fact it was one of the first sportsbooks on the scene.
- Extensive betting options, leaving no stone unturned for those that want every possible betting scenario
- DK’s history with daily fantasy sports gives you even more wagering options
- There is no shortage of banking options, making it easy to withdraw your winnings
Bottom line
DraftKings’ coverage of NBA and college hoops really shines in the amount of betting options they provide (different leagues, better lines, and live sports betting). If you want an all-inclusive NBA betting experience, they have you covered.
Why we like DraftKings
A DraftKings account is a must-have for every basketball junky. It is the best comprehensive basketball betting site in 2024 because of its huge menu of game options. You probably can’t pronounce some of the team names, but you can wager on them.
What DraftKings offers you
- A Plethora of Basketball Bets: Exclusive coverage of the NBA and college hoops allows you to make informed betting decisions.
- Daily Fantasy Basketball: Because of their history, they offer a great one-stop shop for both game and league wagering, plus fantasy basketball.
- Banking Made Easy: Banking options seem endless when it comes to making deposits and withdrawals.
- Customer Satisfaction: People who join DraftKings stay with them. Customer support has quick turnaround times and are friendly to those trying sports betting.
BetRivers
BetRivers is a go-to option for betting on the NBA and basketball since it regularly posts enhanced odds for local NBA teams, so if you are playing from Maryland, for example, you can count on the best odds for Washington Wizards and some 300+ betting markets on average per game.
- Top odds on local NBA teams from your state
- House specials betting markets
- Prebuilt NBA player props
Bottom line
BetRivers has one of the most detailed stats sections in the market, displaying not only individual stats, but also offering predictors, injury reports, and many other facts that can aid you when betting on the NBA.
Why we like BetRivers
BetRivers’ signup offer of $250 in bonus bets applies to basketball betting, making it a top choice for first-time depositors. Also, the operators posts top odds for combo bets, such as the game winner and total points and includes interesting betting markets for player props, such as first field goal scorer.
What BetRivers offers you
- Detailed Stats and Tips: BetRivers offers comprehensive stats and tips for all NBA matches, together with the odds for those tips.
- Pre-packs: Pre-packs are prebuilt parlays that consists of a moneyline and a player prop where odds are rarely below +220 for a top payout potential.
- Good NCAAB coverage: In addition to the NBA and Euroleague, BetRivers is big on NCAA basketball betting, offering odds for about 130+ markets on matches played by Duke and other top programs in the country.
Caesars Sportsbook
In some cases, the decision between one sportsbook over another comes down to details that go beyond the bets you place (such as reputation, different payout options, and customer service). That’s the way it is with Caesars, Sportsbook which offers the best rewards program to stay a step ahead of other basketball betting sites.
- Every bet you make and every dollar you spend goes toward earning rewards at Caesars properties worldwide
- Reliability is the name of the game with Caesars. They have been doing this for ages, and it shows
- Moving from the mobile app to the online sportsbook is seamless
Bottom line
Caesars Rewards is the main rewards program used by all Caesars properties and casinos, and they are one of the few sportsbooks that also uses it as their rewards card for sports betting. Having all of your sports bets earn you rewards points that can later be used for free dinners and hotel nights is a unique and attractive perk.
Why we like Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook does everything well, especially with their experience and expertise in the sports bets they offer, the basketball leagues they cover, and the way their app and website integrate with one another. But really, it’s the rewards program that lands them on this list and how it improves the betting experience.
What Caesars Sportsbook offers you
- Loyalty Pays Off: The more you wager, the more rewards points you accrue, and the rewards for Caesars Sportsbook is fully integrated with Caesars Rewards, the rewards card used at all Caesars resorts and casinos.
- Clean and Simple App: While some newer sportsbooks attempt to reinvent the wheel with their customer interface, Caesars Sportsbook has stuck with what works – clean lines, easy to read graphics, and menus where you would expect them.
- One Book, Two Locations: The mobile app works like you want it to, and the online website is virtually identical.
How Our Experts Choose the Best Sites to Bet on Basketball
Because of basketball’s worldwide appeal, the market for basketball-centric betting sites is competitive. Each of the above sites has reasons why they may be right for you.
Availability of options, ease of use, platforms that can handle streaming and live betting, banking, and good customer service. All are reasons to pick a site, and if one of those reasons is lacking, it can be a good reason to pick against it.
