The Complete Guide to the Best Basketball Betting Sites

Last updated: by Leon Marshal

Betting on basketball has been growing from strength to strength in recent years. Whether you are already an expert or a novice, our guide of best basketball betting sites ensures your needs are covered.

The very best sites offer a huge variety of markets, from the NBA to the EuroLeague and more. So, whether you are looking for some big-time games, or those smaller ones our recommended sites will have you covered. A long time ago, basketball betting was pretty limited. Match-winner bets were pretty much the only way to go. Thankfully, today things are much different. There a numerous wagering types that have been developed, not to mention in-play betting, which has seen huge advancements in recent times.

There are many operators out there, both new and old. It is an ever-changing a developing landscape. There are many factors that come into play when assessing a bookie and their ability. On this page, we explain which ones are the best and what makes them stand out from the crowd. Read on to find out more and why we make the decisions we do.


The Best Basketball Betting Sites and How to Choose Them

There are innumerable factors that go into deciding what the best basketball websites are. It’s easy to focus on certain things like odds levels to determine the best sites because after all, you want to get the most bang for your buck. However, there are lots of other important things that cannot and should not be missed. Most importantly, all the operators have to be regulated. Don’t fret, all the sites featured here are. Other security features should also come into consideration, such as if the site uses SSL and more. Something such as customer service is also important as if you have a problem you want to be sure to receive help.

We thoroughly test any online basketball betting site before featuring them here, so you don’t have to go through the arduous process. Once you pick one of our recommended sites, rest assured you are betting with the best.

The Top 5 Basketball Betting Sites
BookmakerWelcome BonusHighlightsRatingVisit BookmakerT&C
Get ÂŁ30Markets: 24 Bet Types: 21 Odds Levels: 92.93%%5.0 out of 5Full T&Cs Apply! New Customers only. Bet ÂŁ10* & Get ÂŁ30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between ÂŁ5* and ÂŁ10* to your account and bet365 will give you five times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. Registration required.
Get ÂŁ10Markets: 21 Bet Types: 22 Odds Levels: 91.02%5.0 out of 5Full T&Cs Apply! New customers only. Max one ÂŁ10 free bet. Qualifying bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater. Paid as bonus token with min 4/5 odds req. Skrill, Neteller, & PayPal not eligible.
£30Markets: 18 Bet Types: 19 Odds Levels: 90.47%4.8 out of 5Full T&Cs Apply! New customers only – Minimum deposit of £10 using deposit code 30F - A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 placed on any sports market - Minimum odds of 1/2 (1.5) - Free bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days - Free bet stakes not included in returns - Deposit method and withdrawal restrictions apply & Full T&C’s apply
Get ÂŁ15Markets: 19 Bet Types: 20 Odds Levels: 90.12%4.7 out of 5Full T&Cs Apply! 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: ÂŁ10, max ÂŁ10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. Neteller,Skrill and Paypal not eligible.
ÂŁ50Markets: 21 Bet Types: 19 Odds Levels: 89.83%4.6 out of 5Full T&Cs Apply! 18+ begambleaware.org; New bettors get 50% of deposit up to ÂŁ50; Once per household; Min deposit ÂŁ15 (no Skrill/Neteller); Wager a total of 8 times deposit + bonus, with max qualifying bet stake equal to your initial bonus amount; Bonus expires after 60 days; Min odds of 4/5 on singles, or 2/5 per leg for acca; Some bet types excluded.

In the coming paragraphs we’ll be going through various benchmarks we have set to review bookmakers. We’ll first look at odds levels, before looking at markets available, and things such as bet types, and the importance of in-play features. All of which will give you a well-rounded view and let you make the best decision on which site to use going forward. In the meantime, here are the top basketball betting sites per category:

The top basketball betting sites

Top 5 Basketball Betting Sites

  • đŸ„‡ bet365 âœȘ Best Bookmaker with Top Payout Levels
  • đŸ„ˆ BetTarget âœȘ Bookie with Highest Basketball Odds
  • đŸ„‰ 888sport âœȘ Best Bookie with Top Market Selection
  • ⭐ Betiton âœȘ Bookie with best Football Betting
  • ⭐ 10bet âœȘ Best Betting Website for Live Streaming

Basketball Market Prices & Odds Levels

In general, we found that the odds-on basketball betting sites were quite similar between the major players. Even so, it still pays dividends to do research and see which operators offer the best in order to make your payout reach its full potential. Checking odds margins is essential. These are the most important marker in which you see how stingy (or generous if you are glass half full type of punter) the bookies are. The higher the payout level the better for you.

