NBA BETTING SITES

Our toplist of the Best NBA Sportsbooks Online in September 2023

Popularity-wise, the NBA is second only to the NFL. There are millions of fans and bettors out there who can’t wait for the clashes between the game’s heavyweights. 

Will the star-studded Lakers, led by LeBron and Anthony Davis, challenge the reigning champions Milwaukee Bucks and their captain Giannis Antetokounmpo? Is there a chance for Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets or the Phoenix Suns to butt in and snatch the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy under their very noses? 

There are so many questions fans ask throughout the NBA season that can easily turn into incredible betting opportunities, and the best NBA sports betting sites are where you need to look for those opportunities. 

Still, the choice is not an easy one to make. 

All the major sportsbooks earn their daily bread from avid basketball fans who get particularly active during the NBA Playoffs, the culmination of a long and exciting season. Each of the 30 teams plays 82 regular-season games, plus more if they reach the playoffs, especially if they make a deep run. 

Every NBA game entails dozens, if not hundreds, of betting markets. You need to consider and compare the odds those sportsbooks offer, plus the bonuses, availability of the NBA betting apps, legality, and many other aspects before you reach a final verdict. 

Luckily for you, this is where we step on the stage. The following guide will give you a deep insight into the top destinations for legal NBA sports betting online and all other things NBA betting.

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NBA Betting Options

The NBA season is teeming with games and numerous betting options. In addition to the standard moneyline, spreads, and totals, we want to see bookies include props, futures, and live betting opportunities. The more betting options, the better the ranking — it’s as simple as that.

Registration Bonus Offers and Other Promos

When you take a closer look at the promotional offers from NBA sports betting online platforms, you’ll be amazed at the diversity of the bonuses. There are scores of deposit match bonuses, free bets, enhanced odds, boosts, reduced juice, and many others. Most of these bonuses are directed towards newly-signed players, but there are also those which existing players can use to boost their bankrolls.

However, the size and structure of the bonus is one thing, but its usability is quite another. We ensure that patrons can use these bonuses to make real money out of them and that usability depends solely on the bonus’s terms and conditions. You should only pick sites with friendly T&Cs related to the NBA sports betting bonus deals that allow you to do that and more.

Quality of Betting Odds and Lines

Only sportsbooks that offer great odds and lines can count among the best NBA sports betting sites. Without favorable odds, there can’t be any significant wins, which is why you should always choose sites that offer great prices. 

Make sure to compare the odds for a specific event across several bookies and factor in the juice (vig) when doing so to end up with the one with truly the best deal.

NBA Mobile Betting

Placing a bet on NBA fixtures on the go is no longer a perk but the norm. All sportsbooks we present here have native iOS and Android apps perfectly optimized for all screen types and sizes. 

These apps offer a more stable betting experience free of crashes, freezes, and unnecessary clutter. Also, these apps are very convenient for live NBA betting since you can react quickly and take advantage of the changing lines.

Banking Details

Never underestimate the role payment methods have in your online NBA betting experience. Any NBA sportsbook worth considering should offer a whole palette of different deposit and withdrawal methods, including e-wallets, online banking, and credit/debit cards. 

What’s more, all transactions should be processed as fast as possible, including withdrawals. Any fees that might apply must be minimum and well within the industry standards, but it would be best if there were none. Last but not least are the security measures the sites employ. SSL and TLS protocols are the standards, and you shouldn’t settle for less.

Quality of Customer Support

Regardless of which NBA betting bookies you choose, you are very likely to encounter a glitch or freeze from time to time. If you cannot sort the problem out yourself, the customer support team should be the cavalry you can rely on. 

All NBA betting we analyzed offer reliable customer support you can contact via live chat, email, phone, and all other communications channels. What’s more, those sites with 24/7 support and detailed FAQ sections will receive extra credit for their effort.

Brief History of the NBA

The story of the NBA begins with two rival leagues merging in 1949.  On one side, there was the Basketball Association of America (BAA), formed in 1946 with 11 teams, and on the other, the National Basketball League (NBL), formed in 1937. 

The two competing leagues traded teams regularly. The Baltimore Bullets moved to the BAA in 1948 and won the league in their first season, while the Minneapolis Lakers, who had won the NBL’s 1948 championship, made the switch to the BAA the following year. 

Finally, in 1949, the two leagues merged and gave birth to the National Basketball Association, or the NBA. 

The 50s and 60s were dominated by the Minneapolis Lakers, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and players like George Mikan, Bill Russel, Bob Cousy, and Wilt Chamberlain.

The league introduced many novelties to the game during this period, such as the 24-second shot clock and others. It was also when the Russel and Cousy duo managed to win 11 out of 13 NBA Championships, masterminded by the legendary coach Red Auerbach. 

In the late 1960s, another rival basketball competition named the American Basketball Association (ABA) was formed. The appeal of ABA was in the more offensive gameplay and different rules. They had a 30-second shot clock, a red, white, and blue ball, and the three-point line. Even the first slam dunk contest was held within the All-Star game of the ABA. 

