Understanding the Rules

Before getting stuck into the betting side of things, it’s essential to have a basic understanding of basketball rules. Luckily, the rules of basketball are relatively straightforward.
Basketball is a team sport played by two competing teams of five players. The game is played on a rectangular court to shoot a ball through a hoop 10 ft off the ground. Each team has their own hoop at opposite ends of the court.
The basketball court is divided into two smaller sections by a mid-court line. Players must pass the mid-court line within ten seconds of the ball being put into play. Failing to do so will see the ball turned over to the other team.
After crossing the mid-court line, the attacking team can no longer backtrack behind the mid-court line. If they do, the ball is overturned.
The ball is progressed up the court by either passing or dribbling. The defence must try to win the ball back by stealing the ball, contesting shots, deflecting passes, and collecting rebounds.
Point Scoring
Making a basket is worth two points and turns the ball over to the other team. Baskets or field goals made outside of the three-point arc are worth three points, and a free throw is worth one.
Free throws are given to a team based on the kind of fouls committed or the frequency of fouls. When a shooter is fouled, they will receive either two or three free throws depending on the location of the shot. Fouls beyond the three-point line will result in three free throws.
‘Team fouls’ only result in a free throw when a certain number has been accumulated throughout a half. When the necessary total is reached, the last player fouled is given a ‘1-and-1′ chance. If they successfully make the free throw, they will be given a second attempt. If the first shot is missed, the ball becomes live on the rebound.
Clock
The game is divided into 12-minute quarters. There is a break period of several minutes between the second and third quarter. If the score is all level at the end of the allotted game time, overtime is played until there is a winner. However, in some leagues, each quarter is 10-minute long.
Basic Terms
Compared to some other popular sports, Basketball is relatively easy to understand. But while you can grasp the broad strokes of the game in an instant, it may take a while until you get the lingo and intricate nuances of the game rules. Here are some of the most popular basketball terms explained.
- Back Court – The backcourt can refer to the guards on a team. These players defend against the opponents scoring any points. The term may also refer to the area of the basketball court on your side of the half-court line.
- Backboard/Glass – The backboard is the rectangular board behind the hoop in which each team is trying to score. Because most backboards are made of plexiglass or tempered glass, they are also referred to as glass. The area close to the end of the court is also sometimes called the backboard. For example, a coach can tell a player to go to the backboard to make a rebound attempt.
- Assist – An assist is a pass of the ball to another player that results in a score. Historically, assists were any pass that precedes a score. Today, the definition is a bit stricter. The less action a player has to take to score after receiving the ball determines whether the pass was an assist or not.
- Force – Force refers to a player who takes a shot too early in the clock. This is called “forcing” a shot. It may also describe a scenario when the defence makes an opposing player move in a particular direction. For example, a defender may force an opposing player to dribble away from the basket.
- Walking – Walking or carrying the ball refers to a player taking too many steps without bouncing the ball. It can also literally refer to a player walking up or down the court while the ball is in play.
Where to Find Basketball Betting Websites?
There are lots of top sportsbook websites offering basketball betting markets for you to bet on NBA games. It isn’t difficult to find the top-rated bookmakers for basketball betting. There are loads of great resources comparing various aspects of each platform. Always make sure that any sportsbook you choose to use is reliable and trustworthy before entering personal information or making a deposit.
- Very Generous Sports Welcome Bonus
- Extremely attractive Casino Welcome Package
- Variety of payment methods and currencies
- High Odds

- Eye-catching website design
- Great sportsbook section
- Professional customer support
- Crypto payments

- Different bonuses
- Cash Out
- Different payment methods
- High odds

- High odds
- Great markets
- Superb support
- Welcome offers

- Good sports bonus
- Many betting options on sports
- High odds
- eSports and Virtual Sports betting

- Fantastic bonuses
- Good sportsbook
- Amazing casino games
- Many payment methods

- Big variety of sports betting options
- Many slot games
- Live casino games with real dealers
- Many payment options

- An amazing sportsbook
- Superb bonus offers
- Cash-out feature available
- Mobile apps

- Big range of sport betting options
- High odds
- Casino games
- Poker platform

- Great casino games
- Eye-catching website design
- Generous welcome bonus
- Mobile apps for Android and iOS