If we are talking a difference of 0.01% that is pretty negligible, yet once the gap is a few % or more that’s where the difference comes in. If a bookie is paying out 94% and the one you bet at only 89% that’s 5% you are missing out on! That’s why it’s important to do some research beforehand. Obviously, this takes a lot of time, so we’ve done the hard work for you in the table below. Just take a look to see the difference.

Average Payout Level Top Tier Basketball Leagues
Leaguebet365BetTarget888sportBetiton10bet
NBA92.17%91.58%90.89%88.29%91.89%
NCAA91.34%91.09%90.54%90.10%90.94%
EuroLeague92.93%87.14%87.41%89.75%87.89%
Champions League89.99%88.69%91.22%90.12%88.99%

What you must take into play is that these odds can and do change. Especially in the days leading up to the event. Depending on where the money is going and the form of the teams this can all affect the resulting odds. On our live betting page we explain this more in-depth, but basically, the odds here can change depending on what’s happening in the game. So, all in all, there are many factors that go into determining what odds are on offer. Of course, it’s not so simple and the bookmakers do use the latest up-to-date technology when calculating, but that is the basic gist of things. We recommend always keeping an eye out on the movement of odds and keep your eyes open.

Markets on Offer

Another key aspect to consider is the markets available at each operator. As after all, the more the merrier. It’s no use to the modern-day punter to just be able to bet on a few things, they want variety and the ability to bet whenever they want. The major basketball leagues will obviously be covered, but what really makes an operator stand out is when they let you delve into a league that nobody has heard of and is exactly what we’ve been looking for.

Basketball Markets Available at Each Operator
Leaguebet365BetTarget888sportBetiton10bet
NBA6560626160
NCAA5954565155
EuroLeague5353505352
Champions League5154535953

From the NBA to the Balkan BIBL there is and should be ample opportunity to bet out there. All the top bookies should have as many markets available, no questions asked. Naturally, some of you will only be interested in some of the leagues, but for others, it carries the utmost importance to be able to have a go on the VTB United Youth League!

Basketball Betting Bonuses and Promotions

Just having a quick look around a site like Betiton and you’ll see they regular have small promotions and bonuses for basketball. They may not be as popular as a sport such as football, but they do still come out with a few every now and then. A pretty good one is best odds guaranteed, which means if you find a better offer elsewhere, Betiton will match it for you! Not bad at all we’d say. When things like the NBA Finals are happening there is also a lot of promotion-specific offers available, so it is a good idea to check when that is happening.

It’s also worth taking a look at our home page, as most welcome offers or even free bets are generally allowed to be used on basketball. These offers change all the time, and can definitely prove to be of good value, so be sure to keep an eye out so you don’t miss out.

Live Basketball Betting Arena

A new trend in basketball betting is wagering live, whilst the game is happening. Sometimes you just get a gut feeling about a team that is going to win or make a comeback and you just know you have to place a bet to back your feelings. If a website or mobile app is too slow, then this could hinder you, and the chance could go.

We place a great ranking factor on the user experience. The page should be easy to use, buttons clear and accessible to click. Things should load quickly, and you should get to where you want, when you want. That’s why we tested the live arena ourselves. There is nothing better than the first-hand experience.

In-Play Platforms at the Best Basketball Betting Sites

Live basketball betting is a great and riveting way to bet. The action is so fast-paced and consuming that it’s easy to get caught up in it all. Watching the players run and sink a three-pointer gets your heart pounding. You’ll be sure to find second half handicap’s or total points changing throughout. Or if a certain player such as LeBron James or Kevin Durant are non-stop sinking baskets, then you want to place a bet on them going over a certain points total. All this is available at our selected bookies, so try it yourself and be sure not to miss out on the fun to be had.