Then, in 1976, the NBA and ABA merged, which brought the New York Nets, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, and San Antonio Spurs into the league. What followed was the age of Julius Erving, Abdul-Jabar, Rick Barry, and many other greats. 

In the 1980s and 1990s, the NBA experienced a tremendous surge in popularity. Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan are some of the players whose rivalries are marked among the game’s fiercest. During that time, new teams such as the Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets were added to the league and contributed to its growth and success. 

The league made significant progress under the auspices of commissioner David Stern, whose tenure saw the NBA become the best professional league in the world. Fans couldn’t get enough of Jordan’s highlights and his two three-peats with the Bulls. 

The early 2000s were the era of the Lakers and Spurs. From 2000 to 2003, the Lakers won three consecutive titles led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. The Spurs emerged as the top team of the NBA in 1999, 2003, and 2005. 

At that time, young stars, such as LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, were drafted by Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, respectively, and their athleticism and skills helped them attain the status of legends. 

In recent years, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic, Kyrie Irving, and other A-list players have dominated the league and slowly paved the way to Hall of Fame careers. 

NBA Format and Playoffs

The NBA regular season begins in the last week of October and lasts until mid-April. There are 30 teams in the league, and each plays 82 regular-season games. The teams are divided into two conferences, Eastern and Western, and each conference is home to three divisions with five teams. 

Teams from the same division face each other four times a year, while teams from competing divisions in the same conference meet three or four times per year. On the other hand, teams from divergent conferences play two games per year. 

After the regular season games have been played, the playoff ensues. Teams are ranked according to their season records. The top-seeded team faces the eighth seed, the second-best plays the seventh seed, etc. 

The NBA has recently introduced the so-called Play-In tournament to decide the 7th and 8th seed teams. The team with the 7th highest winning percentage will host the team with the 8th highest. The winner of this match will be marked as the 7th seed team in the conference. 

The losing team will face the winner of the match between the teams with the ninth and tenth best winning percentage in the conference to determine the 8th seed team for the playoffs. 

Playoff matches are played under a tournament best-of-seven format. The first team that reaches four wins advances to the next round. The home-court advantage is assigned based on the  2–2–1–1–1 pattern where one team plays at home in games 1, 2, 5, and 7, while the other plays games 3, 4, and 6 at home. 

The NBA Finals take place in June, and the winner receives the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy. 

The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics are the two teams with the most trophies, each with 17 titles. The third and fourth most successful franchises are the Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors with six titles, followed by the San Antonio Spurs with five.

How NBA Sports Betting Online Works

If you are an aspiring NBA bettor, you’ll be happy to hear that the learning curve for NBA sports betting online is not steep at all. There are only a couple of things you need to do before you can start placing bets, such as account registration and depositing. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide that works pretty much the same with all legal NBA sports betting online sites in licensed jurisdictions.

1. Choose one of the NBA sports betting sites from our list. Go over our list and select the sportsbook you like most. Once you land on the main page, hit the Join Now/Register/Sign Up button to initiate account registration. If you are using NBA betting apps, the process is the same, except you must download the app first. 
2. Set up your account. You need to provide personal details such as name, address, email, last four digits of your Social Security Number, and other information required to identify you and verify that you are at least 21. 
3. Make a deposit. Before you can start placing bets, you need to fund your account. You can do so by heading to the cashier section and choosing one of the available deposit methods. Once you input the amount that you wish to deposit, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the transaction, and the funds should arrive at your account almost instantly. 
4. Claim the welcome bonus (optional). Most sportsbooks offer various welcome bonuses for new users. You need to make a qualifying deposit using the approved methods to claim them. 
5. Start betting. With a loaded account and bonus bets at your service, you are now ready to start placing bets on NBA matches.

Most Common Types of NBA Bets

One of the biggest appeals of NBA sports betting online is the vast choice of bets you can place. Some of these bets are available well before the season begins, while others are available all season long. Here are some mainstream and niche-specific betting markets you can count on when betting on the NBA.

Moneyline Bets

Moneyline or straight-up bets are the easiest ones to grasp. You are simply required to pick the team you think will win in a ball game. The points margin plays no part in this bet. The negative odds will point you to the favorites, while the positive odds will indicate the underdogs. Should the gap between the two be considerable, you might have a mismatch on your hands. 

Let’s illustrate this with an example. Say the New York Knicks are hosting the Orlando Magic. The Knicks are favorites with -115 odds. If you choose to back them, you’ll need to bet $115 to get a $100 profit. 

On the flip side, if you back the Orlando Magic at odds +140, your $100 bet will generate a $140 profit.

Point Spread

The point spread is a very popular form of bets you can place on NBA matches. Sportsbooks will set a particular “spread,” the margin used to balance the odds in a game and make betting even more exciting. For example, a -6.5 margin tells us that the favorite needs to win the game by seven or more points to cover the spread. The same applies to the underdog. A +6.5 margin tells us that the underdog needs to lose the match by six or fewer points or win it for the bet to stand.