- Wide range of casino games
- Hundreds of sports betting markets
- Lots of other betting options like bingo and poker
- Cash Out option

- Generous welcome pack + Free Spins
- High-quality games by top suppliers
- Regular Tournaments & Must-Drop Jackpots

- Great welcome bonus
- Competitive odds
- Great options for eSports betting
- Crypto payments accepted

- A ton of betting markets
- Useful betting features
- Generous welcome bonus
- Live betting available

- Good welcome bonus
- Great selection of sports
- Mobile apps available
- Helpful customer support

- Excellent promotion package
- Convenient payments
- Mobile apps for iOS & Android

- Great welcome bonuses
- A ton of features
- Variety of sports
- Live streaming

- Big variety of sports betting options
- Different casino games
- Good bonus offers
- Professional Customer support

- Variety of sports markets
- Good odds
- Mobile apps for Android & iOS
- Bonuses for existing customers

- Eye-catching website design
- Generous welcome bonus
- Variety of sport markets
- Helpful customer support

- Licensed online operator
- Trusted brand
- Great selection of sports betting options
- Various betting markets

- High-odds sportsbook
- Plenty of features to help punters
- Great bonuses for sports and casino

- Great selection of sports betting markets
- Competitive Odds
- Various Betting Features
- Android and iOS mobile apps

- Great selection of sports markets
- High-level Odds
- Casino Games
- Excellent Betting Features Included

- Good looking website
- An operator with a long history
- Great selection of sports
- Helpful customer support


- A reputable brand
- Lucrative promo campaigns
- Top-notch sportsbook & casino

- Amazing bonuses and rewards
- Great odds for sports
- Excellent casino in place

- eSports betting markets
- Live Casino
- Mobile apps for Android and iOS
- Cash out option

- Good bonuses
- Big range of sports betting options
- Different casino games
- Mobile apps

- Plenty of sports
- Variety of betting options and markets
- Fantastic promotions for existing customers

- Generous welcome bonus
- Bitcoin payments
- Higher odds

- Huge amount of promotions
- Live dealer and casino games
- VIP program
- Helpful customer support

- Licensed Brand
- Easy-to-navigate Platform
- Excellent Odds
- Great Betting Products

- Excellent eSports section
- Modern website design
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
- Generous welcome offers

- Attractive Odds
- Fun bets available
- Cash-out feature

- eSports-focused betting site
- Crypto payments accepted
- Community in place

- Numerous bonuses
- Popular betting markets
- Aesthetically pleasing design
- Easy registration and verification of the account

- Odds promotions
- Good sports betting
- Opportunity to watch the games live

- Many betting markets
- Cash-out option is active
- Superb website design
- Fantastic casino section

- Good welcome offer
- Active cash-out option
- Plenty of sports

- Reputable and licensed brand
- Excellent horse racing section
- Outstanding Club in Central London
- Good odds

- Good variety of sports betting options
- High odds
- Welcome bonuses
- Casino games - slots and with real dealers

- High Odds
- Good Mobile Apps
- Reliable Customer Support
- Quick Payments

- Wide range of sports betting markets
- High odds
- Casino Games
- Professional support

- Wide range of sports betting options
- Various sports and high odds
- Good welcome bonus
- Casino slots and Live dealers

- Mobile-First Site
- No Deposit Bonus
- VIP Rewards

- Fast cash-out option
- Live streaming
- Superb mobile version
- Competitive commission

- Big list of sports
- Great betting features
- Variety of casino games
- Nice payment options

- Variety of sport markets
- eSports and Virtuals in place
- Cash-out option available
- Helpful customer support

- Good looking website
- Variety of sports
- Cash-out function
- Helpful customer support

- Generous welcome bonus
- Variety of sports
- Cash-out feature
- Helpful customer support

- Generous welcome bonus
- Helpful customer support
- Competitive odds
- A lot of sports markets

- Top-notch betting features
- Excellent betting environment
- Useful features
- Various payments

- Exceptional esports section
- Spectacular website design
- Various betting markets

- Generous welcome bonus
- Great selection of sports
- Casino games in place
- Helpful customer support

