NBA Wagering and Basketball Lines | NBA Wagering Free Live Odds by Jazz Casino & Sportsbook

Of the four major sports, basketball is one of the easiest to bet on. Along with football, basketball use the point spread for wagering on sides (teams), as well as an over/under number. If you know how to bet on football, you already pretty much know how to bet on basketball.

Most online sportsbooks offer NBA wagering action on pointspreads and totals for the entire game as well as for each individual half. The best online sportsbooks even offer betting on each quarter of a contest.

With the point spread, the team expected to win will be called the favorite, while the team expected to lose will be called the underdog. The team expected to win gives, or lays, points to the team expected to lose for betting purposes.

Point Spread Wager

The team wagered on must win by the point spread given at the time of the wager. The odds are $1.10 to win $1.00 (-110) unless otherwise indicated. Due to changing events, the point spread may fluctuate at any time.

Money Line Wagers

The team wagered on just has to win the game. The amount that bettors lay or take for each game may vary. The money line that is read at the time of the wager is the money line kept regardless of any line movement.

Totals

Essentially, a total is the predicted combined score of the two teams playing. A number will be posted and bettors have the option of wagering more than the predicted total points will be scored (over), or less than the predicted total points will be scored (under).

Half-time

All NBA wagers must go the full half for action (first-half and second-half). All half-time wagers are calculated the same as a straight wager unless otherwise indicated. There are no teaser plays or buying of points on half-times. On half time wagers, the overtime period is included as part of the 2nd half.

Parlays (also known as Multiples)

The other types of wagers involving basketball come in the form of parlays and teasers, which are sometimes called exotic bets. In parlays and teasers bettors must correctly predict the winners of two or more games. On parlays, bettors have the option of betting against the point spread or using the money line, while teasers are made using the point spread and players can adjust the point spread in their favor.

For example if a player selects 4 teams, and one ties, the parlay becomes a three team parlay. For a 2 team parlay -- a tie and win becomes a straight bet (-110) payout.

NBA Quarter Wagering

Wagering on quarters is simply a wager only on the score of the first, second, third or fourth quarter of a contest. These lines will be offered on marquee events, such as playoff and championship games. The line offered will be a pointspread, a moneyline, or a combination of the two, but the wager applies only to the score of the quarter specified.

NBA Wagering Point Buying

This is a method of allowing the bettor to improve the pointspread of a basketball contest by actually "buying points" for the team he/she wants to wager, side or total. Bettors can buy points in 1/2 point increments up to 3 points, depending on the contest.

Teasers

A teaser is a selection of two or more teams in one wager in which the point spread is adjusted in the bettor's favor. The number of teams selected and the number of points selected determines the payout odds. A "Tie" or "No Action" and a "Win" on a two team teaser shall constitute a "No Action" wager. A "Tie" or a "No Action" and a "Loss" on a two team teaser shall constitute a "Losing" wager. Ties on a three or more team teaser shall revert to the next lowest betting bracket. For example a tie on a three team teaser becomes a two team teaser.

Futures and Propositions

Future wagers are based on the outcome of events that happen each year. All wagers are final. There will be no payouts until the conclusion of the specified season.

Proposition plays are wagers based on the outcome of events. Odds change daily and all wagers are considered action for the odds quoted at the time of the wager.

In the event that the selection (person, team, or other) the wagerer bets upon does not participate in the game/event due to injury, etc., no refunds are usually made.