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Best Basketball Betting Sites and Bookmakers

When Dr. James Naismith invented basketball in 1891, he couldn’t have possibly imagined how popular the game would become. It started as an activity to keep his gym class busy on a rainy day. Basketball is now one of the most popular sports globally, with the NBA widely regarded as the most prestigious league.

Note; there are various NBA divisions – Northwest Pacific, Central Southeast and Atlantic Central. With basketball’s popularity, basketball gambling has gained traction. There are lots of international gambling companies offering online basketball gambling to multiple punters.

The FIBA World CupOlympics, and the NBA finals are a few of basketball’s major events that keep bookmakers busy and see the greatest revenue regarding online basketball betting. In this write-up, we look at international betting sites offering basketball betting markets, teach you how to choose the best online basketball betting sites, and give tips on how to bet on basketball on Argentina betting sites for example.

Top 10 Basketball Betting Sites in 06 March 2024 – Updated List

Rank
Bookmaker
Bonus
Safe & Trusted
Rating
Get Started
1
Exclusive 10% Rakeback
Yes
Rating 9.99 out of 10
2
100% up to €500
Yes
Rating 9.97 out of 10
3
Exclusive: 130% up to €143
Use Promocode: GAMBLINGJUDGE
Yes
Rating 9.95 out of 10
4
Exclusive: 100% up to €130
Use Promocode: GJBET
Yes
Rating 9.93 out of 10
5
Exclusive: 100% up to €130
Use Promocode: JUDGE
Yes
Rating 9.92 out of 10
6
100% up to €122
Yes
Rating 9.91 out of 10
7
100% up to €100
Yes
Rating 9.89 out of 10
8
N/A
Yes
Rating 9.88 out of 10
9
100% up to €100
Yes
Rating 9.87 out of 10
10
BET €10 GET €30
Yes
Rating 9.85 out of 10

History of Basketball

Basketball is the only major sport that originated in the US on 1st December 1891. His inventor Naismith was a physical education instructor at the International Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Training School, now Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts. The first game was played in 1891, and Naismith used two half-bushel peach baskets as the goals nailed to the balconies of a gymnasium– this gave the sport its name, basketball. The primary thing that students did was running and shooting the ball into the baskets. Later, William R. Chase created a midcourt shot.

Basketball became a fascinating game, and one of the hardest sport to bet on, and word spread across the US about this new game, and numerous associations contacted Naismith for a copy of the rules. The rules were published on the 15th January 1892. The first basketball games had nine players a side, and the players used a soccer ball. Since the baskets were nailed to the balconies at the ends of a gymnasium, a man used a ladder to retrieve the ball from the basket.

The first public match was in 1892, and the first intercollegiate match was in 1895 and was between the Minnesota School of Agriculture and Hamline College. A year later, the first women’s basketball match was played – Stanford vs. U.C. Berkeley. However, it was until 1898 that the first basketball professional league was played. Seven years later, the nets replaced the original peach baskets. The idea behind basketball was to create a simple-to-understand game yet complex enough to be interesting. Unique features were to be playable indoors and the ability to accommodate several players at once. Besides, the game provided exercise for the students but without the physicality of rugby or soccer, but still in the USA is a huge debate about NBA vs. NFL.

Basketball rules

Basketball rules can vary depending on the level of play – professional basketball rules differ from college basketball rules. Besides, the rules may vary depending on where the game is played – USA professional rules differ from international rules. Note that the difference is rules are just a variation of the basics and not a complete change. The below rules apply to almost all the rules. 