- Great selection of sports
- Good odds
- Generous welcome bonus
- Casino games available

- Great looking website
- A ton of sports
- Good welcome bonus
- Helpful customer support


- Reliable & professional brand
- UKGC licensed
- Great betting features
- Wide variety of horse races

- Good looking website design
- Great selection of sports
- eSports available
- Helpful customer support

- Modern website design
- Good selection of sports
- Generous welcome bonus
- Competitive odds

- Modern website design
- Generous welcome offer
- A ton of sport selections
- Android and iOS apps

- Good looking website
- Great selection of sports
- Competitive odds
- Helpful customer support

- A ton of sports
- Generous welcome bonus
- Variety of betting features
- Helpful customer support

- Good looking website design
- Variety of sport markets
- Android & iOS apps
- Helpful customer support

- Licensed bookmaker and casino
- Trusted brand
- High odds on sports
- Professional Support

- Good looking website design
- Variety of sport markets
- Cash-out and live stream features
- Helpful customer support

- Competitive Odds
- Great range of betting markets
- Exclusive Features like Bet.Battle
- Various Payment Methods

- Great range of Sports betting Markets
- Generous bonus offers
- A wide array of Casino games
- Different Payment options

- Good welcome bonuses
- Great selection of sports
- Cash-out feature in place
- Professional customer support

- Modern website design
- Cash-out available
- Live stream feature
- Good bonuses

- Good welcome bonus
- A ton of sport markets
- Casino games in place
- Helpful customer support

- Very good website design
- Great selection of sports
- Generous welcome bonuses
- Profesional customer support

- Lots of nice sports markets
- Competitive odds
- Lots of exclusive bonuses

- Good looking website design
- Variety of sports
- Generous bonuses
- Helpful customer support

- Good looking website
- Big selection of welcome offers
- Cash-out and live streaming available
- Helpful customer support

- Reputable and trusted brand
- Competitive odds
- Great selection of sports
- Cash-out in place

- Great selection of sports
- Casino games available
- Helpful customer support
- Competitive odds

- Generous welcome offers
- Good sports betting market
- Helpful customer support
- Eye-catching website design

- Good looking website
- Great selection of sports
- Cash-out feature available
- Helpful customer support

- Generous bonuses
- VIP program for punters
- Lots of features for Sports & Casino
- Great payment methods

- Good looking design
- Mobile-friendly website version
- Great odds on eSports

- Long odds and variety of markets
- Mobile-first site
- Cash out in place

- Impressive website design
- Lavish welcome bonuses
- Superb sportsbook
- Generous promotions

- Great website design
- Various betting markets
- Amazing promotional offers
- Accepts crypto payments

- Generous Welcome Bonuses
- Well-organised and attractive Design
- Extended Sportsbook
- Exciting Casino Section

- Rich Sports betting section
- High Odds
- A lot of betting features
- Mobile apps

- Useful and good looking design
- You can easily get mobile apps for Android & iOS
- Good promotions including a welcome bonus

- Rich Sportsbook section
- In-play betting markets
- Great online casino
- Cash-out feature

- Good payment methods
- Allows easier access to mobile betting games without the need of a browser

- Amazing sportsbook
- Offers a welcome bonus for new customers
- Provides applications for iOS and Android

- Great Welcome Offers
- Variety of Sports markets
- Appealing Casino section

- Free bets and VIP rewards in place
- Great sportsbook
- Amazing casino section

- Big selection of sports
- Intuitive website design
- Live betting available

- Great welcome offer
- Wide variety of sports
- Cash-out feature available
- Virtual sports betting

- Good sports betting options
- Different casino games
- A lot of bonus offers
- Professional Support

- Various betting options
- Live streaming available
- Betting features
- High odds

- Active loyalty program
- Great sportsbook
- Plenty of live betting
- Fantastic casino games

- Different sports betting options
- Wide range of casino games
- Good bonus offers
- Mobile Apps

- Big range of sports markets and events
- High odds
- Cash Out option
- Live betting markets


- Good welcome bonus
- Different casino games
- Cash-out feature
- Fantastic live betting


