Best NBA Betting Sites in 2024

Through 82 regular-season games and an intense playoff schedule, there’s no shortage of exciting NBA betting options for you to choose from. Luckily, we’ve put together a list of the top NBA sports betting sites to give you a leg up (or more aptly, a layup).

We’ve vetted each sportsbook that offers NBA betting so you don’t have to, judging them based on important requirements –  it’s vital to prioritize sites that have fast withdrawals, exclusive bonuses, tons of deposit options and reliable customer service.

What Are The Best Basketball Sites For NBA Online Betting?

Truthfully, for any sport you’re planning to bet on, there isn’t a clear “winner” for the best overall sportsbook, and the same applies to the best NBA betting sites. It's all about figuring out what you value in a sportsbook and finding options that fit your needs.

Aside from reading the information below, be sure to do a bit of poking around by yourself – better yet, if you have friends that are sports bettors, chat about their favorite NBA betting sites and why they chose them. It’s hard to go wrong with so many reputable options, but you can change your sportsbook on a whim or use multiple books if that’s more your style. If you're just starting, check out our introductory guide to betting on the NBA!

What To Look For In The Best Betting Site For NBA Bettors

When we deem a sportsbook worthy of a bettor’s time, we look at everything from betting options to payment types accepted -- below, we’ve detailed why these sites are the best for prospective NBA bettors.

Safety and Integrity

The most important aspect of a sportsbook – this is your money we’re talking about, it needs a trustworthy home where it can come and go with ease. Big-name sportsbooks will be up to snuff when it comes to security requirements, but if you’re exploring more niche options, make sure to do your research and get customer testimonials on their integrity.

Deposit and Withdrawal Options

Your bankroll is fuel for a sports betting site, so always be sure to check out their banking options – the more payment methods, the better. Most online sports betting sites accept credit cards like Visa, MasterCard, and American Express, debit cards, money transfers, e-wallets like PayPal, Neteller, or Skrill, and cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, or Ethereum.

Image of payment options for sports betting sites

The Best NBA Odds

Odds differentiate from book to book, depending on the oddsmakers they use to set each line. You can do a bit of shopping around online before selecting a sportsbook and see if there’s one in particular that offers a slight advantage for NBA bettors. These differences will be minimal, usually, and prone to fluctuation – although there isn’t an overall “best” site for ideal odds, there are always slight edges you can identify.

Basketball Betting

You’re on an NBA betting site article, obviously, you want to know if they have what you came here to find out – rest assured, the NBA is one of the most popular leagues in the world to bet on. You’ll likely see it on the main page of most sites, offering all the usual intrigues like moneylines, spreads, totals, and NBA props.

Bonuses, Promotions and Rewards

The best basketball betting sites offer bonuses to their players for betting regularly on the NBA – typically, these bonuses come in the form of “credits”. Credits cannot be withdrawn as is, but are instead free to be used on any bet just like your regular bankroll. Winning a bet with credits will reward you with regular currency, meaning a winning bet is required to redeem your bonus value.

The most common betting offers are welcome bonuses, where new members receive a matching amount of site credits equal to a certain deposit. As the season goes on, you might get a small amount of credits as a token of your loyalty! I always throw mine on a dumb parlay, just for fun.

NBA Live Betting

Most major betting sites will provide live odds for the NBA while each game is happening in real-time – in-play betting lets you wager on each play and items like the next team to score or changing spreads. Using these live odds, you can hedge your initial bets and identify good value on the spot. When you see odds that you like, take them ASAP! Live odds are always changing.

User-Friendly Interface

Betting on the NBA is a lot easier with a user-friendly interface, trust us – some betting apps and sites might be difficult to navigate through, while others can be criticized for outdated designs. Most NBA bettors prefer betting on NBA sites with simple, easy-to-use, well-laid-out interfaces, whether it be on their mobile betting app or via desktop. This will ultimately come down to your preference, so make sure you’re comfortable with your service of choice.

Customer Support

Sports bettors must be able to get in contact with a representative if they ever have questions or concerns about betting on the NBA. The best NBA sportsbooks will have customer support agents available by phone, email, and live chat 24 hours a day, seven days a week – some sites are even able to assist gamblers through their social media channels.

Mobile Betting Apps

Betting on your desktop is great – it allows for a ton of quick research and shopping around, but let’s get real. You want to pull out your phone on the couch, at the bar, wherever, and make a quick and easy wager. Most major books offer apps with an attractive user interface and easy functionality – play around with a few and see which sticks!

How Do I Sign Up At A Sportsbook To Bet On The NBA?

The first thing you need to do is decide which sportsbook you want to sign up with. Once you’ve decided on an NBA betting site, fill out any relevant information like your name, email, and birthdate, and have your deposit info ready. Once you receive a confirmation link, you’re free to begin your NBA betting career.

Creating accounts with multiple NBA Betting Sites

With so many options to choose from, it’s not surprising that using multiple sites is a fan-favorite trick for sports bettors. Aside from letting you double-dip into those juicy welcome bonuses, each NBA betting site will offer different odds for each line.

