With relatively simple rules – score the ball in the net, making it easy to watch and enjoy, basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world. Thousands of basketball games are played annually all around the world, and you may place bets while playing.
To answer any questions you may have about winning at basketball betting or general betting rules, our betting specialists have put together this essential guide to betting on basketball. To help you know if your bet is a winner, loser, or void, we’ll first walk you through all of the standard basketball betting guidelines. This guide also includes complete details on maximum winning limits, winning bet scenarios, and early payout eligibility.
General Basketball Betting Rules
When developing basketball betting tactics, it is essential to fully understand the game. The best bettors identify and evaluate their bets, knowing the regulations inside and out. They also understand how bets are settled by betting sites and how this impacts betting. In this section, we’ll explain the basketball betting guidelines, taking into account important aspects such as the scheduling of games, the minimum duration of play, and the likelihood of your bet becoming a winner or loser.
✔️ Early Cashouts
Your bet is immediately won under this promotion from some bookmakers if the side you support leads by a certain number of points throughout the match. It is available in major competitions like the NBA, Euroleague, and EuroCup and applies to the moneyline market.
✔️ Maximum Winning Limits
While some bookies provide enormous max limits of up to £500,000, the majority of websites have a maximum winning limit of about £5,000 for basketball.
✔️ Push Bets
In basketball, a push occurs frequently when there is a tie between bookmakers and bettors, particularly in the handicap market. Your bet is recovered in the event of a push, while the pick becomes a non-runner for combinations.
✔️ Cancelled Bets
Within 24 hours after the original planned time, bets on postponed or cancelled games remain valid. They are all cancelled after this time ends. The pick in accumulator bets becomes a non-runner, and bets on singles are refunded. Incomplete games have bets on markets with settled results that are still ongoing.
✔️ Dates and Venues
Any basketball game you bet on must start on its scheduled date and venue to be valid, unless stated otherwise.
✔️ Play Time
For NBA games bets to be accepted, at least 43 of the 48 minutes must be completed. 35 minutes is the scheduled game time for other competitions in North America or Europe.
Overtime Betting Rules
Unless specified by the bookmakers or governing bodies, most pre-game bets include overtime periods. The laws governing basketball overtime betting might differ between bookies, so before you place a bet, make sure you understand all of the T&Cs. Check out the markets that provide overtime and those that don’t for pre-game and during play.
➡ Including Overtime
- Double Result (predict Half-Time & Full-Time result)
- Players’ props (e.g., points, rebounds, assists, etc.)
- Second half betting markets
- Winning margin in basketball betting
- Games & Teams Totals (read the T&Cs for any possible changes)
- Handicap
- Moneyline
➡ Not Including Overtime
- 3-way Moneyline Market
- 4th Quarter Bets and Highest Scoring Quarter market
- In-play Quarter markets
- In-play 2-way and 3-way totals for teams and games
- Race To X points market (for 4th quarter and 2nd half betting)
The Main Markets and their Basketball Betting Rules
Upon registering at a bookmaker, moneylines, handicaps, and totals are the initial odds and lines displayed. Until bookmakers specify otherwise, these primary basketball betting markets are subject to general settlement regulations. If you want to wager on the moneyline market, which includes overtime, it is beneficial to be aware of every aspect of the game’s operations.
These are the main markets for betting on basketball and the rules that apply, unless otherwise stated:
✅ Outright Market
Official data and rankings supplied by regulatory organisations are used to settle all futures market transactions. Teams must play a certain number of games to qualify for a league’s regular season classification, excluding playoffs, where settlement conditions for the winners are obvious (e.g. NBA clubs must play at least 72 games).
✅ Totals Market
With this market, you have to guess how many points will end up over or under a given line. The basketball rules for this market state that, except in cases when that particular market only counts regulation time, the outcome is the sum of the points earned by both sides after regular time and any overtime. To be deemed the winner of this market, you must have a total score of less than 212 points (e.g., 110-100) in the Celtics vs. Lakers game if you bet on the Under (212, 5 points).
✅ Handicap Market
This market may perhaps be one of the most popular betting markets on all sportsbooks. A team must cover or defend a line in the basketball handicap market. Each bookmaker sets their own specific handicap, which is deducted or added to the final score after regular or overtime. The point line outcome is calculated using this method following handicapped basketball betting guidelines.
If you’re looking for a basketball handicap prediction, have a look at this example: Assume that you are betting on the Celtics -5.5 to defeat the Lakers. The Celtics must win by at least six points for your wager to be successful. It’s important to remember that, unless otherwise indicated, potential overtime is considered and contributes to the final score.
✅ Moneyline Market
You will profit here only if the side you support wins. Additionally, potential overtime counts for settlement purposes. You will still experience loss if you bet, for instance, that the Boston Celtics will defeat the Los Angeles Lakers at 1.90 odds, even if the Celtics win by at least one point during the main 48-minute game or a five-minute overtime set.
Basketball Wagering Rules For Secondary Markets
When betting on major basketball leagues like the NBA and the Euroleague or the Olympics, you have additional possibilities from the normal moneyline, handicap, and total markets. When settling bets, the best betting sites for basketball adhere to the same regulations as secondary markets. We provide you with an introduction to them so you can determine if your basketball wager is a winner.
☑ Player Props
For bets to be considered valid and qualify, all selected players must first compete. Because the players’ props markets incorporate data, the settlement must bear the official stamp of the regulatory bodies’ own statistics coverage. If those requirements are not met, bets will be void.
☑ Teams Props
Both games and players are subject to length-play regulations, as is the market for team props. Betting rules that apply state that these markets are only valid if a minimum of 43 minutes are played in an NBA game. Except in some cases—such as the Team With The Highest Scoring Quarter—overtime is featured in most sportsbooks.
☑ Games Props
Props for basketball games incorporate some markets including stat totals, for which authoritative sources must approve the settlement. Aside from a few niche markets like the Highest Scoring Quarter, most bets incorporate overtime.
☑ Half-Time Betting
In basketball, both halves of the game must be completed for the bets to be valid. In most bookmakers’ cases, all second-half markets have the potential for overtime.
☑ Quarter Betting
Under the basketball betting regulations, bets must be placed on all four quarters; a likely overtime session does not count toward the fourth quarter.
FAQ
What are the main guidelines for in-play basketball wagering?
The majority of bookmakers only allow in-play basketball wagers to be placed if a game is cancelled or postponed after it has begun and there are five minutes or less left in the scheduled game time. Overtime is removed from the in-play quarter and half bets, although it is included in the key in-play basketball markets (moneyline, point handicap, teams, and game totals).
Which basketball markets does the ‘dead heat’ market apply to?
In some basketball bets at the majority of sportsbooks, such as head-to-head bets, the dead heat rule is applicable if you back Player A but there is a tie with Player B. Under such circumstances, you will receive full odds payment, but the two who drew will split your initial bet equally. To use the Team or Game Highest Scoring Player markets as examples, the dead heat rule is applicable, and the regular rules apply.
What are the primary guidelines for handicap betting on basketball games?
When placing a basketball wager, the favourite team is represented with a minus-point handicap, while the underdog is represented by a plus one. The bookmakers pay the bets by adding that handicap to the final score of the game, including overtime. The point handicap incurred during play is applied similarly for the in-running mode after the conclusion of the games. There can be alternatives for ties.
Before placing a basketball wager, what basic knowledge is required for a punter to have?
Read the terms and conditions of each bookmaker thoroughly in addition to doing some research on news and odds related to the wager you plan to place. Using a thorough analysis of all the basketball regulations for markets, you can determine when to start betting and if your wager will be a winner or a loser.