- Excellent website design
- Rich Sportsbook section with betting options
- Cash out feature
- Live streaming video

- Excellent Sportsbook and Casino sections
- Betting features available like Cash Out
- Generous Welcome Bonus
- Cryptocurrency payments

- Wide range of sports betting options
- High odds
- Various bonus offers
- Professional support

- Lots of sports markets & casino games
- Convenient banking gateways
- Interesting bonus campaign

- Awesome bonus campaign
- Lots of sports markets
- Great odds to choose from

- Trusted and Licensed brand
- Great betting exchange
- High odds at the Sportsbook
- Various bonuses


- Great selection of sports
- Competitive odds
- Casino section available
- Good sports welcome bonus

- Nice variety of sports
- Useful betting features available
- Excellent casino games
- Convenient payments


- Trusted eSports Betting Website
- Live stream videos for eSports
- Different options for Deposits and Withdrawals
- Monthly Bonuses for New Players

- Great selection of sports
- Cash-out and live streaming
- Live betting available
- Helpful customer support

- Great range of sports betting options
- Cash out is available
- Wide array of casino games

- Excellent Sportsbook
- Reputable Bookmaker
- Live Streaming Function
- Top-notch Casino Providers

- Excellent sportsbook with useful features
- Awesome rewards and bonuses
- Live streaming for in-play matches

- Good Sports betting section
- Excellent betting features like cash-out, player props, fast markets
- Competitive odds
- Great Casino games

- High Odds
- Live Streaming
- Great Sportsbook
- Useful Betting Features

- A vast range of betting markets for sports
- Different slots and live casino games
- Good Welcome Bonus

- Big variety of sports and betting markets
- Good range of casino games
- Live casino games with real dealers
- Good bonuses

- Good sports betting and casino options
- Different betting markets
- Cash out feature
- Different payment methods

- Attractive Odds
- Great Sportsbook
- Mobile App Available

- Cutting-edge sportsbook
- Lots of payment options
- Secure and 100% legit

- Good welcome offers
- Licensed bookmaker
- Cash Out option
- Different Sports betting options

- Wide range of eSports betting options
- Great bonus offers
- Live streaming available
- Generous odds

- Great Variety of Sports betting options
- Good Odds
- Cash out feature is available
- Different Payments accepted

- Superb website design
- High odds
- Excellent sportsbook
- Cash out option available

- Lots of amazing features
- Good odds and range of markets
- Excellent casino

- Nice Variety of Sports Markets
- Useful Betting Features
- User-Friendly Design
- Reliable Support

- Amazing website design
- Good variety of sports
- Generous welcome bonus
- Great eSports section

- Many betting options on sports
- Cash Out is available
- Good sports bonuses
- Follows Esports

- Generous bonuses
- Rich sports betting section
- Professional support
- Different payment methods

- Very good Welcome Bonuses
- A vast range of Sports betting options
- Cash out feature
- Professional support

- Good looking website
- Variety of sport markets
- eSports, virtual and fantasy Sports
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android

- Great sportsbook
- Lots of astounding promotions
- Available mobile apps
- Professional customer support

- Great welcome offer
- Competitive odds
- Cash-out option available

- Excellent promos
- Offer quality games and user experience

What Are the Most Popular Basketball Competitions?