Rules for the offense 

The offense team is the basketball team with the ball. When the player has a ball, here are the rules to follow:

  1. The player must dribble or bounce the ball with one hand while moving both feet. When both hands touch the ball, or the player stops dribbling, the player must move only one foot – the stationary foot is the pivot foot. 
  2. A player is allowed to dribble only one turn, i.e., once a player stops dribbling, they can begin another dribble. If the player starts another dribble, it will be termed a double-dribbling violation, and thus, it will lose the basketball to the other team. The only player can begin another dribble when another player from either team gains control or touches the ball – usually after a pass or shot.
  3. A player cannot run with the ball. Instead, the player should throw that ball from the spot they catch the ball. However, allowances are made for players running at a reasonable speed. 
  4. The ball must be inbounds – the other team gets control of the ball when the offensive team loses the ball out of bounds. The ball is thrown into the field by the player’s first player touching it. If there’s a dispute, the umpire throws it straight into the area. The thrower-in is allowed five seconds. If he holds it longer; otherwise, the ball goes to the opponent. 
  5. No shouldering, striking, pushing, holding, or tripping the opponent in any way. The first infringement shall count as a foul; the second disqualifies the player until the next goal is made. Also, no substitution is allowed if there is a clear intent to injure the player for the entire game.
  6. The umpire is the judge and notes the fouls and notifies the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He can disqualify players as per rule 5. 
  7. While dribbling, the player’s hand must be on top of the ball. If the player touches the bottom of the ball and continues dribbling, it’s termed ‘carrying the ball,’ and the player loses the ball to the opposing team. 
  8. The offensive team cannot go back to the backcourt after crossing the half-court. However, if the defensive team knocks the ball back to the backcourt, the offensive team can legally recover the ball. 

Defensive Rules 

The defense team is without a ball. The main rules are:

The primary is not to cause a foul, i.e., gaining an unfair advantage via physical contact. It can also result from hitting the ball with a fist, running with it, or not holding it with your hands. Nevertheless, the referee may give some interpretation.

Rules for everyone 

Here are the rules for all players:

  1. The foul applies to anyone on the court, i.e., both offensive and defensive players
  2. Players must not hit the ball with a fist or kick the basketball. Players should hold the ball by hand and not arms or body. 
  3. No player should play the ball while traveling downwards towards the basket or when it’s on the rim – this is goaltending. 
  4. If either team makes three consecutive fouls, it counts as a goal for opponents – consecutive implies without the opponent team in the meantime making a foul.
  5. A goal is made when the ball is thrown into the basket and stays there. If the ball rests on the rim edges and the opponent player moves the basket, it counts as a goal.
  6. The referee is the judge of the ball and decides when it is in play, to which side it belongs, in bounds,  and shall keep the time. The referee determines when the goal is made and maintains an account of the goal is made.
  7. Paly takes two fifteen-minute halves, with five minutes rest between.

Basketball Betting Bonuses

If you are one of the millions of people who like to put a few dollars down on basketball games, you should know that there are loads of bonuses and promotions available to you at a host of basketball gambling sites. Best bookmakers for basketball offer the best bonuses. For example, when you deposit Genting Bet, you can receive up to €25 worth of free basketball bets. Or you could profit from the Bet365 NBA early payout promotion: Place a pre-game bet on the Money Line betting market for any game in the NBA, and if the team you back goes 20 points ahead at any stage during the game, your bet will be paid in full automatically, regardless of the outcome of the match.

22BetBwin, and Betzest will give you €50 in basketball betting bonuses. You can apply for a 50 euro basketball bonus on these sites to start with a higher bankroll. Other gambling sites like  CampeonBet have a basketball betting bonus of as high as €100 for you to bet on basketball. You can also use an in-play basketball betting strategy in one of the best live betting sites, and bookmakers are available to registered members. If you are looking for something a little bigger, then you’ll love the €130 bonus at 1xBet. Many more bonuses and promotions are found at Gamblingjudge.com. Feel free to peruse the site and find a host of the best basketball betting sites with bonuses. Get yours today and get in on the action.

Best live stream Basketball betting sites

It’s always fun to watch your team play on network television. This is especially true when you have money riding on the game. Unfortunately, the networks don’t always show the game you want to see. Betting sites with live streaming where you can bet on basketball is an excellent option for those who want to maximize their wagering experience. These live streams are tailor-made for betting enthusiasts.  Live streams provide a plethora of pertinent betting information instead of vapid commentary and the constant barrage of commercials. The news, statistics, updated odds and betting tips can benefit those who like to participate in live wagering.

