Legal Basketball Betting In The USA
Placing a bet on the game of basketball became a pastime shortly after the sport was invented in the late 19th century. Today, you can wager on the game domestically or with an online betting site operating outside the jurisdiction of the United States.
Basketball is played by over 450 million people in 170 countries around the world, and as a result, is one of the most bet on sports. Wagering on the NBA, NCAAB, and the Olympics is popular in the United States, so keep reading to find out where you can do it legally.
We want to make sure you don’t commit any fouls when betting on basketball this season and have reviewed numerous sportsbook sites, selecting only the best to ensure your wagering is legal, safe, and a slam dunk.
Is It Legal To Bet On Basketball In 2024?
Offshore: Yes. There is not a single U.S. federal law that makes betting on basketball at an online sportsbook illegal as long as it is legally operating in a territory that is outside of the United States' jurisdiction. We have provided a list of our most highly ranked betting sites below that accept wagers on basketball.
Domestic: It depends on which state you’re from. The PASPA repeal in early 2018 opened the door for states to begin legalizing sports betting operations within their state, but most are taking a wait-and-see approach before beginning the legislative process.
Top Rated US Basketball Betting Site For 2024
Bovada Sportsbook
50% Bonus Up To $750 For New Players
Bovada is the premier destination for USA players looking to bet on basketball games. Bovada offers basketball odds by way of straight bets, parlays, teasers, 1st and 2nd half lines, live betting, and more. Plus, you can also play online casino games, online poker, and bet horses all under one player account. Talk about a slam-dunk betting site!
Site Rating
Compability
Pros
US Friendly - Most US States Accepted
Most reputable name in online sports betting
Licensed by Curacao - Operates within Costa Rica
Generous 50% bonus up to $1,000 for new members
Easy deposits using credit cards or Bitcoin/crypto
Fast and reliable payouts guaranteed
Cons
Only US, Mexico and Brazil players accepted
Excluded States: CO, CT, DC, DE, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NV, NY, OH, PA, WV
Limited deposit options compared to other sites
Best USA Sportsbook Sites Offering Basketball Odds
| Site | Review | Bonus Offer | USA | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Read Review | 50% Max $1,000 | Play now | |
 | Read Review | 100% Max $1,000 | Play now | |
 | Read Review | 50% Max $1,000 | Play now | |
 | Read Review | 50% Max $500 | Play now | |
 | Read Review | 100% Max $2,500 | Play now | |
 | Read Review | 25% Max $500 | Play now | |
 | Read Review | 50% Max $200 | Play now |
Basketball Leagues And Games To Bet On In 2024
Basketball is the second most popular sport in the U.S. after football, but sports betting sites offer more leagues due to its popularity around the globe. Here are the top leagues in the U.S. that receive the most gambling attention.
NBA – National Basketball Association
The NBA was founded on June 6, 1946, in New York City and contains 30 pro teams. Each team plays an 82-game schedule before the playoffs begin. The conference championship winner from the East and West advance to the NBA Finals, a best-of-seven series where the winner receives the Larry O’Brien Trophy and is named NBA Champion for that season. You can get more information from our page dedicated to betting on the NBA, including the NBA's regular season, postseason, and even the odds for the NBA Christmas games or the NBA All-Star weekend.
NCAAB – Division I Men’s College Basketball
Since 1939, the NCAA has been the ruling body of college basketball. There are currently over 350 Division I programs spread across 30+ conferences, all of which are eligible to compete in the NCAA's March Madness Tournament for a shot at reaching the Final Four and winning the National Championship. Betting on college basketball has become more popular than betting on the NBA in many respects, with March Madness accounting for a lot of the action.
PBA – Philippine Basketball Association
The PBA is the top-level pro league in the Philippines. Basketball is the most popular team sport – and team betting sport – in the islands, with tens of millions of active fans and bettors watching each year. Consisting of three successive conferences or “tournaments” called the Philippine Cup, the Commissioner’s Cup, and the Governors’ Cup, the PBA has been in constant operation since 1975. If you want to bet on the PBA, you can do so at any of the best legal sportsbook sites online.
Gambling in the Philippines is legal with offshore betting sites that operate under legal regulations from trusted gaming commissions.