Using Cash Out at Basketball Betting Sites

An amazing feature of online basketball betting is that oftentimes you can cash out your bet. It’s something that is very advantageous to your average punter and can sometimes help you in getting one-over on the bookmaker.

Imagine you knew the Cleveland Cavaliers were going to blow their lead against the Indiana Pacers. You’d backed the Cavs beforehand, but you could just see a comeback happening. You click the cash out button after you got a decent offer and happy days, you secured a decent profit. Of course, it’s not the full amount, but it’s a sure lot more than the zero you would have got after learning the Pacers stormed back to win.

Another way to utilise this feature is when you have an accumulator, and most of your results have come in. You are waiting on the final game, and not too sure. Then you can use the cash-out and secure a profit no matter what happens. Sometimes this comes back to bite you if the team pulls through, but at the end of the day, cash-out is a pretty good security option!


Bet Types Available in Basketball

There are innumerable basketball betting types out there, one of the most popular being money line, or simply put, staking on the final outcome of the game. Another one is handicap betting, where you bet on a certain team with a + or – start. People also like totals wagering, were you bet over/under on the amounts of points being scored. There are also many player specific markets, i.e. how many baskets they’ll score, or other kinds of specials on offer, so be sure to check specific events to see what is going on.

Below we’ll go into more detail about the types of bets on offer, in order for you to get a better grasp of what we are talking about, and so you’ll feel confident going out and trying them for yourself.

Race to Points

Picture of a basketball scoreboard One of our favourite type of bets is the race to number of points bets. This means you can choose the team that is first to reach a certain number of points. This is a great little bet, particularly for those teams that are fast starters and usually falter later on. Maybe they aren’t favoured, but you know they are a pretty quick scoring team out of the blocks, then you’d be hard-pressed not to find a winner here. It’s a very intriguing bet, that once you delve into becomes very interesting.

Moneyline

A picture of two basketball players' legs with moneyline betting over imposed Moneyline is one of the most popular types of betting on basketball. It is basically the match odds, where you back your favoured team to win the final result. It’s essentially an Americanised term for what we already use. It’s a pretty straightforward bet, with you only deciding on who you think is your favourite to win. It’s pretty clear to see who the favourite is, depending on who has the shortest odds. The longer they are, the less likely it is expected they win.

Spread Betting

A group of basketball players jumping in the air As with money line, this is another American term adapted for our use. Basically, it is a handicap bet on a certain team. You can either go + or – on a team to win. So if you back a team to win by -12 that means the final result should have a +12 point differential in their favour. It’s a pretty intriguing bet and a lot of research needs to go into it beforehand to see how teams are performing and how close the games tend to be, but it can pay dividends if you bet right!


Emerging Features in Basketball Sportsbooks

Every day new trends and developments hit the online scene. The bookies are always trying to stay ahead of the curve in order to attract the most punters, and now things such as live streaming are commonplace. It’s great to think you can be anywhere and be watching some live action and then decide how to bet, it’s not just stats and graphics anymore, you can use your own two eyes to make a judgement before you place a wager. Below you can see other emerging features that all of the best basketball betting websites should employ in their offering.

Virtual Basketball Betting

Sometimes you just want to have a go at betting on the basketball, but then you check the upcoming and in-play events and nothing is on offer. You can now turn to the virtual arena in order to satisfy your needs. There are generally many games scheduled throughout the day, so you can always find something to have a go on.

Virtual basketball like at Unibet is a tasty affair. The games are played in quick time through four quarters, and there are many bet types available. Matches are completed in minutes and means it is a pretty quick moving scene. It’s a pretty good way of getting your basketball fix, with many of the teams looking very realistic in the simulated environment.

Flash Markets

Sometimes you may be in need of a little inspiration when it comes to placing a bet. This is where a betting site can be your friend. Flash markets are very simple and are offered from many of the big operators. They simply state ‘will something happen’. Such as ‘will LeBron James score 6 three-pointers, or something similar in that vein. You simply bet yes, if your gut is feeling it to win. They are generally a fun way of interacting with your operator whilst also allowing you to bet without doing too much of the old brain work.