Compare the Best Basketball Betting Sites of 2024
There are dozens of basketball betting sites in America that showcase games. The volume of potential basketball bets can be overwhelming, but so can the choice in the right sportsbook. Our comparison of the sportsbooks we deem to be the best will hopefully make your choice easier.
| Sportsbook | Betting.com Rating | Best For | Full Review |
| BetMGM | 4.7/5 | NBA Betting | Review |
| DraftKings | 4.6/5 | International Basketball | Review |
| BetRivers | 4.9/5 | Detailed NBA stats and tips | Review |
| Caesars | 4.4/5 | Rewards Program | Review |
How to Choose the Best Site for You
At Betting.com, we thoroughly vet all basketball online betting sites that we recommend. But you are the customer, and ultimately the decision on the best basketball betting site is yours. We do, however, strongly urge you to follow these guidelines.
- Use Only Legal Sites: Legal sports betting is widespread enough that there really is no reason to ever use an off-shore site that isn’t legal or regulated. You want the security of a protected account and identity, and you will only get that by using a legal sports betting site in your state.
- Grab the Cash: Each sportsbook is going to offer you incentives to sign up with them. Research those offers, do the math on what it will take for you to actually cash-in the bonus, and then take the money.
- Study the Odds: For the NBA and men’s college basketball betting, most sites are going to be pretty close to one another in the odds and point spreads they offer. But if you like wagering the WNBA or international leagues, look around and see which books tend to give you the most favorable odds.
- Banking Matters: Most of your time on a sports betting app is spent far away from banking. You make a deposit, and then you don’t touch the money until you’re ready to make a withdrawal. It is, however, still an important part of the sports betting experience, and you need to research the types of banking options that are offered.
- Sportsbook Reputation: These sportsbooks have millions of customers, so read what those customers have to say about their experiences. You can learn a lot about the strengths and weaknesses of a sportsbook based on the people who have gone before you.
- Download Multiple Apps: You can download and use a mobile app before registering for a new account, so do it. Download all of the apps you’re considering, then play around on them. See how fast they are and how easy they are to navigate.
- Account Registration: Most sportsbooks make registering for a new account pretty simple. But some will require I.D. and others might ask for a bill with your current address on it. Do your research ahead of time so when you are ready to register for a new account you have everything you need.
Betting on Basketball Explained
Basketball betting can be as easy as you want to make it, or it can be complex. From simple win/loss bets, to big parlays that come with even bigger payoffs, the sport has it all.
Odds
Every basketball game has a favorite and an underdog, and these designations are expressed in the odds on the game. There are two odds types that go along with two different betting types that we’ll cover in a section below.
Picks
When making a pick on the winner of the game there are a number of things to consider. The odds of course – that determines how much your pick will net you if it wins. But you also want to consider how a team is playing, where the game is being held, and how rested each team is.
Types of Basketball Bets
There are three major types of game bets, and then some other bets that happen within the game, but aren’t necessarily related to your pick of a winner.
Moneyline Bets
This is the most basic bet there is. You simply pick which team is going to win, and based on if they are the favorite or the underdog (the team expected to lose), you get a big payout or a small payout. The bigger the favorite, the smaller the win, and vice versa.
Point Spread Bets
Instead of playing the moneyline, which is dependent on winning and losing, you can place a point spread bet, which is all about the margin of victory. If you bet on a favorite to cover a 4.5-point spread, they must win by at least five points. If you bet on the underdog, they can lose by as many as four points and your bet still wins.
Basketball Totals Bets
If you don’t want to wager on the winner of the game or which team will cover the point spread, the totals bet may be for you. This is a bet on the total points scored in the game by both teams. You place your wager on if the total will be over the posted line, or under the posted line.
Prop Bets
A prop bet – also called a proposition bet – is a bet on an event inside the game that doesn’t rely on the final outcome. These can range from individual achievements, like points scored and made free throws, to team accomplishments, like rebound totals and most points scored in a quarter.
Basketball Parlays
Parlays are any combination of bets that you put together to make one large bet. It can include a moneyline or point spread, as well as a prop bet. These bets pay off big when they hit because of the number of bets involved, but if just one leg of the parlay loses, the entire parlay is a loser.
Basketball Betting Strategies
Strategies for betting on basketball aren’t much different than other sports, meaning information is key. Do your research and never bet with your heart. If you can’t find a statistical reason to place the bet, it’s better left alone, and always limit your wagering to money you can afford to lose.
Popular Basketball Leagues to Bet
One of the great things about basketball is that there is no shortage of basketball leagues on which to wager. The most popular leagues are in North America and represent just a small portion of the basketball being played across the world.
- NBA: The No. 1 professional league in the world, the NBA is home to players from all six populated continents. It runs from October to June.
- NCAA Basketball: Both men and women play college basketball in the United States and Canada. The men’s NCAA Tournament is held annually in March and is one of the most popular sporting events anywhere in the world.