This naturally brings with it an array of live basketball betting options available on live streaming betting sites. If you want the best basketball bookie that offers their customers live streaming, then you should consider opening an account at Bwin. Other highly-rated bookmakers such as Betsson and 888 Sport are popular live streaming bookies where you can enjoy several in-play basketball betting markets. You can find the best live streaming basketball sportsbooks by referring to the bookmaker database at Gamblingjudge.com. Don’t forget to take advantage of those bonuses from any number of the best live betting sites and bookmakers for basketball.

Best live betting basketball bookmakers

Live streams and live betting complement each other nicely. Bettors can watch the live action unfold and place all sorts of bets while the game is in progress. The best sites for live basketball betting offer punters dozens of wagering opportunities at any given time. Sides, spreads, totals, and winning margins are just a few of the many in-play betting options.

BwinBetsson, and 888 Sport offer punters a wide range of live betting opportunities, as do CampeonBetBetsafe.com, and Genting Bet. Industry leaders offering online basketball betting are well known for their extensive selection of live betting options. These sites are also excellent sources of basketball betting bonuses and free bets, and some even provide basketball live betting strategy guides. If you want a helping hand predicting what to bet on, these can come as a treat.

Bookmakers with best markets and types of Basketball betting options

Punters rightfully expect their basketball betting websites to offer the widest selection of betting options. It is in the bookmaker’s best interests to provide as many betting opportunities as possible. More selection equals more bets being placed, which results in more profits for the bookie.

1xBet and 22Bet are among the industry leaders partly because of their commitment to giving bettors many choices. Punters can place all sorts of bets at these NBA betting sites, also on the NCAA, Turkish Basketball LeagueGreek League, and many more. Bwin and Jetbull are great for betting on basketball, as are Genting BetBetsson, and CampeonBet. As this article is being written, there are hundreds of basketball bets being offered at these sportsbooks. For instance, you don’t need to look specifically for college basketball betting sites, as most of these top domains cover all competitions.

Types of Basketball Bets

There are a seemingly infinite number of basketball bets that a punter can place. The most basic types are betting on a team to win straight-up, i.e., straight betting or  Moneyline betting, or against the spread and betting on team totals or game totals, i.e., Over-under. Over/Under means correctly predicting the combined score of both teams. You’ll pick if the number will be higher or lower than what the oddsmaker has set. This betting requires considering many variables, including a team’s offensive and defensive trends. It would be beneficial to look critically at over under betting guide before using this type of bet. 

Will the score total be odd or even? Will LeBron James score at least 25 points? Will Kevin Durant drain five field goals? The possibilities are endless. Punters can put together multiple bets in a basketball accumulator. These bets involve picking two or more plays on the same card, and all predictions must be correct to cash in. Many bookies even offer “Acca Insurance,” which has saved many parlays from becoming losers.

How does Acca Insurance work? If you bet on a 5-fold or 7 fold bet accumulator, you would need to get all five wagers correct to win. If you miss just one, then you lose, but with Acca Insurance, you could miss one and still win your bet. So, you can offset risk with the NBA Acca insurance.  Betsson and Bwin are a few of the many internet bookmakers that offer Acca insurance.

You can also place teaser bets, i.e., multi-team wager. You can choose between 2 to 15 teams. However, you can make a good teaser when building up parlay insurance of bets with points spread. So, point spread betting is a huge part of a teaser. These are tricky bets, so apply a proven teaser betting strategy. Note that spread betting motivates shaving points more than any other betting. There are also many money-back betting offers out there as well as free basketball bets. It’s pretty standard for bookmakers to provide daily price boosts and enhanced odds on select matches. Be sure to visit Gamblingjudge.com and find the best basketball sportsbook and the latest valuable bonuses and promotions.

Bookmakers with the best coverage of major events

One of the biggest annual events in basketball is the NCAA “March Madness” tournament, and the best basketball betting sites are in overdrive when it’s happening. The best bookies for basketball give punters an exhilarating experience by offering special bonuses, free bet codes, live streams, up-to-date news and statistics, and plenty of betting options both before and during the games.