New Basketball Betting Sites

Whilst the traditional players are set in stone new operators are emerging all the time. This drives old players to adapt and makes the new ones an intriguing prospect. Of course, there are some you can’t trust, but rest assured any site featured on our website has gone through stringent tests before making the cut. Take BetTarget, whose £10 welcome offer is pretty solid and have some great in-play features to deal with.

Basketball ball with the BetTarget logo
Best New Basketball Betting Site
  • Up to ÂŁ10 weclome bonus
  • High payout level of 93.57%
  • Over 50 basketball leagues for betting
  • Top in-play markets and features
iOSAndroidBlackberryWindows Mobile Visit Site!
Full T&Cs Apply! New customers only. Max one ÂŁ10 free bet. Qualifying bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater. Paid as bonus token with min 4/5 odds req. Skrill, Neteller, & PayPal not eligible.

Even so, it can be a little off-putting to try new sites, or you may have security concerns. That’s where we come in. We test all the new sites to make sure they are fully regulated by the UK Gambling Commission and that they use all the latest technological features for protection. You can be confident using any site we mention!


Basketball Betting by League

So far, we’ve gone through the type of bets on offer and such. Now, we will delve into the types of leagues that you will find you can bet on basketball. You may be surprised to know that there is more to basketball than the NBA. Of course, it is the major league, but there are many more out there. We’ll list some of the major leagues below, but we’ll give an honourable mention to the German BBL, and Italian Serie A whilst we’re here. When you can also have a go of the Romanian Liga Nationala it just goes to show the depth of what’s on offer.

NBA

NBA logo In the UK NBA betting is synonymous with basketball. Understandably then, it is the biggest league with the most markets. Founded in 1946, it has a rich history, with the Boston Celtics having the most titles as 17. The season culminates in the playoffs and then the NBA finals. Recently the sport has been dominated by LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry. The favourite types of betting on the league are moneyline and the spread, due to the influence of the American market.

NCAA

NCAA logo NCAA stands for the National Collegiate Athletic Association. They have many different divisions, and sports, but for basketball, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball tournament is the most prestigious and most bet on. UCLA has the record for the most titles with 11, with the University of Kentucky second with 8. All the best players eventually go on to become pro, so the standard is generally very high, particularly in the playoffs. Due to being American, its betting markets are very similar to the NBA.

EuroLeague

EuroLeague logo The first European League to make this list is a very popular indoor sports league. In the last season, the average attendance was 8,780, which was the second highest for a basketball league in the world. The title has been won by 21 different clubs with Real Madrid having the most with 10. The league was created in 2000 and is run by the Euroleague Basketball organisation, due to a split in differences with FIBA. The betting types are once again very similar to the NBA.

Basketball Champions League

Basketball Champions League logo The final league we will look at is the Champions League. It was created in 2016 as an attempt by FIBA to wrestle back control from the EuroLeague. Teams from the European national leagues qualify on merit, much like the football counterpart. It’s actually seen as a level below the EuroLeague, thus the quality and attendance is not as high. Nevertheless, there is still ample opportunity to bet on the league, with many of the same markets as the other leagues available.


Q&A / FAQ

While we try to make all our guides as comprehensive as possible, oftentimes our readers have more specific questions. We answered the most common ones below.

đŸ›Ąïž Who are the safest operators for basketball betting?

Any of the operators listed on this page should be treated with the utmost confidence. We would not list them if they did not pass our stringent safety tests. All are fully licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission and all ensure they have the latest technology on their website to ensure your data is kept safe. You can see our list of the most secure UK bookmakers for more information.

💰 Are there year-round bonuses?

Obviously, this really depends on the operator. So, we really cannot say for sure. Many bookies regularly change what’s on offer in order to entice you to bet more. It’s also a good tip to check the websites when there is a big event coming up like the NBA Finals, as the operators are sure to tie their promotions with such events. Check out our section on sportsbook bonuses for a complete overview.

🏀 Which basketball leagues are the most popular for betting?

The NBA is by far the most commonly bet on basketball league in the world. Also notable are the NCAA Men's and Women's National Championships, commonly referred to as March Madness. You can see more information about popular basketball leagues here.

â›č What are the most common basketball betting markets?

There are several common betting markets available at top sportsbooks. You can see our rundown of the betting markets at top UK betting sites for a fully detailed overview.