How to Bet on Basketball: 6 Powerful tips
Basketball is one of the most popular sports to bet on. The reasons for this are two-fold. First of all, the season is relatively long and filled with games. The regular NBA season contains 82 games between October and April for each team. That means there are more than two thousand games to bet on. That’s not even including international basketball leagues such as the EuroLeague. Aside from this, it’s also popular because all major sportsbooks cover it, and there are a lot of different markets to bet on.
While it’s a popular sport for bettors, predicting the outcome of basketball games is never easy. If you want to gain an edge over the sportsbooks, you have to bet smart. Making a consistent profit is a challenge, but it’s possible, and the number of games in a basketball season is a significant advantage. Here are a few tips for betting on basketball and making a profit.
Make the Most of Bonuses
Bonuses are always great to claim as they usually provide free bets or let you bet risk-free when you first join. Each sportsbook will usually offer one welcome bonus, and you can generally find regular bettor bonuses too. Look out for codes such as the BetMGM Maryland bonus code that can give you extra rewards just for signing up. Provided you follow the terms, you can get a lot of value out of these and turn a profit.
Bet Early
Starting betting as soon as the markets open each morning is one of the finest strategies to gain an advantage when betting on NBA games. As we approach closer to tipoff, oddsmakers and bettors gain more information on games. As a result, betting early can help you profit from inaccuracies in the initial lines that oddsmakers announce before adjusting. As the day progresses, bookmakers modify their odds based on the action they receive, injury news, and other things, making the lines more precise and difficult to overcome.
Do Your Research
Research is essential for any type of sports betting, but it’s one of the most critical aspects of successful bets. One of the main things to research is injury reports, as injuries and missing players can hugely impact a basketball game. This is because there are far fewer players on the court than in other sports. Not only do you want to look at injuries, but you should also be considering scheduling and how it can provide an advantage.
Look for Live Betting Odds
Live betting is where you bet on a game while it’s in progress. Most online sportsbooks now allow you to bet on the NBA live, giving you stats and information as you place your bets. The odds will also change as the game is underway, presenting major opportunities. You can capitalize on a game’s volatility, set up arbitrage, and even hedge earlier bets to profit.
Always Find the Best Odds
This is critical in any sport. Have access to several sportsbooks at all times to shop for the best odds. If BetMGM has the LA Lakers at -5.5 for a game, but PointsBet has them at -5, you should bet on PointsBet. It may not seem like much, but a half-point can make a significant difference in your income, especially over time.
Track Your Bets
To stay on top of how much you bet and how much profit you make, it’s crucial to track your bets. You can record them on a page of paper, in a journal, or in a spreadsheet. It doesn’t matter, as long as you can clearly see how much you’ve staked, your profits, and your losses. This will allow you to judge your strategy and make changes if needed.