Betsson and 888 Sport deliver a very extensive package, as do Bwin and CampeonBet. These bookies have so much going on it will make your head feel like a basketball spinning on the tip of Meadowlark Lemon’s finger. Punters know they can get the complete package at Genting Bet1xBet, and Jetbull. You can find more basketball betting sites that offer comprehensive coverage of significant events by going to Gambling Judge.

Basketball betting sites that offer the best odds

Experienced punters know the value of getting the best odds. They want to take advantage of any edge they can get. So the debate of low odds vs high odds is something to consider critically. Why make a $100 bet to win $90 when you could make the same bet at another sportsbook to win $95? Finding the best odds is critical to making a profit in the long run. That is why so many bettors use best odds bookmakers like  Bwin.

This highly-rated bookie claims to have the best odds anywhere. They certainly have low betting margins, and this is good for punters. Bwin has some pretty stiff competition from some of the other heavyweights of the bookmaking industry. Betsson and 888Sport also take pride in offering the most competitive odds, and so does Betsafe.com.

You can use Gambling Judge’s bookmaker database to find the best basketball bookmakers in terms of odds by using the “By Odds Value” filter. This should help you rapidly track down the best basketball betting site to play at, as well as tell you which odds are favorable at any given time.

Basketball betting sites with the best payments and highest betting limit

Further Information

Once again, we must mention Bwin as one of the best high-stakes betting sites. This site claims that “No bookmaker accepts higher bets.” These guys have high limits, although they differ from sport to sport. They also offer punters a lot of payment options. Punters will also find high limits and numerous payment options at 888 Sport and 22Bet. Heavier hitters can also go big at Betsafe.com and 1xBet. We should mention that betting exchanges such as Betdaq are well-known for having high limits and represent some of the best betting sites for basketball around if you fancy wagering a different way.

Basketball betting tips and strategies

Tip

One of the best betting strategies is consistency. With consistency, you can win regularly, and your winnings can be substantial. The major factors determining a basketball game are errors, slips, and unique tactics from the best players. Another critical strategy is betting against the public. This always comes with better odds and, therefore, better returns. The logic can be hard to understand, but siding with the underdog can sometimes bear fruits.  Also, make use of the basketball lines by studying the favorite’s next fixtures. 

Pros and Cons about Basketball

PROS

  • It offers different types of bets accommodating categories of bettors
  • There is an option to buy betting lines
  • There is potential to make money when your bets are successful
  • You can offset risk with the NBA Acca insurance
  • Live betting offers much more excitement

CONS

  • Some basketball betting sites may not offer real bonuses and promotion
  • Low odds on some basketball bookies

Basketball FAQ:

The NBA dates back to around 1946 and has witnessed some of the greatest athletes Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neil and Larry Bird, are some of the top basketball players of all time.

Though a popular sport worldwide, basketball is played more in some countries than others. Basketball is more popular in the United States than in any other country. The Philippines, Australia, and Canada are other countries where the sport is popular.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the player with the most scored points in NBA history. The scored points totals at 38,387 in the 1,560 games he played.

The NBA is packed with powerful teams, and every time you'll see big names like Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and Boston Celtics in NBA charts.

The basketball league in Europe might not be as fancy as the NBA. Still, it attracts many enthusiastic teams such as CSKA Moscow, Real Madrid Baloncesto and Olympiacos Piraeus.

The highest score in history in a game is that of a match where the Detroit Pistons beat the Denver Nuggets 186–184 in 1983.

Best Basketball Betting Sites and Bookmakers: Conclusion

Betting on the basketball can be fun and profitable. You would be hard-pressed to find a bookmaker that doesn’t offer this sport for betting. With so many leagues operating worldwide, it is easy to make basketball bets any time of day all year round. If you are passionate about basketball, you can also read the NBA all-time scoring list article.

If you plan to bet on basketball, then it is wise to find a bookmaker that offers a lot of action and bonuses. Of course, using a bookmaker that offers competitive odds, live streaming, news, betting tips, and statistics is essential too. Make sure you read the reviews at Gambling Judge’s list of sportsbooks before committing your money to an online bookmaker. Don’t forget to claim some of those great bonuses too.