Basketball has a wide variety of competitions across the globe, attracting millions of fans and bettors.
The following section will detail some of the most viewed and respected competitions in the sport.
NBA Betting – What Should You Know?
Before diving straight into basketball betting, there are a few essential aspects you should have an understanding of.
The NBA is divided into an Eastern and a Western conference format. Each conference has 15 teams that are segregated into three divisions of five. These divisions are the Pacific, Northwest, and Southwest in the Eastern Conference and the Central, Atlantic, and Southeast in the Western Conference.
Every team plays every other team in their division four times to comprise the first 16 fixtures.
Each club is then matched against clubs from other divisions within the same conference. Four games against each of these teams are played to make a total of 24 games. Finally, each team plays the last four teams in the conference three times each. This makes for a total of 52 conference games.
Each team plays home and away against all the sides from the other conference to make 82 games in a regular season. The season starts in October and ends in April the following year.
The NBA playoffs start after the regular season ends and continue until June. The top eight teams in each division after the 82-game season qualify for the playoffs.
The playoffs are played out on a ‘best of seven’ basis. The first team to win four games advances to the semi-finals, where the same structure takes place. This continues until there is a winner of each conference.
The NBA finals pit the winners from each conference against each other in a best of seven final. The first team to win four games is the NBA Champion.
Short History and Facts
In 1891, a Canadian teacher at YMCA Training School decided to develop a game to keep students fit during winter. After several experiments, Dr James Naismith created the earliest version of modern basketball. At first, players scored into peach baskets that were nailed high on a wall. The referees had to fish out the ball after each score. Eventually, metal hoops and wooden backboards replaced the peach baskets.
The game soon spread to other American schools and universities. Today, over 47 million Americans are estimated to bet on the March Madness College Basketball tournament each year. More than 8.5 billion dollars are bet on the event. Collectively, the tournament exceeds the numbers generated by the Super Bowl.
Given those statistics for college basketball, it comes an as little surprise that the NBA Finals are among the most popular events to bet on in the world. In the state of Nevada alone, approximately 10 million dollars are wagered per game. 20 million viewers across the world tune in to watch the NBA Finals. Here are some exciting basketball facts you probably didn’t know:
- As inconceivable as it may sound, basketball was originally played using a soccer ball.
- The game was much shorter — two 15-minute halves, with a 5-minute half-time rest.
- The game was flexible enough to include every person to play, so each side had a default 9 players.
- Dribbling wasn’t allowed. Instead, players had to throw the ball from wherever they’d caught it.
Final Thoughts
Betting on basketball is like betting on any other sport in that knowledge and expertise will help guide your selections. The more clued up you are on the competition, betting markets, and selections, the more likely you will make value bets and turn a profit on your wagers. Become well-acquainted with all the relevant terms of the sport and the betting scene to better understand and make more informed decisions.
There are many resources and guides you can use online to help you become more adept at picking out strong bets. Learning through experience is perhaps the best way to develop your basketball betting skills. Keep an eye out for trends and evaluate each decision you make carefully.
FAQs
What does 2.5 mean in basketball betting?
2.5 refers to the point spread market. If you back a team with a 2.5 spread, you bet that they will win the game by three points or more. Spreads are often presented with .5 decimals, so there are no ties or void selections possible. If a spread market uses a whole number and the team wins by that margin, no money is won or lost.
Which are the most popular bets in basketball betting?
Point spreads and totals are the two most popular forms of betting in basketball. Money line wagers, parlays and teasers are also popular with certain bettors.
How to bet on basketball?
Betting on basketball is relatively straightforward as long as you understand the game and have a strong grasp of your backing market. Your selections are unlikely to have many permutations, and often they include a binary outcome. There are plenty of useful guides that focus on basketball betting explained for novices.
What is NCAA basketball betting?
This is college basketball betting and is one of the most popular betting scenes in the sport. 68 college teams take part in the widely-watched March Madness tournament every year. It attracts a lot of attention from bettors around the world.
Why should I bet on basketball?
Betting on basketball is easy and can be very lucrative if you understand the sport. Unlike some other sports, the betting markets and selections are easy to keep track of and are suitable for beginners to get involved with. Basketball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, with betting markets aplenty.
What is money line wagering in basketball?
This is one of the more popular betting markets in the sport and is relatively easy to understand. The bookmaker offers a selection in money line wagering with shifting odds depending on the team’s perceived likelihood of victory.
Should I bet on NBA games?
The NBA is the most popular basketball league in the world, attracting audiences from across the globe. The best players and teams compete in the NBA, and as such, betting on the competition is extremely common. Most reputable sportsbooks will provide betting markets for the NBA, so as long as you enjoy basketball and want the chance to win some money, it is worth considering a bet on the NBA.
What is the best competition to betting on in basketball?
This is almost entirely dependent on what you feel comfortable betting on. The NBA is the most popular basketball competition to bet on due to its mass appeal and high quality. You may find a greater range of sportsbooks offer NBA basketball betting markets and selections as a result. You will also find many online basketball betting tips and sites with selections explained in detail for the NBA.