LinesSportsbook #1Sportsbook #2Sportsbook #3
Moneyline-120-115-115
Spread-2.5 (-110)-1.5 (-110)-1.5 (-115)

Let's look at a theoretical example of an NBA favorite. Our sportsbooks all have the same team favored, but their lines differ slightly. If you want to bet the moneyline, choose option 2 or 3 -- notice that #2 has the same odds (-110) for the spread as #1, but they differentiate by a full point -- this can be massive in a close game!

The percentage each site takes off the top of each bet (known as "the juice" or "vig") will vary because different sites use different oddsmakers. This practice is called “line shopping”, a great tactic that lets you squeeze every drop of value out of your favorite looks for the NBA season.

NBA Betting Types And Odds

When betting on NBA games online, odds at your sportsbook of choice will be offered American style (-500), in Decimals (1.20) or Fractional form (1/5). At Odds Shark, we use American odds. When it comes to NBA odds, you’ll find the following selections:

Moneyline: Choosing A Winner

Moneyline bets are simple – you just need to select which team you believe will win the game straight up. For a game between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat, odds would look something like this, with the minus sign (-) attributed to favorites and a plus sign (+) for underdogs:

  • Boston Celtics -120
  • Miami Heat +150

If you were to wager $100 on the Celtics and they won, you’d get a payout of $183.33 – you get your original $100 back along with your prize of $83.33. On the other hand, a winning bet on the Heat would give you a payout of $250 – you get your $100 back, plus your loot of $150.

Underdogs provide the most value but are less likely to win the game, according to the oddsmakers. Favorites are not as lucrative as underdogs but have a better chance to win in the eyes of the sportsbook. Consider using NBA betting consensus picks to see what similar bettors are placing their money on, or our computer picks if you prefer an algorithm-based approach.

Point Spread: Which Team Will Fare Better ATS?

To make a spread bet, you don’t need to determine which team will win, just how much they’re going to win or lose by. This is known as their performance against the spread (ATS), for example:

  • Golden State Warriors -3.5
  • Los Angeles Lakers +3.5

The Los Angeles Lakers are spotted 3.5 points before the game starts because they’re considered the weaker team – they need to either win or lose by no less than four points. The Golden State Warriors are given a disadvantage of 3.5 points because they’re the stronger team and need to win by at least four points.

Totals: Will The Combined Score Go OVER Or UNDER?

Oddsmakers will select a total number based on how they think the game will pan out. To make a total bet, you’ll have to decide if the total number of points in the game will be OVER or UNDER that selected number.

Let’s say the Philadelphia 76ers are playing the Toronto Raptors with the total set at 196. If you bet the UNDER, you think the combined score will be less than 196 points. If you bet the OVER, you think that collectively Philly and TO are going to score more than 196 points. If the final score lands on 196 exactly, that’s a PUSH and your bet is refunded as if it never happened.

Props: More Fun For Your Money

NBA props are bets on events that may or may not occur without affecting the outcome of the game. These basketball bets can involve entire NBA teams or individual player props such as:

  • • How many points will Kevin Durant score in his next game?
  • • Will Anthony Davis record OVER/UNDER 11.5 rebounds in his next matchup?
  • • Will LeBron James lead the game in total assists against the Clippers?

During the NBA Finals, sportsbooks could offer entertainment-style NBA prop bets like:

  • • How many games will Drake attend?
  • • How many games will be played in this series?
  • • Who will have more points between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Steph Curry?

Parlays: Bundling Your Bets

A parlay bet combines more than one wager on one betting slip. For example, two totals, a moneyline and a point spread bet, or any other combination. What makes a parlay bet risky is that all selections must win for you to get a payout - you can also include bets from other sports or leagues on your parlay ticket. Check out our parlay calculator to determine whether or not the reward justifies the risk.

Teasers: Creating A Favorable Spread

Don't worry, we're not making fun of you -- teasers allow you to adjust the spread or total line to minimize the associated risk, increasing the odds of winning but decreasing the total payout. Depending on how you think the game will play out, you can adjust the NBA lines by four to six points. Some sportsbooks that offer quarter-by-quarter NBA spreads will let you go as high as eight to ten points. Teasers are similar to parlay bets in that all wagers must be correct to receive a payout.

Live Betting: Predicting The Next Play

Touched on above, a live wager lets you place a bet while watching the match unfold. This is great if the favorite has a slow start, or if the underdog is giving their all and leading at the end of the first quarter. Following NBA betting trends and power rankings can become extremely valuable when live-betting as you can place educated bets as the game goes on based on previous results. Remember – live odds disappear fast so when you see odds you like, it’s best to jump on them quickly.

NBA Futures: Which Team Will Win The NBA Title?

NBA futures are bets on an outcome that will happen at a later date. Bets like this involve you guessing who will win an NBA playoff series, which squad will win it all, who will be named MVP, or which NBA player will be awarded Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Player, etc.

Futures odds for the NBA Championship would look something like this:
 

NBA Championship Odds

  • Boston Celtics +600
  • Golden State Warriors +600
  • Los Angeles Clippers +600
  • Brooklyn Nets +700
  • Milwaukee Bucks +800

You can make a futures bet before the NBA season, during or after the regular season (during the playoffs). Generally, the further away the specific event is, the higher the potential payouts are.

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