Basketball at the Summer Olympics
Numerous countries compete in basketball every four years at the Summer Olympics with teams for both men and women all vying for a Gold Medal. Team USA has historically been the most dominant team in the world, but the rest of the pack is catching up once again.
Types Of Basketball Bets
The legal sports betting sites we recommend offer many lines for users to choose from when deciding how you’d like to bet on basketball. Here are the most common sportsbook bet types you’ll see at an online sportsbook along with examples of each.
A set number of points for a basketball game where the favorite is predicted to win over the underdog. To win a bet on the favorite (-), the basketball team must win by a set number of points, while the underdog (+) can lose by no more than the set number or win the game by any number of points. It is used by sportsbooks to create a balance bet between two teams by handicapping the more talented team.
Example:
Los Angeles Lakers +8.5 (-110)
@
Golden State Warriors -8.5 (-110)
Basketball Betting Guide - Tips And Strategies
- Know the game – The basketball meta is one that is always evolving and has changed a lot over the years. When looking at stats or trends from previous years, keep in mind the different rule changes and implementations of new technology that could have a big impact on your bet.
- Check the rosters– Player additions made by a team via free agency or trades can play a tremendous role in the future performance of a team, and the same can be said for losing a player. Correctly predicting how a new roster can affect the chances of a team or an opponent winning can serve you well.
- Player matchups – The sport is star-driven, and knowing how players match up to the counterparts on the other team is crucial to predicting the outcome of a game and is why even the best players can have 50 points one night and 20 points the next night.
- Don’t listen to the media – Unless the media is reporting on injuries or new acquisitions, then do yourself of favor and block them out. This is especially true for the opinionated pundits who likely don’t have money on the game when making his or her pick and have nothing to lose.
- Manage a bankroll – Basketball seasons are long and last for several months, so it’s important to not go bankrupt on the first game of the season. Bet only a small, set percentage of the money you deposit. Betting pros typically only wager 1-2% of their bankroll on any betting line, so use this as a benchmark to minimize losses and to steadily increase the size of your bankroll when you win.
FAQs
All the sports betting sites near the top of the page have been reviewed by our staff, and each site is legal to use in the U.S. and guarantee payouts on all winning bets.
10 Fun Facts You Didn't Know About Basketball
- Although the game of basketball was invented in the United States, Dr. Naismith was a Canadian and was born in Almonte, Ontario on November 6, 1861.
- During the earliest basketball games at the Springfield YMCA, the game was stopped after each score, so the janitor could use a ladder and retrieve the ball from the peach basket, which led to the bottom of each peach basket being cut off.
- The first basketball games were played 9v9 because Dr. Naismith originally had 18 students in his gym class and was used to mimic the number of players on a baseball field. The rules were changed in 1897 and a maximum of five players allowed on the court for each team has been used ever since.
- The game was played with a soccer ball until Spalding designed and produced the first basketball for official use in 1894 when founder A.G. Spalding worked with Dr. Naismith to make an official ball for the game.
- Although the passing rules have never been changed, dribbling the basketball was originally not allowed and the modern rules allowing players to bounce and advance the ball down the court were not implemented until 1909.
- Peach baskets were replaced by wire rims and then to cast iron rims in 1893. This, along with nylon nets being added in 1912, allowed the ball to fall in relatively the same spot after each made shot, which increased scoring and game tempo by a significant margin.
- The 24-second shot clock in the NBA was introduced for the 1954-55 season to stop teams from playing “keep away,” which frequently caused low-scoring and less entertaining games.
- On March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain set the record for most points scored in a single NBA game with his 100-point performance in a win over the Knicks in Hersey, Pennsylvania.
- Many basketball historians and fans wish they could watch Wilt’s record-setting 100-point game. Audio recordings from the 4th period are the only way to experience the game today. The historic game was not televised, the arena was half-empty, and no members of the press were in attendance.
- The 3-point line was first created at the collegiate level in 1945 but was not kept as a rule. It was popularized during the 1970s by the ABA and was officially implemented by the NBA for the 1979-80 season. Chris Ford of the Boston Celtics made the first-ever 3-point shot in NBA history on October 12, 1979, which was also Larry Bird’s first NBA game.