Totals (Over/Under)

Totals are wagers connected to the number of points in an NBA game. These bets allow you to place a wager on both teams’ combined total number of points. If you bet under, you bet that there will be fewer points than the margin set by the sportsbook. If you bet over, you bet that there will be more points than the margin.

Futures

Futures are wagers that are hugely popular before the start of the season. As season-long bets, they have a huge payout potential. These bets let you put a couple of bucks on the league’s winner, the MVP, the Defensive Player of the year, the scoring champion, the winner of the Slam Dunk Contest, and many other options and win hundreds, if not thousands. The sooner you place a futures bet, the better the potential payoff.

Proposition Bets

Proposition bets, or props, are bets that don’t have anything to do with the outcome of a single game. Instead, these bets relate to the individual and team statistical performances. For example, player props include the number of rebounds, points, steals, assists, and other such categories. 

As for the team props, these include wagers such as which team will reach the 50 point mark or which will win the third quarter.

NBA Sports Betting Bonus Offers

In a highly competitive iGaming market, betting operators are constantly coming up with new promo packages and deals to appeal to new users and retain the existing ones. Some of these promotions relate directly to NBA betting, but most are suitable for various sports and markets. 

With the help of bonuses, you can extend your playing time considerably and use the bonus to generate real-money wins without risking your own cash. 

Here are the most common types of NBA sports betting bonus deals in U.S. sportsbooks:

• Risk-free bets: Risk-free bets are usually a part of sign-up bonuses. After you make a qualifying deposit and bet on an NBA match, you can receive the amount of your wager in free bets if your first selection on the betslip is a losing one. Say you placed a $50 on the Pacers to win against the Spurs, but the Spurs have managed to stage an upset and win the away game. In this case, you’ll receive $50 in free bets from the sportsbook. 
• Free bets: Free bets are bonus credits you receive after making a qualifying deposit. This promotion is usually available to both new and existing players. You can use these free bets on various NBA betting markets. However, if you win using the free bet, the stake will be deducted from the total win. 
• Deposit match deals: Deposit match bonuses are easy to understand. Once you register an account and make a deposit, NBA betting bookies will match your deposit with site credits. You can use these credits to make further bets. However, if you wish to withdraw them as real money, you’ll need to meet the wagering requirements. 
• Cashback promos: Cashback bonuses are designed to ease the pang that comes from seeing that you lost your bet. A sportsbook will give you up to 20% of your net losses back as bonus credits during a certain promo period. 
• Odds boosts: Odds boosts are particularly popular during NBA playoffs. Namely, a sportsbook may enhance the odds for specific markets, and instead of getting +115, you’ll receive +125 and thus get better chances of making a profit.

No matter how appealing NBA sports betting bonus offers are, you must take a good look at the terms and conditions of use. You want to check the wagering requirements, the max payouts, the odds requirements, and other vital segments of these offers to see if they are friendly enough and up to standards.

NBA Live Betting

NBA live betting allows you to put down some money on the betting markets for matches in progress. There are various in-play NBA betting markets that you can explore, including moneyline, totals, spreads, and proposition bets such as which team will win the current quarter, will the game go into overtime, and others. 

The best thing about NBA live betting is that the odds and lines shift non-stop to reflect the action on the court. Since the score in an NBA game changes rapidly, you need to act quickly to capitalize on certain odds you find appealing. 

To do so conveniently, you might want to use NBA betting apps, thanks to which you are only a couple of screen taps away from placing a bet.

Mobile NBA Betting Apps

All of the best NBA sports betting sites have developed proprietary betting apps for Android and iOS devices to facilitate wagering on the go. You can locate these apps in your respective app store or by following the links provided in the header or footer of the sportsbook’s main page. 

With NBA betting apps, you are always ready to place a bet no matter where you are in your state. Still, it is essential to note that these apps have built-in geo-location services that the sportsbook uses to pinpoint your location, so you must be within the state limits to place a real-money bet. This can be tricky, especially if you are near the state border. 

In either case, these apps make the mobile betting experience far better as they are optimized for all types of devices, have great customization options, and are overall more stable than mobile web browser versions of betting sites.

NBA Betting Tips

If you are new to NBA betting or looking for ways to improve your betting success, let us offer you some sage advice on how to do it.

• Don’t always bet on the home team. The home court is an advantage, especially in the Madison Square Garden and other venues known for a wild home crowd. However, that doesn’t mean that the Knicks will win every time. 
• Analyze the stats. Most sportsbooks nowadays offer detailed statistics regarding the performance of individual players and teams. It is crucial to analyze how the teams and players compare head-to-head since it can give you an idea of how the game may pan out. 
• Mind the schedule. It is safe to say that every NBA team’s schedule is hectic, at best. With 82 regular-season games, all teams will have to play back-to-back games, significantly affecting their performance. Watch out for such moments in the season and factor them in when placing a bet. 
• Shop for lines. Your potential payout is directly affected by the odds and lines of the sportsbook. Make sure to compare the odds that different bookies offer for the NBA matches you want to bet on so that you end up with the best ones.